Match ends, Ipswich Town 1, Birmingham City 0.
Ipswich Town 1-0 Birmingham City
- From the section Football
Ipswich Town crept to within four points of the play-off spots with a win over Birmingham City as Daryl Murphy hit his ninth goal of the season.
Murphy had an open goal after being played in by Frank Nouble's cross.
Mick McCarthy's men had not won since 1 February but Birmingham are in greater trouble, having won just two Championship matches in 2014.
They are nine points clear of the relegation zone - but have played three more games than 22nd-placed Charlton.
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Birmingham had the better opportunities early on, Lee Novak having the first real chance after a good piece of control, only to shoot wide.
But Ipswich kept at it, Nouble going close himself, before linking with Paul Taylor to set up Murphy.
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Nouble's cross was so perfect, it left Murphy at the back post with a clear goal to fire into.
After the break, Ipswich looked to build on their lead, Taylor forcing Darren Randolph into a smart save, before another attempt whistled wide.
Novak missed another opportunity for Birmingham from Chris Burke's cross, before Randolph denied Ipswich sub Paul Anderson with his fingertips.
Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy: "I think it was the right result - just. But I don't think we dominated Birmingham by any stretch of the imagination.
"The top five are clear and Wigan are the favourites for the sixth spot. They are ahead of us and they still have players from the Premier League last season, but we are still in there, scrapping away."
Birmingham boss Lee Clark: "We were a little toothless. We didn't have enough quality. The defence was solid and we stood up to a big physical team in Ipswich.
"We did the ugly stuff well but we didn't do enough when we had possession. We lacked that quality and I don't think we deserved anything from the game."
Line-ups
Ipswich
- 22Gerken
- 4Chambers
- 3Cresswell
- 8SkuseBooked at 89mins
- 6Berra
- 5Smith
- 18TabbSubstituted forHuntat 68'minutes
- 16Green
- 9Murphy
- 26TaylorSubstituted forMingsat 88'minutes
- 35NoubleSubstituted forAndersonat 52'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Loach
- 11Anderson
- 12Hunt
- 14Wordsworth
- 15Mings
- 24Richardson
- 27Ebanks-Blake
Birmingham
- 1Randolph
- 23SpectorBooked at 60mins
- 4Robinson
- 36Huws
- 6Martin
- 14Packwood
- 31CaddisSubstituted forIbeat 45'minutes
- 20Lee
- 19ZigicBooked at 39mins
- 9MachedaSubstituted forBurkeat 59'minutes
- 12NovakSubstituted forHowardat 79'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Burke
- 8Ibe
- 10Howard
- 13Doyle
- 22Shinnie
- 24Adeyemi
- 37Blackett
- Referee:
- Keith Stroud
- Attendance:
- 15,596
Match Stats
Home TeamIpswichAway TeamBirmingham
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away4
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away1
- Corners
- Home3
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away9
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Ipswich Town 1, Birmingham City 0.
Offside, Birmingham City. Darren Randolph tries a through ball, but Nikola Zigic is caught offside.
Paul Anderson (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Brian Howard (Birmingham City).
Foul by Daryl Murphy (Ipswich Town).
Jonathan Spector (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt saved. Daryl Murphy (Ipswich Town) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Aaron Cresswell.
Booking
Cole Skuse (Ipswich Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Cole Skuse (Ipswich Town).
Emyr Huws (Birmingham City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Ipswich Town. Tyrone Mings replaces Paul Taylor.
Offside, Birmingham City. Aaron Martin tries a through ball, but Jordon Ibe is caught offside.
Attempt blocked. Paul Taylor (Ipswich Town) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Luke Chambers.
Stephen Hunt (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Oliver Lee (Birmingham City).
Attempt saved. Aaron Cresswell (Ipswich Town) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Paul Green with a cross.
Hand ball by Daryl Murphy (Ipswich Town).
Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Aaron Cresswell.
Substitution
Substitution, Birmingham City. Brian Howard replaces Lee Novak.
Corner, Ipswich Town. Conceded by Darren Randolph.
Attempt saved. Paul Anderson (Ipswich Town) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Foul by Cole Skuse (Ipswich Town).
Chris Burke (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Paul Taylor (Ipswich Town).
Chris Burke (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Ipswich Town. Stephen Hunt replaces Jay Tabb.
Attempt missed. Luke Chambers (Ipswich Town) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Paul Taylor.
Attempt blocked. Paul Taylor (Ipswich Town) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jay Tabb.
Foul by Aaron Cresswell (Ipswich Town).
Chris Burke (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, Birmingham City. Lee Novak tries a through ball, but Chris Burke is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Lee Novak (Birmingham City) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Chris Burke with a cross.
Foul by Paul Green (Ipswich Town).
Emyr Huws (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Jonathan Spector (Birmingham City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Daryl Murphy (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Jonathan Spector (Birmingham City).
Foul by Paul Anderson (Ipswich Town).
Jordon Ibe (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.