Match ends, Blackburn Rovers 2, Ipswich Town 0.
Blackburn Rovers 2-0 Ipswich Town
- From the section Championship
Jordan Rhodes continued his fine form in front of goal as he scored twice to give Blackburn Rovers victory over Ipswich Town.
Rhodes gave the hosts the lead from the spot early on after Hope Akpan was fouled in the box by Larsen Toure.
Four minutes later, Rhodes doubled their lead when he rose to nod home Craig Conway's cross past Dean Gerken.
Blackburn keeper Jason Steele did well to keep out Daryl Murphy's powerful low drive as the hosts held on for the win.
Rovers enjoyed a fine start to the match as Rhodes scored from the spot after just 12 minutes when Toure upended Akpan.
Their lead was doubled as Rhodes latched on to Conway's cross to head home and bring his tally to seven goals this season.
Murphy gave the visitors their best chance of finding their way back into the game when he struck a low shot goalwards but Steele produced a fine save.
Rhodes came close to claiming his hat-trick when he curled an effort from 20 yards out which had Gerken beaten and cannoned against the post.
Ipswich were denied a consolation late on as Steele saved Jonathan Parr's effort to keep a clean sheet.
Blackburn manager Gary Bowyer:
"I think it's probably the most complete performance since I've been in charge.
"We came out of the traps ever so well, scored two goals very quickly and continued to play some excellent stuff.
"We got to half-time and knew with the firepower Ipswich have got, that we were going to be under the cosh in the second half and that proved to be the case.
"We still created some great chances but the resilience we showed, to come out of that game with a clean sheet - Ipswich are going to be right up there this season - it's very, very difficult to pick out any one individual."
Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy:
"It's become a bit of a bad habit of ours, giving teams goal starts and two-goal starts and it's got to stop.
"I can't just give you one answer why we are defending the way we are and I've been at pains to put that right this week - but we just didn't start well.
"I have to say they started well. They played like us when we were in our pomp last season, playing 4-4-2, people blocking things and stopping us playing. They did it better than we did.
"He (Rhodes) was outstanding, his all-round performance. He messed us around, bumped us, nudged us, blocked things. His goals won the game but his all-round performance was outstanding."
Line-ups
Blackburn
- 30Steele
- 2HenleyBooked at 55mins
- 5Hanley
- 22Duffy
- 14Olsson
- 10Marshall
- 29EvansBooked at 53mins
- 21Akpan
- 32Conway
- 16LawrenceSubstituted forWilliamsonat 90+1'minutes
- 11Rhodes
Substitutes
- 3Spurr
- 7Delfouneso
- 17Williamson
- 19Taylor
- 20Petshi
- 26Lenihan
- 33Raya
Ipswich
- 1Gerken
- 4Chambers
- 5Smith
- 6BerraBooked at 64mins
- 2Parr
- 7Maitland-NilesBooked at 57minsSubstituted forPitmanat 59'minutes
- 22Douglas
- 8Skuse
- 39ToureBooked at 20minsSubstituted forMcGoldrickat 53'minutes
- 20Sears
- 9MurphySubstituted forOarat 82'minutes
Substitutes
- 10McGoldrick
- 11Pitman
- 15Oar
- 17Bru
- 21Malarczyk
- 29Emmanuel
- 33Bialkowski
- Referee:
- Andre Marriner
- Attendance:
- 12,672
Match Stats
Home TeamBlackburnAway TeamIpswich
- Possession
- Home40%
- Away60%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away3
- Corners
- Home5
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away15
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Blackburn Rovers 2, Ipswich Town 0.
Offside, Blackburn Rovers. Shane Duffy tries a through ball, but Jordan Rhodes is caught offside.
Offside, Ipswich Town. Tommy Oar tries a through ball, but David McGoldrick is caught offside.
Corner, Ipswich Town. Conceded by Ben Marshall.
Substitution
Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Lee Williamson replaces Tom Lawrence.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Brett Pitman (Ipswich Town) because of an injury.
Offside, Blackburn Rovers. Markus Olsson tries a through ball, but Jordan Rhodes is caught offside.
Jonathan Douglas (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Tom Lawrence (Blackburn Rovers).
Foul by Christophe Berra (Ipswich Town).
Jordan Rhodes (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Ipswich Town. Tommy Oar replaces Daryl Murphy.
Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Dean Gerken.
Attempt saved. Jordan Rhodes (Blackburn Rovers) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Craig Conway.
Foul by Jonathan Douglas (Ipswich Town).
Tom Lawrence (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt missed. Grant Hanley (Blackburn Rovers) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Craig Conway with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Christophe Berra.
Attempt blocked. Jordan Rhodes (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is blocked. Assisted by Corry Evans.
Foul by Christophe Berra (Ipswich Town).
Jordan Rhodes (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, Blackburn Rovers. Jason Steele tries a through ball, but Ben Marshall is caught offside.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Tom Lawrence (Blackburn Rovers) because of an injury.
Attempt missed. Ben Marshall (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
Attempt saved. Adam Henley (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Corry Evans.
Attempt missed. Jonathan Douglas (Ipswich Town) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Brett Pitman with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Ipswich Town. Conceded by Jason Steele.
Attempt saved. Luke Chambers (Ipswich Town) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Daryl Murphy.
Corner, Ipswich Town. Conceded by Grant Hanley.
Attempt blocked. Shane Duffy (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is blocked. Assisted by Craig Conway.
Brett Pitman (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Markus Olsson (Blackburn Rovers).
Booking
Christophe Berra (Ipswich Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Christophe Berra (Ipswich Town).
Jordan Rhodes (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Freddie Sears (Ipswich Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jonathan Parr.
Jordan Rhodes (Blackburn Rovers) hits the right post with a right footed shot from outside the box. Assisted by Corry Evans.