Report: Town 1-0 Scunthorpe

Town moved six points clear of the relegation zone after beating Scunthorpe 1-0 at Portman Road earlier this afternoon.

Town made just one change from the team that beat Cardiff City 2-0 in midweek, Pablo Counago starting in place of David Healy.

Town started brightly breaking through the 5 man Scunthorpe midfield to allow Jon Walters fire to just over from outside the area from 20 yards.

The game did slow down very quickly but Town did create further chances, Walters missed the target from close range after some good build up play from Daryl Murphy and Counago.

Scunthorpe could have grabbed the lead against the run of play in the 24th minute, Hayes was left unmarked by the Town defence allowing Sparrow to square the ball to him, Hayes' shot was blocked by Brian Murphy and Gareth McAuley was on hand to clear the lose ball which appeared to heading goalwards.

Walters again couldn't hit the target from close range and Pablo Counago brought a save out of Scunthorpe ‘keeper Joe Murphy with a 20-yard effort. Pablo hit the bar from a Garvan corner.

It was 0-0 at the start of the second half. Connor Wickham replaced Daryl Murphy after 49 minutes, Murphy heading straight down the tunnel with Town's physio after going off.

Walters was denied in the 53rd minute, Murphy tipping his effort over the bar. Gareth McAuley had an effort cleared just as it looked to be going in.

Counago had Town's best chance of the game in the 63rd minute, latching onto a poor back pass from the Scunthorpe defence, Joe Murphy closes Pablo down, forcing the Spaniard to go round the ‘keeper and take the shot, only for Williams to clear the ball as it headed towards the goal.

Scunthorpe were reduced to 10-men in the 68th minute, Cliff Byrne being shown a straight red card for what appeared to be an elbow on Jack Colback.

David Norris headed a cross from Shane O'Connor wide with 15 minutes to go as Town continued to knock on the Scunthorpe door but not get in.

Town were reduced to 10-men with 10 minutes left to play when Damien Delaney was shown a red card for a trip on Jonathan Forte on the halfway line with Town defenders still behind the ball.

Town finally got the goal they will feel they deserved in the 92nd minute, Connor Wickham scored his first league goal, turning in the box and firing home.

Ipswich Town: B Murphy; D Wright, McAuley, Delaney, O'Connor; Walters, Norris, Garvan (sub Edwards 73 mins), Colback; Counago (Healy 73), D Murphy (Wickham 49).
Substitutes: Lee-Barrett, Balkestein, Martin, Peters.

Scunthorpe: J Murphy; Byrne, Mirfin, Raynes, Williams; Thompson, Sparrow, McCann (J Wright 90), Togwell, Woolford; Hayes (Forte 65).
Substitutes: Lillis, A Wright, Milne, Jones, McDermott.

Referee: Mr P Miller (Bedfordshire)

Attendance: 19,378

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