Ipswich Town 2-1 Sunderland: Tractor Boys win to regain second spot

Conor Chaplin’s rocket header ensured Ipswich Town moved back into the Championship top two with victory over play-off chasing Sunderland.

Leif Davis curled in a perfect free-kick for Tractor Boys forward Chaplin to beat Anthony Patterson with a powerful finish, after Adil Aouchiche made a silly challenge on the wing-back.

It was a winner that came just minutes after Sunderland had fluffed their own big chance, with substitute Aouchiche’s miserable couple of minutes compounded when he failed to hit the target with the goal gaping.

Sunderland had taken the lead in the firsthalf when Jack Clarke hammered the ball beyond Vaclav Hladky following a pass from Abdoullah Ba.

Town levelled when new signing Lewis Travis slid a ball through that Chaplin helped into Kayden Jackson’s path with a cute touch, and the forward curled smartly beyond Patterson.

Chaplin’s header put them ahead and there might have been even more for the home fans to cheer but for Luke Woolfenden only turning onto the post from another Davis free-kick.

Ipswich answered a few questions about their strength of purpose with this result, beating a side with ambitions of a top-six finish and coming from behind in order to do so, following their recent sticky patch.

Four draws and a thumping by Leeds with an injury-stretched squad had tested the resources but with some key players back like Newcastle-born Davis and new blood introduced in Travis, they showed the required mettle to earn maximum points.

Chaplin, in particular, was key, not only with his goal and assist, but his leadership and forward prompting, and might have had had one earlier but for Patterson.

Wes Burns also caused problems with a stinging cross, while Jackson fired over another chance over the bar and Davis had a ferocious effort well saved.

Sunderland were thrashed in a Tyne-Wear derby against Newcastle last time out and hoped to put that disappointment behind them by gaining a result in Suffolk.

They showed positive signs, notably in a first-half purple patch when they dominated possession and Jobe Bellingham was denied by Hladky.

But Michael Beale’s side will feel this was an opportunity missed, particularly given Aouchiche’s failure to find the net and the subsequent punishment Chaplin delivered.

They remain outside the top six on goal difference, with Coventry currently occupying the final play-off place after their early-afternoon victory over leaders Leicester.