Ipswich Town 3-1 Millwall: Conor Chaplin helps Tractor Boys return to winning ways

Ipswich moved to within a point of leaders Leicester as they dismantled Millwall with another goal-laden display at Portman Road.

Millwall already looked ragged by the time Leif Davis’ pinpoint cross – his eighth assist of the season – allowed an unmarked Nathan Broadhead to plant a firm header into the left corner to cap a one-sided first half.

Ipswich spurned more chances after the break before Ryan Longman’s cross found Kevin Nisbet, who hooked in a fine consolation.

A seventh straight home league win brings second-placed Ipswich closer to leaders Leicester following the Foxes’ surprise draw at bottom side Sheffield Wednesday.

A second successive defeat for new Millwall boss Joe Edwards leaves Millwall in 19th, seven points above the drop zone.

The Championship’s most potent attack were denied an attempt on target in defeat at West Brom on Saturday, yet any concerns about how they would respond were quickly dispelled.

This was the ninth time in 10 matches the Tractor Boys have netted three times or more at Portman Road this season, and they have now scored an incredible 28 goals in nine Championship home matches.

Millwall arrived with just one league defeat on the road this season, and having conceded just seven goals in eight away trips, but were a beaten side at the break, their only first-half chance seeing Vaclav Hladky turn Brooke Norton-Cuffy’s deflected shot around the post at full stretch.

The visitors were unable to live with the quick incisive play from Ipswich’s waves of attack, typified by Town’s second goal as Wes Burns, Hirst and Chaplin combined to tee up Luongo – and had the Lions chasing shadows.

Bartosz Bialkowski’s fingertips also denied Hirst’s first-time piledriver, while Burns smacked a shot against the right-hand post after another brisk counter.

Kieran McKenna’s side looked likely to further improve their goal difference after the break, and would have comfortably done so without their former keeper Bialkowski.

The Lions stopper denied the imperious Chaplin and also pulled off a stunning double save to deny both second-half sub Dane Scarlett and Josh Harness, while Luongo came within inches of adding a second in identical fashion to his first-half strike.

Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna told BBC Radio Suffolk:

“I thought we played well, not perfect, but we played well and were good value for the win – and could have had another couple of goals in the second half and a clean sheet, but you don’t get everything.

“We said we were going to attack the season and we want to give the people here entertainment and football to enjoy, and plenty of goals. We’ll keep trying to attack it and be ready for the different challenges.

“Millwall changed to a back five tonight to try and stop us in different ways, West Brom did a good job defensively against us in a different way on Saturday.

“So we need to keep working to improve and be adaptable, and ready for whichever way teams come to try and defend against us.”

Millwall head coach Joe Edwards said:

“We were beaten by a very good side. I can accept when you lose to a side that are in the form that they’re in at the moment that they can be as clinical as they are and continue to be around the goal.

“I can accept losing but the manner of it is the issue.

“We didn’t get going from the off, the basics of the game, we were second to everything. They have got pace in their team, we were well aware of that, everything that they have done to us tonight is not something we have not seen.

“We came with a plan, well prepared to do it but we simply didn’t execute it. We weren’t good with any of the real basics of the game, as well as showing high levels of quality which we really lacked.”