Ipswich Town inflicted only a second league defeat of the season on runaway Championship leaders Coventry City, producing a ruthless 3-0 victory at Portman Road that owed as much to Christian Walton's excellence in goal as it did to clinical finishing at the other end. Sindre Walle Egeli struck just before half-time, George Hirst added a second on the hour and substitute Ivan Azon finished the job in stoppage time to end the Sky Blues' five-match winning run.
The result lifts Ipswich up to fourth place and to within five points of the automatic promotion spots, a significant boost for Kieran McKenna's side after an inconsistent spell of form. For Coventry, whose lead at the top is trimmed to seven points following Middlesbrough's win at Hull, it was a rare off-day in front of goal without injured top scorer Brandon Thomas-Asante, and their first blank since a goalless draw at Leicester in September.
Walton's Heroics Set The Platform In A Nervy Opening
The early exchanges were cagey and scrappy, reflecting McKenna's observation that the ball was hardly in play during the opening stages. Ipswich fashioned the first notable effort when Egeli tried his luck from just outside the area in the 10th minute, forcing Carl Rushworth into a routine save, while a physical contest quickly developed, with Hirst booked for a foul on Liam Kitching and Josh Eccles cautioned soon after for kicking the ball away.