Ipswich Town reignited their automatic promotion push with a controlled 2-0 victory over Watford at Vicarage Road, courtesy of goals from Sindre Walle Egeli and substitute George Hirst. Egeli volleyed in from a first-half free-kick rebound before Hirst, only three minutes after coming off the bench, forced home a second, while goalkeeper Christian Walton preserved the points by saving Tom Ince's late penalty.
The result, Ipswich's sixth away win of the campaign, lifted Kieran McKenna's side back up to third place and provided exactly the response he wanted after they conceded five goals at Wrexham on Saturday. For Watford, it was a first defeat for new head coach Ed Still, whose team improved markedly after the break but were left to rue a disputed free-kick for the opener, a missed spot-kick and several near misses.
Ipswich's Fast Start Pins Watford Back
Both managers made four changes from the weekend, with Watford again without talented winger Othmane Maamma and Ipswich missing influential wing-back Leif Davis because of a knock. Still deployed five at the back and plenty of bodies behind the ball, but Ipswich quickly took control of territory and tempo, pressing high and moving the ball with the zip McKenna had demanded after the Wrexham collapse.