Ipswich Town strengthened their Championship promotion credentials with a commanding 3-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers at Portman Road, extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to six matches. An early own goal from Blackburn debutant Eiran Cashin and Jack Taylor's close-range finish put the hosts in complete control inside 12 minutes, before former Rovers favourite Sam Szmodics added a late third against his old club.
While the Tractor Boys carved out a stream of chances and could easily have won by a greater margin, injury-hit Blackburn never mustered a shot on target and were largely second best throughout. Goalkeeper Balazs Toth kept the visitors competitive with several important saves, and both sides had penalty appeals turned down in a second half that mixed Ipswich pressure with refereeing controversy.
Early Blitz Leaves Rovers Reeling
Town got off to the perfect start in the third minute thanks to a combination of energetic pressing and a stroke of misfortune for Rovers debutant Cashin. George Hirst won the ball high up the pitch in the Blackburn half and released Jaden Philogene on the left, and when Philogene slipped the ball inside to Marcelino Nunez, the midfielder's sweeping low cross was diverted into his own net by Brighton loanee Cashin.