Ipswich Town 2-1 Sunderland AFC
Conor Chaplin’s header defeated Sunderland AFC at Ipswich Town on Saturday evening.
A stunning strike by Jack Clarke opened the scoring at Portman Road, with excellent build-up play from Abdoullah Ba crafting the opportunity for the Black Cats’ leading marksman.
Kayden Jackson replied for the Tractor Boys before the interval, with substitute Adil Aouchiche spurning an excellent opportunity after the hour mark.
Ipswich led with 75 minutes played when Chaplin connected with Leif Davis’ cross, as the Black Cats returned to Wearside empty-handed.
Ba returned to the starting XI at Portman Road and Nazariy Rusyn dropped to the bench, as Jay Matete was named in the matchday squad for the first time this season.
Jewison Bennette was also amongst the substitutes, with former Black Cat Nathan Broadhead lining up for Kieran McKenna’s side.
A frantic start saw chances fall at both ends, with Vaclav Hladky denying Jobe before Jackson went within inches of turning home Wes Burns’ low cross at the back post.
Talismanic defending followed by Luke O’Nien, who read the danger with poise and precision to slide and block Jack Taylor’s goalbound strike inside the 18-yard box.
There was no stopping what came next, as Clark unleashed an unstoppable 20-yard piledriver that left Hladky rooted to the spot.
Ipswich responded and Anthony Patterson had to be at his best, with the England Under-21 international’s fingertips diverting Harry Clarke’s drilled effort a fraction wide.
The Tractor Boys eventually found a way past Patterson to restore parity before the interval, as the ball deflected to Jackson and he ruthlessly found the corner.
Alex Pritchard mustered the first meaningful attempt of the second period, but the midfielder’s 20-yard free-kick whistled over the crossbar.
Patterson denied Clarke before the hour mark, with Beale making his first change shortly after when Aouchiche replaced Ba.
Persistence from Jobe led to the Frenchman having an immediate sight at goal, but with the Ipswich defence scrambling he failed to find the target.
Chaplin made no mistake with 15 minutes remaining, rising to head home the winner from a free kick carelessly conceded by the Black Cats in their defensive third.
Ipswich Town: Hladky, Clarke, Woolfenden, Edmundson, Davis, Travis (Ball 68), Taylor, Burns (Hutchinson 68), Chaplin, Broadhead (Harness 89), Jackson (Sarmiento 68).
Substitutes: Walton, Tuanzebe, Humphreys, Aluko, Ladapo.
Sunderland AFC: Patterson, Hume, Ballard, O’Nien, Alese, Neil, Ekwah, Pritchard (Rusyn 84), Jobe (Burstow 89), Clarke, Ba (Aouchiche 65).
Substitutes: Bishop, Seelt, Triantis, Matete, Bennette, Hemir.