Ipswich Town vs Bristol Rovers

Tonight's programme also includes the thoughts of Kieran McKenna, Mark Ashton and Sam Morsy plus an update on Ipswich Town Foundation's community work. There ...

League One leaders Ipswich Town proved too strong for Bristol Rovers on Tuesday night, with the Gas falling to a 2-0 defeat at Portman Road.

As a result, Ipswich slowed the tempo of the game and that gave the Gas chances to attack. First Thomas picked up two yellow cards in the space of five minutes and was sent down the tunnel. Evans’ strike from range was not closed down and crept in at the near post. Bobby Thomas applies the clearance. Rovers were relieved to see him pull the effort across the face of goal and it dribbled out of play before Chaplin could get a touch on it. As the clock hit 11 minutes, the home fans started a chorus of ‘There’s only one Marcus Stewart’ – a show of support for the 49-year-old former Gas and Ipswich striker who wore that number in Suffolk and this week revealed his motor neurone disease diagnosis. In the 23rd, Chaplin opened the scoring with a left-footed finish that the former striker made a living from. Rovers were caught in a storm but, to their credit, they were weathering any further damage as the sanctuary of the interval neared. The Gas went close again deep into first-half stoppage time. One of his better ones came on 25 minutes, tipping Burns’ towering header around the post. With several centre-backs now unavailable through injury and suspension, Barton has plenty on his plate in the days ahead. The Gas were fortunate when Luke Woolfenden’s header inside the first two minutes ricocheted off goalkeeper James Belshaw and onto the bar before being headed clear.

Conor Chaplin and Lee Evans were on target as Town comfortably beat nine-man Bristol Rovers 2-0 at Portman Road to stay top of League One.

Hoole was booked in the 66th minute for clattering into the back of Chaplin’s calves after the Blues forward had skipped away from him. Ladapo laid the ball to Evans 25 yards out from where the Welshman smashed a low shot past Belshaw to his right. Dominic Ball took over on the left of the defence. Woolfenden was too casual as he chested down to Donacien on halfway and the Gas broke towards goal, Clarke hitting a low shot which Walton palmed past his left post. A Town goal was only a matter of time and it finally came in the 24th minute. On 40 a Burns cross from the right was cut out, then a subsequent effort was too close to Belshaw, who claimed. After a swift break, the ball fell to Antony Evans 30 yards out from where he struck a powerful shot which beat Walton but crashed against his right post before being cleared. The striker burst towards the box, cut in and hit a shot which Pirates keeper James Belshaw tipped wide down to his right. From the resultant corner, also on the right, Chaplin’s header was saved down to his left by Belshaw. The Blues immediately went about looking for a second. Referee Young waved away the Blues’ protests. Conor Chaplin and Lee Evans were on target as Town comfortably beat nine-man Bristol Rovers 2-0 at Portman Road to stay top of League One.

Three changes for Rovers this evening... IPSWICH TOWN: Christian Walton, Leif Davis, Sam Morsy ©, Luke Woolfenden, Wes Burns, Lee Evans, Freddie Ladapo, ...

BRISTOL ROVERS: James Belshaw, Lewis Gordon, Alfie Kilgour, Sam Finley ©, Aaron Collins, Harry Anderson, Trevor Clarke, Antony Evans, Luke McCormick, Luca Hoole, Bobby Thomas. IPSWICH TOWN: Christian Walton, Leif Davis, Sam Morsy ©, Luke Woolfenden, Wes Burns, Lee Evans, Freddie Ladapo, Conor Chaplin, Marcus Harness, Cameron Burgess, Janoi Donacien.

Tribute for Queen Elizabeth II at tonight's match. Town welcome Bristol Rovers to Portman Road this evening, looking to remain at the top of Sky Bet League ...

Supporters will have their match ticket/season ticket scanned again when they enter the turnstile of their stand. Supporters will have their match tickets scanned which will provide the Club with an accurate record of FanZone attendance. Supporters are encouraged to buy their tickets online and in advance of the match. Prior to kick-off at tonight's match, we will pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II by observing a minute’s silence in her memory, which will start and end on the referee’s whistle. The away ticket office on Portman Road will be open from 5.30pm for any ticketing enquiries, while the disabled entrance on Constantine Road will open from 5.30pm. The only place to purchase match tickets in person tomorrow is at the matchday ticket office on Constantine Road which will open from 5.30pm.

Town made it back-to-back victories in League One courtesy of a home win over Bristol Rovers. Conor Chaplin and Lee Evans scored either side of half-time to ...

Trevor Clarke then saw a low shot turned around the post by Christian Walton from the corner of the box. First, Antony Evans saw a dipping effort from range come back off of the inside of the post. Marking the number his time at Town became synonymous with, both sets of fans also sang 'there's only one Marcus Stewart'. Chaplin, who had twice been denied by Belshaw following dangerous corners, opened the scoring midway through the half. Backed by a vocal home crowd, Town came close to opening the scoring twice inside the first five minutes. Two minutes later, Ladapo saw a low shot parried by Belshaw, with Wes Burns sliding the ball across the face of the goal from the byline on the left-hand side on the rebound, before Chaplin directed an effort wide from a tight angle.

Conor Chaplin and Lee Evans scored in either half, with Rovers finishing the game with nine men after both Bobby Thomas and Alfie Kilgour were dismissed late on ...

Conor Chaplin and Lee Evans scored in either half, with Rovers finishing the game with nine men after both Bobby Thomas and Alfie Kilgour were dismissed late on ...