Ipswich 0-2 Watford

Watford kept the pressure on the Championship's top two with victory over strugglers Ipswich Town. Jonathan Hogg struck the Ipswich bar before Ikechi Anya finished a tidy move to give the visitors the lead. Town dug in and saw Michael Chopra's overhead kick saved before Tommy Smith had an effort ruled out for offside. The hosts continued to increase their foothold in the game but Nathaniel Chalobah's burst forward and finish was enough to see the Hornets home. Watford, chasing a return to the Premier League after a six-year absence, occasionally produced the slick passing and composure that has seen them win seven of their last 10 league games, while Town, unable to match their hosts for quality, displayed the grit and determination required for a Championship relegation fight.

Ipswich 1-0 Blackpool

Michael Chopra helped ease Ipswich's relegation fears as his second-half strike secured victory over Blackpool. Substitute Chopra fired in from 12 yards for his fifth goal of the season after good work by Guirane N'Daw. Tiago Gomes hit the post in the first half for the Seasiders with Ipswich goalkeeper Stephen Henderson turning away Alex Baptiste's goalbound cross. N'Daw also cleared Baptiste's header as Ipswich moved four points clear of the drop zone. The result condemned Blackpool caretaker-manager Steve Thompson to a fifth defeat in his seventh game in charge. Mick McCarthy's Ipswich, who had won only one of their previous six league games, secured back-to-back victories at Portman Road, while Blackpool remain six points clear of the bottom three after only two wins in 10 Championship matches.

Cardiff City 0-0 Ipswich Town

Cardiff boss Malky Mackay was in positive mood despite the 0-0 draw against Ipswich, which was the first time they've failed to score this season. Their opponents were well organised and could have snatched a win through Guirane N'Daw's curling effort that hit the woodwork. Despite that, Cardiff stretched their lead at the top of the Championship to eight points. Mackay said: "We were playing against a team who are right at the top of the form table with a new manager and some new players coming in. They'd only lost two in 10 so if we had not worked as hard as them then we'd have been beaten. "For us to come out with another clean sheet, our fourth in five games, on the back of 13 points out of 15 I'm delighted. "I think you can always hope you can create more chances. We created 20 attempts on their goal but it is the clinical nature of that final pass that was missing. "The conditions were pretty poor in terms of the wind and the rain and I think both sides struggled with that at times." It took Cardiff 27 minutes to create a real chance, Mark Hudson missing the first of two first-half headers in a match short on quality. Craig Bellamy and Aron Gunnarsson both had second-half chances to extend Cardiff's lead at the top of the table but couldn't find a way through.

Match Report: Ipswich 2 Leeds 1

Late goals from substitute Jason Scotland and Keith Andrews helped Ipswich come from behind to beat 10-man Leeds at Portman Road.Ross McCormack headed the visitors into the lead during a first half they largely dominated.But Aidy White's dismissal for a professional foul on Jay Emmanuel-Thomas changed the balance of the game.With 13 minutes to go, Scotland fired in an equaliser from 25 yards before Andrews struck to win it for Town.The former Blackburn midfielder's late strike brought great cheer to the Ipswich fans, who had seen their side lose their previous four matches, including 7-1 and 5-2 losses to Peterborough and Southampton.However, it was cruel on Leeds, who had performed well in the first half and looked in control of the game until White's sending off in the 48th minute for fouling Emmanuel-Thomas as he bore down on goal.Prior to that, the visitors created a number of chances, with keeper David Stockdake saving well from McCormack and both Robert Snodgrass and Max Gradel firing wide.It was no surprise when Scottish striker McCormack broke the deadlock, stealing in to convert a free header from Snodgrass's cross.But, after White's dismissal, the home side used their numerical advantage to come to the fore.United held out until the 77th minute, but they were powerless to prevent Scotland firing his side level with a sweetly-struck effort, five minutes after he had entered the fray.Gradel saw a penalty appeal turned down for the visitors and, with a point apiece looking the likely outcome, up stepped Andrews to drill a deflected effort into the net to send fans at Portman Road wild and consign Leeds to their worst start to a league campaign in 14 years.

Ipswich Capture Sonko

Ipswich Town are set to sign former Reading defender Ibrahima Sonko on a free transfer.

Sonko has been looking for a new club since leaving Stoke Cityat the end of last season and he rejected a move to Greek side PAOK earlier in the summer.

He had been training with his old side Reading in pre-season, but Royals boss Brian McDermott revealed the centre-half turned down the club's contract offer.

The 30-year-old now looks poised to join the Royals' Championship rivals Ipswich after playing for the reserves in a behind-closed-doors game on Tuesday.

Ipswich boss Paul Jewell is anxious to improve his defensive options and is ready to add Sonko to his Portman Road squad.

Jewell is also in the market for a Premier League centre-half, and has been linked with West Brom's Pablo Ibanez and Aston Villa's Shane Lowry

Match Report: Ipswich 2 Southampton 5

Southampton made it three wins from three league matches following a seven-goal thriller at Ipswich.Rickie Lambert opened the scoring with a 12-yard finish and then curled his second into the bottom corner.
David Connolly converted Guly Do Prado's square ball to make it 3-0 before Town reduced the arrears thanks to strikes from Keith Andrews and substitute Jay Emmanuel-Thomas.The pacy Adam Lallana ended the comeback with two low efforts late on.Nigel Adkins's Saints have now scored nine goals in three matches and have won their last nine matches stretching back to last season.The visitors created other chances, with Lallana dragging his shot wide inside the first four minutes while Guly was also fractions off target with a fierce strike.Ipswich also had more opportunities to score. Midfielder Lee Bowyer picked up a lofted ball before firing a shot that was saved by former Town stopper Kelvin Davis.Aaron Cresswell came close to opening his Ipswich account but sent his left-footed strike wide.

Ipswich are 16th having lost two and won one of their three league fixtures.

Match Report:Ipswich Town 0 Hull City 1

Matty Fryatt’s second half goal was enough to give Hull City a 1-0 victory over the Blues at Portman Road. Town had the better of a first period in which ex-Hull defender Damien Delaney had hit the bar, but the Tigers improved after the break with Fryatt making the most of a defensive lapse with 14 minutes remaining.
Town boss Paul Jewell left new signing Keith Andrews, a former Hull player, on the bench, choosing to stick with last week’s side which beat Bristol City 3-0, with the exception of Tommy Smith replacing Ívar Ingimarsson, who is out with a thigh injury, on the right side of central defence.The Blues had the better of the early exchanges but with neither side particularly threatening. On nine Smith diverted a corner over under pressure after the second of two Town corners from the right.Former Blues loanee Liam Rosenior created an opportunity for Matty Fryatt on the edge of the area on 12 but the ex-Leicester man somehow managed miskick the ball in completely the opposite direction.An impressive Mark Kennedy run on 14 ended with the former Republic of Ireland international laying the ball across the six-yard box from the right but no one was there to add the final touch.After Tigers midfielder Paul McKenna had been lucky to avoid a yellow card for clattering into Lee Bowyer after the ball had gone, the Blues went close to going in front. Bowyer sent in a deep cross from the right and Martin just failed to get a touch at the far post, the winger, who had already swapped flanks from right to left, possibly not seeing the ball as it appeared from behind Rosenior at pace.
Left-back Aaron Cresswell went close to an extraordinary first goal for the Blues on 23. Spotting keeper Peter Gulacsi off his line, the former Tranmere man unleashed a dipping effort from 45 yards on the left, the ball nestling in the sidenetting. Moments later, Martin had a go from around half the distance, but went narrowly over.On 28 Hull’s left-sided on-loan Manchester United midfielder Robbie Brady broke through the middle and hit a low shot which Stockdale stopped without fuss.A minute later, Bowyer forced Gulacsi into a sharp save down to his left just inside the post after the former Leeds man had been found on the edge of the box by Cresswell. From the corner, Delaney headed wide.The former Hull City defender, who had been a doubt with an ankle injury, headed over again on 31, then Smith went even closer from another corner soon after with the Blues continuing to look the more threatening side.Hull were inches from a goal in the 38th minute when Corry Evans flicked on Tom Cairney’s corner on the right and Fryatt scuffed wide at the far post.Kennedy made another strong run into the box in the 43rd minute, his stabbed shot deflecting off Hull skipper Jack Hobbs and wrongfooting Gulacsi, who did well to get back across to save down to his right.
A minute later, from what was Town’s seventh corner, Delaney headed off the bar and over. The Blues were continuing to have the better of it as the game moved into injury time, a Martin cross flying across the area and somehow managing to avoid everyone.Blues boss Paul Jewell will have been happy enough with the first half display, the Blues having been on top against a hardly adventurous Hull side and creating a number of opportunities, both from longer distances via Cresswell and Martin, and Delaney and Smith’s closer efforts from corners. Hull had really only had the one opportunity when Fryatt failed to get enough on the near post corner.

David Stockdale made the first save of the second half, coming out to block Fryatt as he closed in on goal from the right.

A minute later, Robert Koren, who scored the goal which was the difference between the two sides at the KC Stadium last season, hit a 25-yard strike which Stockdale did well to push behind for a corner to his left. Soon after, a Town corner was semi-cleared to Bowyer on the edge of the area but his shot looped over.

Hull had started the second half the stronger side with the Blues unable to keep hold of the ball and bring the likes of Martin, Emmanuel-Thomas and Chopra into the game.

On 63 Hobbs headed Cairney’s freekick from just inside the Town half straight at Stockdale when if it had been a foot either side, the Tigers captain would have scored.

New loanee from Blackburn Keith Andrews replaced Mark Kennedy on 65 to make his debut for the Blues. Moments later Koren shot straight at Stockdale, prior to Emmanuel-Thomas sending a low ball into the six-yard box but too close to Gulacsi.

Chopra hit a 25-yard effort straight at Gulacsi on 69, prior to Josh Carson replacing the quiet Jay Emmanuel-Thomas wide on the right. Five minutes later, Leadbitter’s low shot flew wide.

The visitors went ahead in the 76th minute when the Blues were caught short at the back after Delaney and Cresswell pushed forward before Martin lost the ball on the edge of the Hull area. Hobbs played a long clearance towards Fryatt, who was left with only Smith to beat, which he did before slipping the ball past Stockdale.

Blues boss Jewell immediately switched to 4-4-2 with Nathan Ellington taking over from Bowyer and joining Chopra up front. Soon after, Town weren’t far away from an equaliser when Edwards crossed from the left and Martin headed goalwards but without the necessary power to beat Gulacsi.

On 86 Cairney was booked for an ugly challenge on Carson but Cresswell ‘s freekick flew straight into Gulacsi’s arms. Town were huffing and puffing but failing to create anything of note in front of goal.

As the game moved into injury time, Cresswell unleashed a fearsome 25-yarder which only just flew over.

Smith headed over from a corner, but the Blues weren’t really looking like getting back on terms and Gulacsi wasn’t seriously tested again before referee Danny McDrmid blew his whistle.

A disappointing second half in which Hull had been on top from the off, keeping the ball far better than Town and taking one of the game’s rare serious chances when it came.

Town, who had created enough chances before the break to have won it, never got going after the break with Martin, Emmanuel-Thomas and Chopra peripheral figures for the most part.

Aside from another impressive display from Cresswell, there were few positives for Jewell to take from a second 45 minutes little different to Tuesday’s defeat to Northampton.

Match Report:Bristol City 0 Ipswich Town 3

A Michael Chopra brace helped fire Ipswich Town to a 3-0 opening day victory at Bristol City and put the Blues top of the Championship table for the first Saturday of the new season.Having been satisfied with his team's friendly display against Wolverhampton Wanderers last week, Ipswich manager Paul Jewell named an identical side for the trip to Ashton Gate. David Stockdale started in goal with Ivar Ingimarsson and Aaron Cresswell in defence, while Mark Kennedy provided the support behind Lee Bowyer and captain Grant Leadbitter in midfield. Meanwhile Jay Emmanuel-Thomas lined up on the right leaving Michael Chopra as a lone striker.

Emmanuel-Thomas showed some of his skill to set up Kennedy for the first shot of the game on 7 minutes, the veteran midfielder firing over from 18 yards. A minute later, Edwards rolled the ball to Leadbitter whose effort appeared to clip the top of the crossbar as it curled over.

With a quarter of an hour gone however, the Blues were in front. David James came out to collect Kennedy's long ball forward but Michael Chopra managed to reach it first and found the perfect touch to lift the ball over the onrushing Bristol keeper into the net to make it 1-0.

Kennedy had a shot blocked after more good work from Emmanuel-Thomas as the Blues kept up their bright start, but City gradually began to get into the game as the half wore on, Marvin Elliott forcing a good save from Stockdale who tipped his header around the post.

Chances were few and far between for either side as half time approached, Liam Fontaine heading wide of the near post from Jamal Campbell-Ryce's corner before referee Mark Haywood blew for the end of the first half.

Bristol had slowly begun to put pressure on Ipswich after Chopra's opening goal, but the Town defence was holding off the danger reasonably well, young full-back Cresswell putting in a particularly impressive display along with Lee Martin on the left.

Neither manager made any changes at the break as the second half began, Bristol's Nicky Maynard having a goal ruled out by the offside flag shortly after the restart.

Five minutes after thinking they had found an equaliser, the hosts instead found themselves 2-0 down. Emmanuel-Thomas played a superb through ball along the floor to send Lee Martin dashing towards goal, the winger shrugging off pressure from two City defenders before slotting coolly across James and into the far side of the net.

Eager to get themselves back into the game, Bristol started to up the pressure, Elliott heading wide on 53 minutes. Stockdale was then forced into a diving save low to his right from Campbell-Ryce before Albert Adomah volleyed wide from Ingimarsson's nod on at the subsequent corner.

Right on the hour mark however, Town extended their lead. With Michael Chopra keeping up the pressure, a poor backpass put James in such a muddle that he hit his attempted clearance into the Town striker's body, allowing him to roll the ball into the empty net for his second goal of the day - and sixth in eight matches including pre-season.

Ipswich were now cruising to a win that was temporarily putting them top of the Championship table by virtue of goal difference, something which the 1,700 travelling Blues fans in the Wedlock Stand were making plenty of noise about. Meanwhile on the pitch, Brett Pitman and former Town transfer target Neil Kilkenny replaced Jon Stead and Campbell-Ryce for the hosts while Tommy Smith came on for Damien Delaney after the Blues defender suffered a minor knock.

Maynard curled a shot into the arms of Stockdale and Elliott headed wide from a corner as the hosts tried to salvage something from the game. The Blues were then left thanking their new keeper for preserving their clean sheet with a fantastic save from point blank range to deny Maynard.

Robins boss Keith Millen made his final chance with Martyn Woolford replacing Jamie McAllister, but Town were still threatening further goals, Leadbitter dragging a shot wide on 75 minutes. At the other end, Adomah and Elliott spurned chances before Leadbitter again found the woodwork, his low drive hitting the foot of the near post.

With 5 minutes of normal time left, Emmanuel-Thomas was taken off to applause from the away supporters to replaced by Josh Carson. Four minutes later, goalscorer Chopra recieved a rapturous sendoff as he left the field to be replaced by fellow summer signing Nathan Ellington.

As four minutes of injury time arrived, Bristol City continued to waste chances from set-pieces with Carson in particular threatening on the counter attack for Town. However, there were to be no further goals as Haywood sounded the final whistle to wrap up an excellent first day win for the Blues.

Boss Jewell will be delighted to see Chopra opening his account so quickly, his two goals demonstrating his natural ability to capitalise on the opportunities given to him. Emmanuel-Thomas offered plenty of attacking threat as well as height whilst youngster Cresswell - despite being only 5ft 7in - was able to get his head to just about every long ball by the hosts.

Stockdale impressed with a couple of key saves to ensure Town kept the clean sheet, while Martin's goal capped off an excellent performance overall and Leadbitter will consider himself unlucky not to have made the scoreline even more emphatic.