Ipswich one point from promotion after defeating Coventry

Ipswich Town battled to all three points on the road against Coventry City to put them in pole position for promotion to the Premier League.

The visitors had the best possible start to the game when Wes Burns picked up the ball on the right and cut it back for Kieffer Moore who was in the right place to fire home.

But the Sky Blues reacted well to going behind early on and grew into the game. Ben Sheaf saw a long-range effort go wild while a later scramble in the Ipswich box required an instinctive save from Václav Hladký.

Despite that, the Tractor Boys should have doubled their lead just before the break when once again Burns caused problems on the right with Nathan Broadhead's resulting header well saved by Bradley Collins.

There was a notable substitution early into the second half when referee James Bell couldn't continue with fourth official Dean Whitestone taking his place on the pitch following a long interval.

Collins almost made a howler with just under an hour gone in the game when he gave the ball away with Broadhead's effort bouncing off the bar and saving the goalkeeper's blushes.

Coventry always looked capable of scoring and they equalised in the 64th minute when Kasey Palmer's clever pass found Haji Wright who was able to turn and fire a powerful effort into the goal.

Ipswich almost fought back instantly when again the home side were caught playing the ball at the back, substitute Jeremy Sarmiento pounced but his attempt was saved by Collins.

The winning goal came five minutes after Wright's leveller. A set-piece from the left was sent to the back post where Coventry couldn't clear their lines. Cameron Burgess picked up the pieces and did well to find space for his shot that squeezed in off the post.

That earlier referee change contributed to 11 minutes of added time – something that must have felt ten times as long for the travelling support.

Kieran McKenna's side managed to hang on though and they go second on 93 points, ahead of third-placed Leeds United on 90 and a superior goal difference.

That means that a point against relegation-threatened Huddersfield Town at home will be enough for Ipswich to seal promotion to the Premier League while Leeds must defeat Southampton and hope for the best.

UP THE TOWN!!! pic.twitter.com/JQebWd940D

— Ipswich Town (@IpswichTown) April 30, 2024