Blackburn 2-0 Ipswich: Double for Jordan Rhodes

Jordan Rhodes continued his fine goalscoring form and bagged a brace as Blackburn defeated Ipswich 2-0 at Ewood Park.

The damage was done in the first 16 minutes as Rhodes once again gave his former employers a miserable afternoon.

His first was from the spot after Hope Akpan had been upended 12 minutes in and an excellent header four minutes later - his seventh of the season - dealt Ipswich a blow they never recovered from.

While Jason Steele saved well from Daryl Murphy late in the first half, he was rarely needed and it was the home side who were far more dangerous. Rhodes could have had more but for the post and a superb Dean Gerken save.

But it did not matter as Blackburn registered a second win in three games and a third successive clean sheet at Ewood Park.

For Ipswich, their woeful run at Blackburn continues. They have not won at Ewood Park since 1991 in the league and it is the first time they have failed to score in 22 league games.

Akpan was recalled in place of the injured Danny Guthrie while Town boss Mick McCarthy made two enforced changes as Jonathan Parr and Larsen Toure replaced Jonas Knudsen and Ryan Fraser.

Rovers were given a gilt-edged opportunity to take an early lead when Akpan surged into the box and was hauled down by Toure 11 minutes in.

Former Tractor Boy Rhodes needed no invitation and duly slotted into the bottom-right corner and compounded the Ipswich's misery five minutes later with a superb 12-yard header from Craig Conway's cross - his sixth goal in the last six games against his former side.

Though Ipswich were poor for much of the half, Murphy sent a warning to Blackburn a minute before the break with a powerful low drive that Steele tipped behind.

Ipswich brought on David McGoldrick and Brett Pitman for the last 30 minutes but at the other end Rhodes went agonisingly close to his hat-trick as he curled a 20 yard effort goalwards that clattered a post after good work from Corry Evans.

At the other end, Steele thwarted Freddie Sears with his feet as the forward burst into the box and then made a terrific save to tip away a Luke Chambers piledriver from 35 yards.

Adam Henley forced a fine save from Gerken towards the end and eight minutes from time another superb header was destined for the corner but the Ipswich goalkeeper palmed away.

Ipswich were denied a late consolation as Steele saved from Jonathan Parr to ensure Rovers kept a clean sheet on an impressive afternoon.

Blackburn manager Gary Bowyer:

"I think it's probably the most complete performance since we've been in charge. We came out of the traps ever so well, scored two goals very quickly and continued to play some excellent stuff. We got to half-time and knew with the firepower Ipswich have got, that we were going to be under the cosh in the second half and that proved to be the case."

Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy:

"It's become a bit of a bad habit of ours, giving teams goal starts and two-goal starts and it's got to stop. I can't just give you one answer why we are defending the way we are and I've been at pains to put that right this week - but we just didn't start well."