IPSWICH TOWN 3
Chaplin 31, Sarmiento 81, Hutchinson 90+2
BIRMINGHAM CITY 1
James 45+1
KIERAN McKenna hailed his “excellent” Ipswich side as victory over Birmingham extended their winning run to four games.
Conor Chaplin opened the scoring for the Tractor Boys, but Birmingham equalised in the closing minutes of the first half through Jordan James.
Jeremy Sarmiento put Town ahead, before Omari Hutchinson wrapped up the points in stoppage time.
The result means Ipswich are level on points with second-placed Leeds, but have an inferior goal difference.
Boss McKenna said: “It was a really good performance and I was pleased with all aspects of it.
“We were really good off the ball, aggressive against a good footballing team, and attacked well.
“It was an excellent performance and a really good day.
“I thought we started the game excellently and we didn’t let up too much in the first half. They tried to break the flow and I felt like the goal was coming.
“Of course Wes (Burns) going off that’s something you have to respond to and then Omari (Hutchinson) comes on and does great.
“We knew we had players on the bench who could make an impact, but the players on the pitch shared their belief that if we kept doing the right things the goal would come.”
City’s early appeal for a penalty was turned aside by referee Gavin Ward when Luke Woolfenden challenged Tyler Roberts in the home box. At the other end, a sweeping cross by Burns was taken off the toes of Kieffer Moore at the far post by a sliding Marc Roberts.
Ipswich were dominating the opening quarter of the game and took the lead through Chaplin in the 31st minute – the first time the hosts
