IPSWICH Town notched their first Championship double of the season to make it three league wins on the trot against relegation-haunted Sheffield United at Portman Road on Saturday.

Ipswich Town 3-0 Sheffield United

IPSWICH Town notched their first Championship double of the season to make it three league wins on the trot against relegation-haunted Sheffield United at Portman Road on Saturday.

There were calls of ‘Sign him on’ after soon to be out of contract Damien Delaney netted in the 29th minute to put Town ahead.

And there were similar chants when skipper David Norris netted a second goal in the 57th minute.

Connor Wickham netted a superb individual goal in the 86th minute to lift Portman Road after Grant Leadbitter had seen his penalty saved.

The Blades had two players sent off in the 87th minute in a game where individually Ipswich all did well but collectively for much of the game they could not make things click.

Town kept an unchanged side from the one that beat Derby County 2-1 at Pride Park on Tuesday with Bullard making his home debut. Drury, who was also signed during the January transfer window, was not included in the squad with the same seven substitutes that did duty against the Rams named again.

The Blades included former Town striker Bent, who is now with his 14th club, but fellow front man Evans was missing.

Despite Town having won their two previous matches there were a lot of empty seats around the stadium as the players warmed-up.

It was a dry afternoon with the pitch in good condition although there was a blustery wind for the players to cope with.

It was certainly not a cohesive start by either side with Town struggling to get into the United half in the early stages.

The standard of football was not of a high level at all until the 29th minute when Ipswich took the lead. Wickham had earlier missed the far post by a foot.

In his 50th league game for Town, Delaney headed powerfully into the net from a Bullard free-kick after the visiting defence had been drawn towards the near post. It was the defender’s third goal of the season.

Edwards had to display considerable skills right in front of goal while facing his own net after Leadbitter failed to cut out a low cross in the 36th minute. Fulop could only watch as Edwards dealt well with a situation that saw two opponents at his back as he somehow flicked the ball away.

It was a lack lustre opening 45 minutes which precious little to raise the pulse.

Ipswich lived dangerously at the re-start with a couple of astute passes by Bent putting the Blues in serious trouble with Norris and then McAuley coming to the rescue.

But they went further ahead in the 53rd minute after the Blades failed to clear a Town corner. Delaney curled in a teasing cross and skipper Norris arrived on cue at the far post to hook the ball into the net for his ninth goal of the campaign.

Priskin struck the post in the 57th minute following a tremendous long ball forward by Edwards; the striker unlucky after lobbing well over the keeper.

Town were awarded a penalty in the 82nd when Lowry blatantly charged into Priskin following a cross by Wickham. The offence was spotted by an assistant referee, but Leadbitter’s low spot kick was saved by Simonsen diving to his left.

Soon after Norris was denied by the keeper when Town broke with men over but Town were not to be denied a third goal when Wickham ran from the half-way line to score a memorable individual goal – his second of the season.

It all took off after that with Kozluk shown a straight red for using his hands against a grounded Martin and Williamson shown a second yellow card after disputing the decision.

Teams

Ipswich Town: Fulop; Edwards, McAuley, Delaney, Kennedy; Martin (Civelli 89), Norris, Leadbitter, Bullard (Healy 83), Wickham, Priskin (Scotland 89). Substitutes: Lee-Barrett, Smith, Peters, O’Dea.

Sheffield United: Simonsen; Parrino (Kozluk 60), Ertl, Collins, Lowry; Williamson, Montgomery, Doyle (Quinn 56), Cresswell; Bogdanovic, Bent (Yeates 56). Substitutes: Jordan, Calve, Lowton, Long.

Referee: Mr D Phillips (West Sussex)

Attendance: 18,280 (429 Sheffield United)

.

IPSWICH TOWN v SHEFFIELD UNITED MATCH RATINGS

Ipswich Town: Fulop 7; Edwards 7, McAuley 7, Delaney 7, Kennedy 7; Martin 7, Norris 7, Leadbitter 7, Bullard 7, Wickham 7, Priskin 7.

Sheffield United: Simonsen 7; Parrino 6, Ertl 6, Collins 5, Lowry 5; Williamson 6, Montgomery 6, Doyle 5, Cresswell 5; Bogdanovic 6, Bent 6.

.

MATCH STATS

Ipswich Town 3

Goals: Delaney 29, Norris 53, Wickham 86

Bookings: -.

Sent off: -

Shots on target: 7

Shots off target: 6

Woodwork: 1

Corners: 6

Free-kicks conceded (including off sides): 18

.

Sheffield United 0

Goals: -

Bookings: Doyle 32, Lowry 70, Williamson 75 and 87.

Sent off: - Kozluk 87, Williamson 87

Shots on target: 1

Shots off target: 3

Woodwork: -

Corners: 7

Free-kicks conceded (including off sides): 13