Bristol Rovers’ Carabao Cup run is cut short after Kieran Mckenna’s Tractor Boys find two goals at home.
Three changes to the starting xi for Rovers after the season opener in Portsmouth as Marquis, Wilson and Connolly make way for Sinclair, Crama and Taylor.
Neither team showed any attacking prowess in the first 10 minutes until the away side broke the midfield deadlock with a chance from Jevani Brown, which fizzled out to a shot at the centre of Cieran Slicker’s goal.
Pressure mounted for the Rovers’ defensive line shortly after when Ipswich Town’s Kayden Jackson made a sprint down the right wing and played a cross that beat Gordon and Crama leaving Jack Taylor open in the box who opened the scoring by firing a right-footed shot at the centre of the goal making the scoreline 1-0.
Ipswich persisted in applying the pressure and enjoyed large spells of possession resulting in several shots on the Rovers’ goal.
Crama was called into action in the 32’ minute when he headed the ball off the line after a miscommunication at the back saw Cox being caught off his line.
The Gas swiftly responded with a shot from distance by Grant Ward which took a deflection and demanded Slicker to get down low to keep the scoreline 1-0.
The remainder of the first half saw next to no action as the scoreline stayed the same and both teams enjoyed equal shares of possession.
One change for Bristol Rovers at the break; John Marquis on, Scott Sinclair off.
The home side get the first chance of the second half after Ladapo poked a shot at Cox’s near post which was well saved and pushed out for a corner. The subsequent corner resulted in Cox coming out and punching the ball away.
Ipswich’s Omari Hutchinson was the first to be booked after he snapped at Crama’s ankles when he took the ball off the winger’s foot.
Rovers created more chances in the second half all of them coming through the path of John Marquis.
Rovers’ substitution in the 62’ minute; Taylor off, Connolly on.
A good chance came the Pirate's way 63 minutes in after Marquis finds Collins in the centre of the box and his shot at goal is deflected to be saved by Slicker’s feet.
Rovers’ substitution in the 65’ minute; Finley off, Evans on.
The away side’s back line was called into action again after a series of first-time shots were blocked by many of Rovers’ players.
75 minutes in Brown’s shot was dragged past the far post after he was found in the box by Marquis.
Immediately down the other end of the pitch, Sone Aluko fires a shot past Cox after the ball is cut back inside the box. 2-0 to Ipswich.
Substitutions for Rovers in the 77’ minute; Jevani Brown and Lewis Gordon off, Josh Grant and Luke McCormick on.
5 minutes were added on at the end of the second half.
The game ended with a 2-0 victory to the home side after the Gas were unfortunate to not find a goal at Portman Road.
ROVERS XI: Cox, Gordon (Grant 77’), Crama, Taylor (Connolly 62’), Hoole, Sinclair (Marquis 45’), Ward, Finley (Evans 65’), Thomas, Brown (McCormick 77’), Collins.
IPSWICH XI: Slicker, Ball, Edmondson, Baggot, Jackson, Evans, Taylor, Leigh, Hutchinson, Harness, Ladapo.