Gwion Edwards and Freddie Sears goals keep Ipswich Town's winning home run going with victory against Accrington Stanley
Second-half strikes from Gwion Edwards and Freddie Sears saw Ipswich Town overcome a stubborn Accrington Stanley side at Portman Road this afternoon, writes Mikey Hale.
After a cagey first half, the in-form Edwards broke the deadlock nine minutes into the second with a well-taken finish from inside the box.
Sears secured the points with 20 minutes remaining, adding to his Carabao Cup brace against Bristol Rovers with his first goal of the 2020/21 League One campaign.
Manager Paul Lambert made one change from the win over Blackpool a week earlier, Sears replacing Oli Hawkins with Alan Judge operating in the middle of the front three.
Sears and Judge combined for the opening chance of the game with just under 15 minutes played, the former being denied by Accrington 'keeper Toby Savin from inside the box after the Irishman had played him in behind the defence.
A deft flick from Joe Pritchard then saw Matt Butcher test Tomas Holy at the other end, the Czech 'keeper collecting his low shot at the second attempt.
Stanley could've taken the lead a few moments later after Holy's attempted clearance hit Andre Dozzell but Colby Bishop couldn't direct his instinctive effort on target from the edge of the D.
Holy was called into action again midway through the half, getting down well to turn away Tariq Uwakwe's free-kick away from 25 yards, Pritchard volleying wide a few moments later as Accrington had their best spell of the match.
Savin kept the scores level at the other end just short of the half-hour mark, denying Sears from inside the six-yard box after Gwion Edwards' cross had bounced off Mark Hughes at the front post.
Stanley 'skipper Seamus Conneely drilled a long-range effort not too far over the frame of Holy's goal before seeing a second effort blocked by James Wilson as Accy ended the half as the stronger side.
Teddy Bishop turned his man in the middle of the park before driving forward and firing wide from 25 yards in the first opening of a second half where Blues upped the intensity.
Town took the lead two minutes later. Sears played a left-footed pass into the path of Edwards, who took one touch before finishing into the bottom left corner from just inside the area.
Holy dived down to his left to make another impressive save from Conneely's moving effort from range to maintain Town's advantage just over 10 minutes later.
Judge pounced on an error in the Accrington defence before playing in Sears, who coolly chipped the onrushing 'keeper to make it 2-0 midway through the half.
Keanan Bennetts was introduced from the bench to make his home debut and could have added a third on two occasions.
First he saw a shot deflected off Ross Sykes into the grateful grasp of Savin before another was blocked in stoppage time, with Andre Dozzell's rebound also hitting a wall of bodies from a recovering Accrington defence.
It leaves Town with a one point advantage from Hull City at the Sky Bet League One summit after six matches.
The Blues travel to Doncaster Rovers' Keepmoat Stadium on Tuesday (7pm).
Town: Holy, Chambers (C), Nsiala, Wilson, Kenlock, Dozzell, Huws (Nolan 74), Bishop, Judge (Bennetts 84), Sears (Simpson 90), Edwards.
Unused subs: Cornell, Woolfenden, McGuinness, Lankester.
Accrington: Savin, Nottingham, Hughes, Burgess, Sykes, Butcher, Russell, Pritchard, Uwakwe, Bishop, Conneely (C) (Cassidy 75).
Unsued subs: Baxter, Allen, Barclay, Rodgers, Scully, Mohammed.