Ipswich Town down Millwall in comfortable 3-1 win at Portman Road

Conor Chaplin, Massimo Luongo and Nathan Broadhead were all on the scoresheet as the Blues threatened to run riot, although the Lions managed to find their feet in the second half, finding a late consolation goal from Kevin Nisbet.

One of the few criticisms put against Town in recent weeks has been the way they’ve started games, often falling behind early on. This time, however, they found themselves ahead inside five minutes.

Conor Chaplin's seventh goal of the season opened the scoring against Millwall (Image: PA Images)

A darting run from Wes Burns caused Millwall problems. His cross looked deep, but George Hirst was able to nod it down for Chaplin, who was left completely unmarked, allowing him plenty of time to pick his spot with a fine finish for the opener.

They weren’t done there. A second goal came just seven minutes later as Burns started a quick move from the right, setting up Chaplin, who in turn found Luongo. The Australian international was given plenty of time yet again, firing a low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

The onslaught continued as Ipswich’s attacking players threatened to run riot. Chaplin’s through ball to Burns played him into acres of space down the right as Millwall’s high line began to creek. His cross picked out Hirst in the middle, with the striker forcing a big save from former Town goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski in the 14th minute.

Massimo Luongo made it 2-0 after being benched for Town's defeat at West Brom on Saturday (Image: PA Images)

A close-range effort from Arsenal loanee Brooke Norton-Cuffy caused problems for Vaclav Hladky, but he did enough to keep the ball out as the hosts quickly regained possession.

Millwall seemed to calm down, albeit that they did little in the final third. The Blues always threatened to cause problems, and they came close to making it 3-0 shortly before the half-hour mark as Burns struck the post with a fierce effort.

It took a little while for them to find the third goal, but they did it before the half-time break as Cameron Burgess brought the ball forward and picked out Leif Davis. His cross found the head of Nathan Broadhead, who had the simple job of diverting it past Bialkowski into the bottom corner, putting Kieran McKenna’s side into a commanding lead.

Nathan Broadhead's goal ensured that Town took a healthy lead into the half-time break (Image: Stephen Waller)

Millwall boss Joe Edwards responded at half-time by bringing George Honeyman on for Aidomo Emakhu, with the former Hull City man picking up a yellow card seconds into the restart.

Ipswich couldn't quite match their intensity from the first half, which wasn't a surprise given their lead. A scramble around the box on the hour-mark forced the visitors to defend, but neither Broadhead nor Luongo could find the back of the net.

A long range effort from Chaplin called Bialkowski into action once again in the 65th minute, with the former Poland international tipping the ball over the bar for a corner.

Referee Thomas Bramall handed out a number of yellow cards throughout the match (Image: Steve Waller)

The hosts were happy to sit back and pounce when they found space, although McKenna moved to switch his front four in the 69th minute. Soon after, a through ball to Kayden Jackson allowed him to pick out Omari Hutchinson, who saw his shot deflected back to Luongo. The midfielder took aim, but he couldn't find the target.

A clean sheet looked realistic for the Blues, but their hopes were dashed in the 78th minute as Longman was afforded too much space down the right. His looping cross picked out substitute Nisbet, who managed to flick the ball past Hladky to make it 3-1.

Scarlett and Harness both came close to wrapping up the win late on, but Bialkowski stood tall to deny them, although he couldn't prevent Ipswich from running out as comfortable winners at Portman Road.

Town XI: 4-2-3-1: Hladky; Clarke, Tuanzebe, Burgess, Davis; Morsy, Luongo (Taylor 89'); Burns (Jackson 69'), Chaplin (Hutchinson 69'), Broadhead (Harness 69'); Hirst (Scarlett 69')

Attendance: 27,702 (1,270 away)