Ipswich 2 : 0 Millwall - Strikers help Ipswich to victory

Posted Sunday, September 14, 2014 by PA

Ipswich claimed their first victory since the opening day of the Sky Bet Championship season after beating Millwall 2-0 at Portman Road.

Town striker David McGoldrick opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time before Daryl Murphy struck in the 63rd minute after the home side weathered an early storm before cruising to the three points.

After a bright start to the new season, it was no surprise that Millwall began on the front foot.

They should have taken the lead in the ninth minute when Martyn Woolford was denied by the legs of Ipswich goalkeeper Dean Gerken and Jermaine Easter smashed the rebound against the crossbar.

Easter then saw a shot from just inside the area held well by Gerken before Mathias Ranegie, making his full debut, headed over.

Ipswich finally mustered a chance in the 28th minute when Paul Anderson met Jonathan Parr's low cross but his effort was held by David Forde.

In a half of few chances, Anderson and McGoldrick combined well down the right, but the former's 20-yard strike whistled well wide of the far post.

A dull affair finally came to life in the closing stages of the first half. Millwall almost took the lead when Town midfielder Cole Skuse was dispossessed, allowing Ranegie a run towards goal.

The striker cleverly played in Woolford but his shot flew into the side netting.

A minute later, Forde had to be alert to claw Murphy's downward header away at the angle of post and bar.

The deadlock was finally broken as the first half went into injury time. McGoldrick teed up Teddy Bishop, who was brought down on the edge of the area, but the Town striker played a decent advantage and his low shot was deflected past Forde into the far corner.

Predictably, the home side came out for the second half boosted by the opening goal and Jay Tabb and Murphy linked up well down the left with the latter's cross turned wide by the sliding McGoldrick under heavy pressure from Mark Beevers.

Murphy was just unable to apply the finishing touch in the six-yard box as a much-improved Ipswich continued to dominate although Millwall left-back Scott Malone was unlucky to see his inviting cross fall into the diving hands of Gerken.

The home side doubled their lead in the 63rd minute when Tabb's deep corner was met by Christophe Berra and Murphy was on hand to net the loose ball from close range.

Millwall almost hit back immediately when Tyrone Mings carelessly gave away a free kick on the edge of his area but Scott McDonald's goalbound set-piece was superbly tipped over by Gerken.

Ipswich should have made it three when Murphy played in McGoldrick but he sliced a left-foot shot hopelessly wide with the goal in his sights.

Millwall centre-back Beevers denied Anderson a third with a desperate tackle before McGoldrick's deflected shot went just over.