Blackburn 0-1 Ipswich: Conor Chaplin nets winner after Aynsley Pears’ gaffe as Kieran McKenna’s side go top of the Championship… with the hosts having three goals ruled out by the officials

Conor Chaplin benefitted from an early mistake by Blackburn goalkeeper Aynsley Pears as Ipswich climbed to the top of the Championship table ahead of Leeds United’s night-time kick off.

Chaplin’s strike after nine minutes squirmed through the hands of Pears whose Rovers side are still looking for their first win under manager John Eustace.

Their fans turned on referee Stuart Attwell and his officials with Blackburn three times denied an equaliser – twice by an offside flag and then for a foul on visiting goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky.

But while the home side are only three points clear of the relegation zone after a 10th game without victory under Eustace, Ipswich have now leapfrogged above Leicester and at the summit when the final whistle blew at Ewood Park.

The Tractor Boys started like a side buoyed by rivals Leicester and Southampton failing to win earlier on Good Friday.

Nathan Broadhead was aggrieved not to be awarded an early penalty when referee Stuart Attwell missed Callum Brittain pulling his shirt, but the visitors went ahead soon afterwards in any case.

Leif Davis advanced from left-back and produced a cutback for Chaplin to strike from the edge of the box.

Though the midfielder – returning from a back strain – didn’t make the sweetest of connections with his left foot, the ball bounced from the gloves of Pears and trickled in.

The visitors were as bright as their orange shirts in the first half and Kieffer Moore’s header nearly added to Chaplin’s 13th goal of the season.

Blackburn failed to muster a shot on target until the hour mark but Attwell was still booed off at half-time with the Lancashire side frustrated by a couple of bookings and disallowed goals.

First, Ben Chrisene was flagged offside after lobbing ‘keeper Vaclav Hladky with Town defender George Edmundson comically applying the final touch into his own net attempting to clear.

Then, Joe Rankin Costello’s finished from 12 yards but his celebrations were cut short because the Championship’s top scorer Sammie Szmodics was in an offside position and deemed to be obstructing Hladky’s view.

In the second half, substitute Andy Moran’s half-volley was also ruled out for a push on Hladky by Szmodics.

Ipswich’s four thousand travelling supporters didn’t care as their side resisted second-half Rovers pressure to boost their own hopes of back-to-back promotions.

Hladky saved from Szmodics and Scott Wharton as Ipswich dug in and visitor’s manager Kieran McKenna changed his entire front three midway through the second half to try and add energy.