Ipswich win with second-half brace

Watford 0 Ipswich 2

Goals from Alun Armstrong and Jamie Clapham within 12 minutes of the restart gave Ipswich an impressive 2-0 victory over play-off chasing Watford at Vicarage Road.

Ipswich handed a debut to new signing Paul Gerrard, who has joined up with his former mentor Joe Royle on loan from Everton, although he was a virtual spectator in the opening skirmishes as Town went for the all-important first goal.

Armstrong was the first to threaten for Ipswich, but he failed to find the target from outside the area, with Thomas Gaardsoe also firing wide from further out just moments later.

Watford keeper Alec Chamberlain then had to act quickly to cut out a cross from Fabian Wilnis, before saving a header from Jim Magilton after a cross by John McGreal.

Chamberlain’s counterpart at the other end, Gerrard, did well to snuff out the danger posed by Allan Nielsen, while Wilnis again tried his luck for Town but his shot went wide.

McGreal then had to clear a dangerous inswinging corner from Neal Ardley, before the former Wimbledon man put the rebound disappointingly out of play.

Magilton again tested the Watford rearguard with an inswinging corner which was well dealt with by Heidar Helguson, before Chamberlain got safe hands to his next effort.

Ipswich started the second half in the ascendancy, and Darren Bent put in a dangerous cross that was dealt with by Lloyd Doyley, before the visitors did take the lead on 51 minutes.

Bent provided the killer pass, and Armstrong drilled in a right-footed effort from outside the box that flew into the top left-hand corner.

Bent then headed over as the Hornets struggled to hang on, before Town did add a second goal on 57 minutes.

Hermann Hreidarsson provided the assist, and Clapham unleashed a brilliant shot from the edge of the area that flew past Chamberlain.

Clapham almost added a third shortly after, putting in a left-footed volley from distance that Chamberlain did well to stop, before Matt Holland hit the woodwork from outside the box 15 minutes from time.

Tommy Smith, Marcus Gayle and Jermaine Pennant had late chances to pull one back for Watford, but Ipswich held on for the win that goes some way towards making up for the disappointing UEFA Cup exit in midweek.