City woe as title rivals hit the home run

UNBEATEN RECORD AT CBS ARENA IS OVER AS TRACTOR BOYS GO FOR THE FENCES

- By ANDY TURNER

OFF-COLOUR Coventry City suffered their first home defeat of the season as Ipswich Town completed a December double over the top of the table side.

Jack Clarke opened the scoring after 72 minutes for the visitors and Wes Burns’ first goal since April 2024 doubled the visitors’ lead 11 minutes later.

The Tractor Boys started the day 13 points behind Frank Lampard’s Sky Blues and five behind second-placed Middlesbrough following a run of four away matches without a win.

It was the second time this month that Ipswich tasted victory over Coventry, after Kieran McKenna’s side enjoyed a 3-0 success at Portman Road on December 6.

Monday's defeat ended a run of eight straight home wins for Lampard’s men, who were handed their first loss at the CBS Arena this season - and only a third in the league this calendar year.

Ipswich dominated the first half, enjoying almost 70 per cent of possession against an uncharacteristically passive City.

Jacob Greaves’s cross created the first opening of the match when Ivon Azon’s header was saved by Carl Rushworth.

Clarke then lashed an effort wide after latching onto a cross on the edge of the Coventry box.

Azon was released by Greaves and the Spaniard was able to cut inside and curl a shot into the arms of Rushworth.