Ipswich 2-0 Brentford - 19-Aug-2017 : Match Report

19 August 2017 17:00
Ipswich's perfect start to the league season continues

Mick McCarthy's Ipswich continued their impressive winning start to the season with a 2-0 win against Brentford in the Championship.

The goals came from two new signings who are really proving their worth at Portman Road.

Martyn Waghorn netted his fourth goal in three games, before Joe Garner bagged his third of the season to seal the points for the hosts.

The Tractor Boys' strikers have taken the plaudits so far this term, but they have also kept three clean sheets in five games in all competitions this season.

Victory put McCarthy's men to the summit of the second tier, whilst Brentford - who are still searching for their first win of the season - are at the foot of the ladder after their third league defeat in four.

The Bees dominated the ball, but could not find the cutting edge to break down the hosts.

Polish goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski was kept busy in the hosts' net in an entertaining opening period.

Kamohelo Mokotjo had the first sight at goal as he flashed his effort wide after Florian Jozefzoon's corner was half-heatedly cleared to the edge of the box.

Neal Maupay and Ollie Watkins were both kept out by the stopper.

Maupay's mis-hit scissor kick barely made Bialkowski work, before he superbly denied new signing Ollie Watkins' strike after the former Exeter man cut onto his right foot.

Waghorn broke the deadlock for the hosts in the 35th minute.

Strike partner David McGoldrick did well to muscle his way into the area to leave the 27-year-old a simple finish from close range.

And McGoldrick almost got on the scoresheet himself as he forced a top stop from Daniel Bentley.

Minutes before the break the Bees came close to an equaliser with Nico Yennaris rattling the bar, before Yoann Barbet's rebound strike was blocked.

The Tractor Boys put the game to bed six minutes into the second half, thanks to the use of goal line technology.

Garner headed Grant Ward's pinpoint cross home for his third goal of the season.

Yennaris looked to have blocked the ball on the line, but referee Oliver Langford was given the signal to award the goal.

Minutes later the visitors were fortunate Cole Skuse's strike was deflected just wide with Bentley wrong-footed.

Garner looked set to double his tally for the afternoon as he was bearing on goal, with Barbet making a fine last-ditch challenge.

The Bees tried to force their way back into the game.

However, the best it got was Mokotjo stinging the pals of Bialkowski from range and even that was a simple save for the 'keeper.

At the death Yennaris fired wide, with Romaine Sawyers having a strike blocked.

Source: PA