Exeter Metropolis 0-2 Ipswich City: Freddie Ladapo & Marcus Harness assist Tractor Boys win

Ipswich City closed the hole on the high of League One with a cushty win at Exeter Metropolis in Saturday’s early kick-off.

The factors made it 23 from 10 away video games for Kieran McKenna’s aspect and took them inside two factors of leaders Plymouth, who have been held at Burton in a while Saturday.

It was an eighth defeat in 19 league video games for Metropolis, who slipped to eleventh.

Ipswich have been irresistible within the early levels and Harness noticed a close-range prod instinctively saved by Jamal Blackman inside 10 minutes, however lower than a minute later the guests have been forward.

With the Metropolis defence caught napping, Harness nodded a diagonal Sam Morsy cross again throughout purpose for Ladapo to stoop and head into the underside nook to attain for the fourth right away sport.

Grecians defender Alex Hartridge noticed a near-post volley turned across the publish by Christian Walton on 22 minutes and Jack Sparkes lashed over following a nook quickly after, however goalmouth alternatives have been few and much between for the remainder of the half.

Blackman tipped over a dipping strike from Cameron Humphreys and saved a near-post header from Ladapo simply earlier than the hour however the essential second purpose got here when Harness glanced house a header from a Leif Davis nook to spark wild scenes among the many 1,208 away followers behind the purpose, a lot of whom had set off from Suffolk earlier than 06:00 GMT to make kick-off.

Metropolis noticed appeals for a penalty dismissed moments later, after a barge within the field by Davis on sub Sam Nombe.

Blackman denied Kyle Edwards a 3rd within the ultimate quarter-hour whereas Tim Dieng fired over and Pierce Sweeney swiped a late likelihood off-target from an angle for the hosts, as City returned to successful methods after back-to-back attracts in League One.

Exeter boss Gary Caldwell instructed BBC Radio Devon:

“We mentioned earlier than the sport they’re superb – I am fairly positive they’re going to get promoted. That was one of the best of what League One has to supply, however when it comes to efficiency ranges I feel we have been a bit off the place we’ve got been.

The depth of our press wasn’t fairly what it has been however I used to be delighted with the gamers’ effort and software. They gave every thing.

“We have now to be taught the small classes that we have been taught at present. It is by no means good conceding targets however the second purpose is from a set-piece and we have executed loads of work this week on defending set-pieces. It wasn’t even an important supply however we lose our man within the field. We have been very a lot within the sport at that time and fascinated about adjustments to essentially go for it. As soon as it goes 2-0 it is a huge ask from there.”

Ipswich City supervisor Kieran McKenna:

“It was a strong, skilled efficiency the place we managed the sport in all facets, actually. It was a great brilliant begin the place we took the ball, dominated possession, created a few good possibilities and acquired the primary purpose.

“There have been moments after we held our form very well defensively and that was necessary, we would labored on it and spoken about it in the course of the week.

“There have been plenty of good issues, in fact it was necessary to get the 2 targets, the clear sheet and a great win.”