Stewart strikes again for Ipswich

Marcus Stewart scored for the sixth successive game and Jamie Scowcroft headed a second in the last minute to give Ipswich Town…

Marcus Stewart scored for the sixth successive game and Jamie Scowcroft headed a second in the last minute to give Ipswich Town a well-deserved 2-0 victory over Leicester City.

Watched by new England manager Sven Goran Eriksson, Stewart headed his 16th goal of the season 10 minutes from time after Ipswich had controlled the match while Scowcroft wrapped it up from almost the same position.

The victory took them up one place to fourth on 40 points, behind Arsenal on goal difference.

Manchester United, who won 3-0 at Bradford City on Saturday, occupy top place on 53 points. Sunderland, 2-0 winners at West Ham United, are second on 42 with Arsenal on 40 after a 1-1 draw with Chelsea.

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Liverpool, impressive 3-0 winners at Aston Villa, are fifth on 39, with Leicester, coached by Eriksson's assistant Peter Taylor, sixth on 35.

After an evenly-matched but uninspired first half, Ipswich looked more inventive after the break and began to dominate.

Stewart poked a shot against the bar after an hour to spark a sustained period of home pressure.

Alun Armstrong saw his goal-bound header superbly tipped wide by Leicester keeper Simon Royce and Heidar Hreidarsson headed over when unmarked.

But, just as Leicester thought their defending would earn a point, Ipswich struck.

After a rare foray forward, Leicester for once found themselves short at the back and Gary Rowett, trying to shield the ball for a goal kick, allowed Hreidarsson to reach it. He slipped it to Armstrong and although his shot was heading wide Stewart was on hand to turn it in.

Royce saved well again from Matt Holland but had no chance with Scowcroft's header following a superb cross from the right by Fabian Wilnis.

Reuters