Championship: Southampton see off Blackburn and close gap to Ipswich
Southampton have moved just three points off automatic promotion after a 3-0 victory over Blackburn, coupled with Ipswich’s 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth.
The hosts extended their unbeaten run to 18 games in all competitions with a comprehensive victory at St Mary’s, secured by first-half goals from Cyle Larin and Ryan Manning and a late strike from Cameron Archer.
The Southampton manager, Tonda Eckert, made five changes to the team which beat Derby 2-1 on Saturday but there was no disruption to the relentless rhythm which has catapulted the club up the Championship table and earned an FA Cup semi-final spot.
Saints made the breakthrough in the 24th minute when Kuryu Matsuki set Archer free down the left, and he squared the ball perfectly for Larin to slot home. Shea Charles then went close with a rampaging run and shot, before Manning’s low shot deflected in past Blackburn keeper Balazs Toth two minutes from half-time.
Matsuki missed a glorious chance to add a third after brilliant work from Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Larin left him with the goal at his mercy, and substitute Leo Scienza went close at the near post before Blackburn finally threatened. Daniel Peretz beat away Yuki Ohashi’s shot before Ryoya Morishita struck the post on the rebound.
Archer completed the scoring late on to secure Southampton’s seventh win in a row, moving them up to fourth with a home fixture against second-placed Ipswich to come, after they head to Wembley and face Manchester City in the FA Cup.
Ipswich missed the chance to tighten their grip on second place as they slipped to defeat at Fratton Park. Conor Shaughnessy and Colby Bishop claimed quickfire goals as Portsmouth boosted their survival hopes with a crucial victory.
Defender Shaughnessy set Pompey on course to move four points clear of the relegation zone by heading home Adrian Segecic’s corner in the 42nd minute. Striker Bishop doubled the lead just two minutes later, slotting a loose ball into the bottom corner from close range to spark wild celebrations among home supporters.
Ipswich took until the 67th minute to register an attempt on target, but Marcelino Nuñez’s effort from range was comfortably saved. Kieran McKenna’s side remain two points clear of Millwall in third, with a game in hand.
