Ipswich Town 0 Blackburn Rovers 3 - Peter White's match verdict

ROY Hodgson had every reason to feel chirpy last night as his 'Canary Connection' ensured that Blackburn Rovers' pre-season build-up moved up a gear.

There is nothing former Norwich players like more than scoring against Ipswich at Portman Road and both two-goal Chris Sutton and Rovers' other marksman, skipper Tim Sherwood, are well versed in the act.

It was just the sort of game Rovers wanted, fast flowing with a bit of pace around and a competitive edge - though not too competitive.

And, as well as a convincing victory to enjoy, the Rovers boss had every reason to take great satisfaction from the re-appearance of Billy McKinlay and Jason Wilcox after summer surgery.

Concentrating on giving as many of the squad as possible a decent taste of action in the build-up - and robbed by injury of several others - Hodgson has understandably fielded mixed teams.

But he seems to have got the tempo just about right and, last night, with Sherwood, McKinlay and Garry Flitcroft sharing the central midfield roles, Stephane Henchoz and Darren Peacock looking formidable at the back and Sutton scoring his first goals of the campaign there was a very solid backbone to the team.

They had too much for an Ipswich side who reached last season's promotion play-offs and are a week ahead in their preparations as they kick off their League programme next weekend. The difference in class was evident in those three crucial areas, the centre of defence, midfield where Rovers were in control and up front with Sutton giving them the cutting edge.

Getting McKinlay and Wilcox back so soon was a bonus, for both are likely to have important roles to play this season.

Three of the four new boys - Jim Corbett is injured - played the full 90 minutes and will undoubtedly benefit from it.

Peacock had his best game so far against a decent Ipswich strike force of Alex Mathie and the pacey David Johnson. He hardly put a foot wrong until the closing minutes when tiredness clearly crept in.

The same could be said of Stephane Henchoz, who was susbstituted near the end after taking a knock which is not expected to prove serious.

Sebastien Perez had a quiet first half but is coming to terms with the role in front of Jeff Kenna on the right of midfield, while Kevin Davies is gradually getting fitter with every game he plays.

Judgment on the £7.25 million striker needs to be reserved until he is fully fit, which he plainly is not at the moment.

He has been at something of a disadvantage to his team-mates after missing most of the second half of last season. But there were glimpses of the ability that prompted Rovers to sign that huge cheque and I am sure he is capable of making an impression when fully fit and sharp.

That's the new boys but, equally important, Sutton looks razor sharp and McKinlay announced his return with a typically abrasive performance.

The word 'friendly' does not appear in this man's dictionary and it would have warmed the hearts of Rovers fans to see the way he got stronger as the game went on.

Wilcox too will derive enormous benefit from his 75 minutes before being replaced by Damien Johnson who confirmed the impression he has made on pre-season.

So too, in a short time, did Martin Dahlin - a far more convincing figure than the striker who struggled for much of last season.

Rovers could hardly have asked for a better start. The jeers from the Ipswich fans for their old adversary Sutton almost choked them as he struck in the fourth minute.

Kenna picked out Perez and the Frenchman did well to control the ball and make the pass to free Sutton.

If the Rovers striker was surprised at the amount of space he was given, Ipswich keeper Lee Bracey must have been dumbfounded. For Sutton struck the ball early, left-footed, from around 22 yards low past the diving keeper's right hand.

That settled Rovers down and they could have had a second four minutes later when Bracey pulled off a fine save from Sherwood's header.

Apart from that, it was a fairly uneventful first half. Rovers were comfortable without threatening too much themselves but they were fortunate to hold onto their lead two minutes before the interval.

Johnson, who will prosper against lesser defences, used his pace to beat Peacock on Rovers' left, crossed low to the near post and Mathie made a hash of the chance - stubbing the ball well wide.

Davies could have put Rovers two up early in the second half after great work by the outstanding Sutton but mis-kicked his shot.

The ex-Southampton striker, however, had a role to play in the second goal.

Sutton and Davies worked an opening and the latter's shot was beaten away by the keeper. A defender tried to clear but Sherwood charged it down and coolly slid the ball past Bracey.

Ipswich, from a rare threat, should have been back in the game in the 64th minute when, from a near-post corner, Fabian Safanjon's header struck the inside of the far post before rebounding into the safe hands of John Filam, whose only problems were the danger of being being caught in possession with his kicking. Instead of being pegged back to 2-1, Rovers went straight down and made it 3-0 in the 65th minute. Sutton found himself free, with Ipswich appealing for offside, calmly drifted past the keeper and finished left-footed again.

A number of subs were used and both sides could have had goals in the dying minutes. Dahlin had a diving header saved and Neil Midgley brought a brilliant save from Filan.

But there was no doubt that a Rovers win was a fair outcome from an excellent workout.

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