Conor Chaplin and Omari Hutchinson goals see Ipswich Town to a 2-0 victory at Middlesbrough

Conor Chaplin and Omari Hutchinson were on target as Ipswich Town made it three Sky Bet Championship wins in a row with a 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.

In what had been billed as Kieran McKenna against Michael Carrick – the two having worked together at Manchester United – it was the Northern Irishman who came out on top as a goal in each half earned Town their first win on Teesside since August 2010.

Chaplin had put the Suffolk side in front with his eighth goal of the season on the stroke of half-time with an excellent half-volley after a cross was only half-cleared.

Substitute Hutchinson scored a breakaway second as the Blues controlled proceedings to earn them a first away victory of the season by more than one goal.

Town remain second in the Championship table, a point behind leaders Leicester City and seven points clear of third-placed Leeds United.

In victory, the Blues’ 48 points from their opening 20 matches is the highest by a newly-promoted side in Football League history.

Town boss McKenna made one enforced change from last weekend’s victory over Coventry City, with Jack Taylor replacing Massimo Luongo in midfield.

Brandon Williams also dropped out of the squad with suspension, Cameron Humphreys and Axel Tuanzebe coming onto the substitutes bench.

Middlesbrough head coach Carrick has been hit with somewhat of an injury crisis and made four changes from the defeat to Leeds United last weekend.

Anfernee Dijksteel and Isaiah Jones missed out through suspension, Paddy McNair was absent through injury while Alex Bangura dropped to the bench.

The quartet were replaced by Lukas Engel, Matt Clarke, Sam Greenwood and Dael Fry, who passed a late fitness test to return from a hamstring problem.

Suffolk-born Clarke, who came through Town’s academy, was making his first start since October 2022.

After four minutes, Cameron Burgess was required to make an important challenge on Morgan Rogers as he threatened to break into the penalty area, just moments after Nathan Broadhead had failed to capitalise at the other end on a loose pass that had been played into his path.

Broadhead was involved in Town’s next attack after an excellent challenge from George Hirst dropping deep. The Welshman played a neat one-two with international team-mate Wes Burns, but couldn’t get a shot away from the edge of the area.

On 15 minutes, Burns raced down the right and won a corner following Taylor’s first-time ball into the channel as the Blues looked the more threatening, albeit without testing Seny Dieng in the Boro goal.

The Blues were soon able to call Dieng into action, but after Clarke had threatened to shoot from range and Burns played in Hirst, the shot was deflected safely into the arms of the Senegal international.

Two minutes later, Sam Morsy – back at the Riverside for the first time since his sending off on his final Boro appearance – went for the spectacular from range, but the strike flew wide.

Broadhead was next to go for goal, his strike from the edge of the area deflected off Clarke and looped onto the roof of the net.

The home crowd appeared to become frustrated as Emmanuel Latte Lath latched onto a ball forward but played a poor final pass just behind his team-mate racing into the penalty area.

Only league leaders Leicester had conceded fewer home goals this season than Middlesbrough, but on 36 minutes, the hosts’ defence was breached.

After Burns’ cross had been cleared by Boro skipper Jonny Howson, Chaplin rifled a superb first-time effort beyond Dieng from the edge of the box, finding the corner via a slight deflection from Matt Clarke to mark the 200th Town goal scored under McKenna.

Latte Lath was inches away from an immediate equaliser, his curing effort rolling marginally wide of the far post after he had got the better of multiple Town defenders, with Vaclav Hladky rooted.

The Ivorian centre-forward had the final opportunity of the half, heading over from Greenwood’s cross towards the back-post as Town headed into the interval a goal in front.

Six minutes after the restart, Matt Crooks became the first name into the book for a challenge from behind on Morsy.

Burns, a regular outlet for Town, crossed from the right for Broadhead, whose touch just let him down with the ball moving at pace.

Middlesbrough eventually forged an opening of their own, with Lukas Engel and Rogers both involved before Crooks’ shot was blocked by Burgess.

Dan Barlaser’s corner directly into a crowded six-yard box was dealt with by Hladky for another, before Rav van den Berg spurned a big opportunity wide at the back post from the second set-piece.

On 62 minutes, McKenna turned to his bench for the first time to replace Broadhead with Hutchinson. Moments later, Luke Woolfenden was booked for a lunge on Latte Lath as the striker raced away.

Hladky was called into action from the resulting free-kick, producing an excellent save after Latte Lath had risen highest to head Barlaser’s set-piece goalwards.

Three minutes later, the Blues doubled their lead. With Hirst on the ball on halfway, Chaplin robbed it off his teammate to play through Hutchinson, who had plenty of time to pick his spot and strike a left-footed effort beyond Dieng.

The Chelsea loanee celebrated his third goal of the season in front of the jubilant Town fans in the far corner.

Town had Hladky to thank for the lead remaining at two, when the Czech stopper produced a fine low save after Engel’s cross had deflected off Woolfenden and looked destined for the bottom corner.

Kayden Jackson and Marcus Harness replaced Burns and Chaplin, both of whom had put in an excellent shift, for the final 15 minutes.

The Blues could have added a third, but Leif Davis’ driving run ended in his shot being blocked by a lunging Matt Clarke, just seconds before Taylor curled over.

Town still had defending to do and dealt with a Boro surge into their box on 80 minutes. First, Woolfenden cleared from a dangerous low cross from the right, then Morsy timed a tackle in the area to perfection.

Jackson, utilising his pace on the right flank, picked out Hirst on the edge of the area with great vision, but Howson produced an excellent tackle to prevent the shot.

Hutchinson and Hirst combined again with neat play on the edge of Middlesbrough’s penalty area, but Harness’ snap-shot went over the bar.

Taylor and Hirst were swapped for Dom Ball and Freddie Ladapo in the Blues’ final two changes.

Ball and Morsy entered the Dean Whitestone’s book in the closing stages.

Town saw out five additional minutes with comfort to confirm three points on the road and their first clean sheet in nine matches in all competitions.

Next up is a televised trip to Vicarage Road to take on Watford on Tuesday, ahead of the East Anglian Derby at Portman Road next weekend.

Middlesbrough (4-2-3-1): Dieng; Engel (Bangura 78), Clarke, Fry, van den Berg; Barlaser, Howson (c); Rogers, Crooks, Greenwood (Silvera 70); Latte Lath. Subs: Glover, Gilbert, Coburn, Coulson, McCabe, Cartwright, Bridge.

Booked: Crooks.

Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1): Hladky; Davis, Burgess, Woolfenden, Clarke; Taylor (Ball 86), Morsy (c); Broadhead (Hutchinson 62), Chaplin (Harness 76), Burns (Jackson 76); Hirst (Ladapo 86). Subs: Walton, Scarlett, Humphreys, Tuanzebe.

Booked: Woolfenden, Ball, Morsy.

Referee: Dean Whitestone (Northamptonshire).

Attendance: 27,960.

SuffolkNews Man of the Match: Conor Chaplin.A real livewire and was involved in everything Town did going forwards. His excellent strike just before half-time proved to be a crucial goal at a crucial time, and his surging ball for Hutchinson to score the second meant he finished with an assist to his name too.

Conor Chaplin and Omari Hutchinson were on target as Ipswich Town made it three wins in a row with a 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.

In what had been billed as Kieran McKenna against Michael Carrick – the two having worked together at Manchester United – it was the Northern Irishman who came out on top as a goal in each half earned Town their first win on Teesside since August 2010.

Chaplin had put the Suffolk side in front with his eighth goal of the season on the stroke of half-time with an excellent half-volley after a cross was only half-cleared.

Substitute Hutchinson scored a breakaway second as the Blues controlled proceedings to earn them a first away victory of the season by more than one goal.

Town remain second in the Championship table, a point behind leaders Leicester City and seven points clear of third-placed Leeds United.

In victory, the Blues’ 48 points from their opening 20 matches is the highest by a newly-promoted side in Football League history.

Town boss McKenna made one enforced change from last weekend’s victory over Coventry City, with Jack Taylor replacing Massimo Luongo in midfield.

Brandon Williams also dropped out of the squad with suspension, Cameron Humphreys and Axel Tuanzebe coming onto the substitutes bench.

Middlesbrough head coach Carrick has been hit with somewhat of an injury crisis and made four changes from the defeat to Leeds United last weekend.

Anfernee Dijksteel and Isaiah Jones missed out through suspension, Paddy McNair was absent through injury while Alex Bangura dropped to the bench.

The quartet were replaced by Lukas Engel, Matt Clarke, Sam Greenwood and Dael Fry, who passed a late fitness test to return from a hamstring problem.

Suffolk-born Clarke, who came through Town’s academy, was making his first start since October 2022.

After four minutes, Cameron Burgess was required to make an important challenge on Morgan Rogers as he threatened to break into the penalty area, just moments after Nathan Broadhead had failed to capitalise at the other end on a loose pass that had been played into his path.

Broadhead was involved in Town’s next attack after an excellent challenge from George Hirst dropping deep. The Welshman played a neat one-two with international teammate Wes Burns, but couldn’t get a shot away from the edge of the area.

On 15 minutes, Burns raced down the right and won a corner following Taylor’s first-time ball into the channel as the Blues looked the more threatening, albeit without testing Seny Dieng in the Boro goal.

The Blues were soon able to call Dieng into action, but after Clarke had threatened to shoot from range and Burns played in Hirst, the shot was deflected safely into the arms of the Senegal international.

Two minutes later, Sam Morsy – back at the Riverside for the first time since his sending off on his final Boro appearance – went for the spectacular from range, but the strike flew wide.

Broadhead was next to go for goal, his strike from the edge of the area deflected off Clarke and looped onto the roof of the net.

The home crowd appeared to become frustrated as Emmanuel Latte Lath latched onto a ball forward but played a poor final pass just behind his teammate racing into the penalty area.

Only league leaders Leicester had conceded fewer home goals this season than Middlesbrough, but on 36 minutes, the hosts’ defence was breached.

After Burns’ cross had been cleared by Boro skipper Jonny Howson, Chaplin rifled a superb first-time effort beyond Dieng from the edge of the box, finding the corner via a slight deflection from Matt Clarke to mark the 200th Town goal scored under McKenna.

Latte Lath was inches away from an immediate equaliser, his curing effort rolling marginally wide of the far post after he had got the better of multiple Town defenders, with Vaclav Hladky rooted.

The Ivorian centre-forward had the final opportunity of the half, heading over from Greenwood’s cross towards the back-post as Town headed into the interval a goal in front.

Six minutes after the restart, Matt Crooks became the first name into the book for a challenge from behind on Morsy.

Burns, a regular outlet for Town, crossed from the right for Broadhead, whose touch just let him down with the ball moving at pace.

Middlesbrough eventually forged an opening of their own, with Lukas Engel and Rogers both involved before Crooks’ shot was blocked by Burgess.

Dan Barlaser’s corner directly into a crowded six-yard box was dealt with by Hladky for another, before Rav van den Berg spurned a big opportunity wide at the back post from the second set-piece.

On 62 minutes, McKenna turned to his bench for the first time to replace Broadhead with Hutchinson. Moments later, Luke Woolfenden was booked for a lunge on Latte Lath as the striker raced away.

Hladky was called into action from the resulting free-kick, producing an excellent save after Latte Lath had risen highest to head Barlaser’s set-piece goalwards.

Three minutes later, the Blues doubled their lead. With Hirst on the ball on halfway, Chaplin robbed it off his teammate to play through Hutchinson, who had plenty of time to pick his spot and strike a left-footed effort beyond Dieng.

The Chelsea loanee celebrated his third goal of the season in front of the jubilant Town fans in the far corner.

Town had Hladky to thank for the lead remaining at two, when the Czech stopper produced a fine low save after Engel’s cross had deflected off Woolfenden and looked destined for the bottom corner.

Kayden Jackson and Marcus Harness replaced Burns and Chaplin, both of whom had put in an excellent shift, for the final 15 minutes.

The Blues could have added a third, but Leif Davis’ driving run ended in his shot being blocked by a lunging Matt Clarke, just seconds before Taylor curled over.

Town still had defending to do and dealt with a Boro surge into their box on 80 minutes. First, Woolfenden cleared from a dangerous low cross from the right, then Morsy timed a tackle in the area to perfection.

Jackson, utilising his pace on the right flank, picked out Hirst on the edge of the area with great vision, but Howson produced an excellent tackle to prevent the shot.

Hutchinson and Hirst combined again with neat play on the edge of Middlesbrough’s penalty area, but Harness’ snap-shot went over the bar.

Taylor and Hirst were swapped for Dom Ball and Freddie Ladapo in the Blues’ final two changes.

Ball and Morsy entered the Dean Whitestone’s book in the closing stages.

Town saw out five additional minutes with comfort to confirm three points on the road and their first clean sheet in nine matches in all competitions.

Next up is a televised trip to Vicarage Road to take on Watford on Tuesday, ahead of the East Anglian Derby at Portman Road next week.

Middlesbrough (4-2-3-1): Dieng; Engel (Bangura 78), Clarke, Fry, van den Berg; Barlaser, Howson (c); Rogers, Crooks, Greenwood (Silvera 70); Latte Lath. Subs: Glover, Gilbert, Coburn, Coulson, McCabe, Cartwright, Bridge.

Booked: Crooks.

Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1): Hladky; Davis, Burgess, Woolfenden, Clarke; Taylor (Ball 86), Morsy (c); Broadhead (Hutchinson 62), Chaplin (Harness 76), Burns (Jackson 76); Hirst (Ladapo 86). Subs: Walton, Scarlett, Humphreys, Tuanzebe.

Booked: Woolfenden, Ball, Morsy.

Referee: Dean Whitestone (Northamptonshire).

Attendance: 27,960.

SuffolkNews Man of the Match: Conor Chaplin.A real livewire and was involved in everything Town did going forwards. His excellent strike just before half-time proved to be a crucial goal at a crucial time, and his surging ball for Hutchinson to score the second meant he finished with an assist to his name too.