Rovers left reeling as Luongo strikes to lift Tractor Boys
KIERAN MCKENNA hailed Massimo Luongo for the late winner that sent Ipswich second.
In a frantic end-to-end encounter Rovers debutant Arnor Sigurdsson cancelled out Harry Clarke’s early opener before goals from Nathan Broadhead and ex-blackburn loanee George Hirst gave Town a two-goal half-time lead.
Rovers roared back and Sammie Szmodics made it 3-3 after Clarke put though his own goal but midfielder Luongo won it for Town with a cracking finish.
Town manager Mckenna said: “Massimo is one of those players who you always think will find a way in everything he does.
”He found a way to put it in the top corner so I’m delighted for him.”
Local lad Clarke netted a fourth-minute scorcher after Rovers keeper Aynsley Pears had denied Leif Davis. The right-back, 22, smashed in a rising drive from just inside the box after Sigurdsson blocked Conor Chaplin’s shot.
The lead lasted all of five minutes until Mark Travers slipped Sigurdsson in on the left of the six-yard box to slot across Town keeper Vaclav Hladky.
Ipswich shrugged that off and Pears did well to save from Chaplin.
Broadhead gave him no chance in the 18th minute by chesting the ball down outside the box and firing into the far corner.
Pears had been at fault, however, for gifting the ball to Chaplin, whose attempt at a shot went straight to Broadhead. More Rovers woe quickly followed as
Hirst sprinted onto Cameron Burgess’ long ball to poke home a 25th-minute third.
It could have been worse for the visitors as Broadhead also hit a post.
But Blackburn were back in it in the 52nd minute.
Callum Brittain’s cross was aimed at Harry Leonard but Clarke ended up diverting it into his own net from five yards.
Rovers sensed a comeback was on and Szmodics made it 3-3 with a cracking finish from the edge of the box in the 65th minute, twisting his body to fire across Hladky. It was a case of next goal wins it and Luongo accepted the challenge in the 79th minute by chesting down Pears’ punch and firing into the top corner from just inside the box. Blackburn boss Jon Dahl Tomasson said: “Our first half cost us. In the second we saw the Blackburn we normally see.
“It is tough scoring three goals away and you don’t get a result, especially the last goal. We could have scored six or seven.” IPSWICH: Hladky 6; Clarke 7 (Hutchinson (60) 6), Woolfenden 6, Burgess 7, Davis 6; Morsy 7, Luongo 8; Burns 6 (Williams (60) 5), Chaplin 7 (Harness (78) 5), Broadhead 7 (Taylor (83) 5); Hirst 7 (Scarlett (78) 5) BLACKBURN: Pears 5; Brittain 6 (Rankin-costello (81) 5), Carter 6, Hyam 6, Pickering 6; Travis 7, A Wharton 7; Szmodics 7, Moran 4 (Dolan (46) 7), Sigurdsson 6 (Hedges (46) 5 (Markanday (55) 6); Leonard 6 (Telalovic (82) 5) STAR MAN: Massimo Luongo – Midfield battler deserved his late winner REF: Keith Stroud 6