Ipswich Town 1-1 Blackburn Rovers

Image source, Empics

Image caption, Though Ben Marshall rescued a point, Blackburn have gone winless for four games

Ben Marshall's stoppage-time free-kick rescued a point for 10-man Blackburn and denied in-form Ipswich.

Marshall perfectly placed a curling effort to cancel out a similarly brilliant dead-ball finish from Ipswich's David McGoldrick.

That goal came after a foul on Conor Sammon, for which Matthew Kilgallon was shown a second yellow card.

Ipswich remain unbeaten in eight games and stay sixth in the Championship, while Blackburn slip to 13th.

However, Mick McCarthy's men may feel they have wasted the chance to end a run of what is now three successive draws, both through their profligacy in front of goal and the inability to hold off the 10 men of Rovers.

McGoldrick had two chances to make the points safe, only for a volley to smack against the post and a breakaway to be denied by visiting goalkeeper Jason Steele.

Prior to that, Ipswich's Stephen Hunt had a header cleared off the line by Shane Duffy as Blackburn reeled from the double blow of going behind and losing Kilgallon.

The former Sheffield United man was fortunate to only be cautioned in a first clash with Sammon, then received a red card for a second.

With 11 men on the pitch in the first half, Blackburn had enjoyed the better of the chances, with Jordan Rhodes, Rudy Gestede and Lee Williamson all going close.

Ipswich improved after the break with McGoldrick coming to the fore but it was Marshall who had the final say.

Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy: "We had enough chances and really should have put the game to bed. We kept them interested. The first half was pretty ordinary with not too many chances, but we were the dominant team with or without 10 men.

"Blackburn stuck at it, but we let them off the hook. Still, it's another point and if we end up in the play-offs by a point, it won't matter."

Blackburn boss Gary Bowyer: "I would rather talk about our spirit and never-say-die attitude in such a young group. Their energy and work-rate was great and it was a good lesson in how to play with 10 men.

"This group of men have the potential to be really special for this football club."