Two goals from Lee Martin and a Michael Chopra strike secured a fourth successive Championship win for Ipswich at home to Cardiff.

The home side took the lead against the run of play on 21 minutes when Martin scored with a well-taken finish.

And ex-Bluebird Chopra added a second three minutes into the second half with a simple finish from a counter-attack.

Martin completed the victory with his second with 17 minutes remaining.

The defeat extended Cardiff miserable record at Portman Road, where they have only won once in the last 65 seasons.

Cardiff 'second best' - Mackay

Home goalkeeper Arran Lee-Barrett was fortunate not to be sent off after nine minutes when he scythed down Joe Mason on the edge of the area.

The former Cardiff stopper escaped with a yellow card and Peter Whittingham fired the resultant free-kick over the crossbar.

Cardiff had dominated the early exchanges but it was Ipswich who took the lead against the run of play on 21 minutes.

Daryl Murphy's pass from the byline found Martin, who stroked the ball into the bottom corner for his fourth goal of the season.

Did you know?

Cardiff's 2-1 victory at Portman Road in December 2008 was their only win there in the last 65 years.

Martin came close to doubling his side's advantage a minute later when he capitalised on a slip by Ben Turner only to fire over the bar.

Lee-Barrett escaped again at the other end as he cleared Whittingham's strike off his goal-line at the second attempt.

There was delay to the second half but within three minutes Ipswich had doubled their lead with Chopra scoring against the club he left last summer.

Carlos Edwards's superb cross from the right found its way to Chopra and the striker found the net from close range to score his fifth goal in four games.

Town started the second half much the brighter with Aaron Cresswell stinging the gloves of Marshall.

Cardiff gradually restored their first-half dominance, however, and Ben Turner headed a good chance wide which could have sparked a comeback from the visitors.

But Martin secured the victory for Paul Jewell's side, again against the run of play, with his fifth of the season from close range.

It was the first time Ipswich had won four successive league games since 2004 under Joe Royle.

For Cardiff it was a disappointing way to sign off before the Carling Cup final against Liverpool at Wembley next Sunday.

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (5)

Ipswich Town

  • 12 Lee-Barrett Booked
  • 03 Cresswell
  • 05 Delaney
  • 20 Smith
  • 07 Edwards
  • 09 Emmanuel-Thomas (Leadbitter - 90' )
  • 11 Martin (Bullard - 89' )
  • 17 Drury
  • 19 Hyam Booked
  • 10 Chopra (Scotland - 84' )
  • 27 Murphy

Substitutes

  • 32 McCarthy
  • 29 Ainsley
  • 06 Leadbitter
  • 21 Bullard
  • 14 Scotland

Cardiff City

  • 01 Marshall
  • 02 McNaughton
  • 03 Taylor
  • 06 Gerrard (Blake - 78' )
  • 25 Turner
  • 04 Kiss (Vuckic - 54' )
  • 07 Whittingham
  • 08 Cowie
  • 17 Gunnarsson
  • 09 Miller
  • 20 Mason

Substitutes

  • 29 Parish
  • 11 Conway
  • 19 Vuckic
  • 23 Blake
  • 10 Earnshaw
Ref: Hooper
Att: 17,032

Match Stats

Shots

12 9

On target

7 6

Corners

2 8

Fouls

7 5

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:18 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +2:56

Jason Scotland is caught offside. David Marshall takes the indirect free kick.

90:00 +1:43

Haris Vuckic is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by Arran Lee-Barrett.

90:00 +1:13

Centre by Jimmy Bullard, Andrew Taylor manages to make a clearance.

90:00 +0:02

Arran Lee-Barrett takes the indirect free kick.

90:00 +0:02 Substitution

Substitution Grant Leadbitter comes on in place of Jay Emmanuel-Thomas.

90:00 +0:02

The ball is swung over by Ben Turner. The referee blows for offside against Haris Vuckic.

89:26

Jason Scotland takes a shot. David Marshall makes a save.

88:09 Substitution

Substitution Jimmy Bullard is brought on as a substitute for Lee Martin.

87:48

The ball is delivered by Andrew Taylor, Aron Gunnarsson takes a shot. Save by Arran Lee-Barrett.

85:38

Lee Martin produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the target.

84:25

Joe Mason is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Arran Lee-Barrett takes the direct free kick.

83:25 Substitution

Substitution Jason Scotland joins the action as a substitute, replacing Michael Chopra.

83:25

The ball is delivered by Michael Chopra.

80:22

Shot from 30 yards from Peter Whittingham. Save by Arran Lee-Barrett.

79:37

Aaron Cresswell delivers the ball. Michael Chopra is ruled offside. David Marshall takes the indirect free kick.

79:09

Andy Drury decides to take the corner short.

78:58

The ball is swung over by Daryl Murphy, Don Cowie makes a clearance.

77:50 Substitution

Substitution (Cardiff) makes a substitution, with Darcy Blake coming on for Anthony Gerrard.

75:33

Peter Whittingham restarts play with the free kick.

75:33 Booking

Booking Caution for Luke Hyam.

75:25

Foul by Luke Hyam on Aron Gunnarsson, free kick awarded.

72:55

Corner taken right-footed by Don Cowie, Anthony Gerrard produces a header from inside the six-yard box that clears the bar.

72:55 Goal scored

Goal - Lee Martin - Ipswich 3 - 0 Cardiff Lee Martin finds the net with a goal from close range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Ipswich 3-0 Cardiff.

72:39

The ball is swung over by Daryl Murphy.

69:35

Lee Martin takes a shot. Save by David Marshall. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas takes a shot.

66:10

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Anthony Gerrard by Daryl Murphy. David Marshall takes the direct free kick.

64:33

The ball is delivered by Don Cowie, Headed effort from inside the box by Ben Turner misses to the right of the target.

64:05

Corner taken right-footed by Don Cowie from the left by-line to the near post, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas makes a clearance.

63:56

Andrew Taylor sends in a cross, Carlos Edwards gets a block in.

63:12

Aaron Cresswell delivers the ball, clearance by Anthony Gerrard.

62:07

Centre by Andrew Taylor. Haris Vuckic takes a shot. Tommy Smith gets a block in.

61:39

Kenny Miller is ruled offside. Arran Lee-Barrett restarts play with the free kick.

60:54

The ball is crossed by Aron Gunnarsson.

60:10

Daryl Murphy delivers the ball, save by David Marshall.

58:49

Don Cowie takes the inswinging corner, Carlos Edwards makes a clearance.

58:42

Centre by Andrew Taylor, clearance made by Luke Hyam.

57:58

Michael Chopra is flagged offside by the assistant referee. David Marshall restarts play with the free kick.

56:41

The ball is crossed by Aron Gunnarsson, blocked by Damien Delaney.

54:54

The ball is sent over by Aaron Cresswell, clearance by Peter Whittingham.

54:20

Handball by Michael Chopra. Peter Whittingham restarts play with the free kick.

53:09

Peter Whittingham takes the direct free kick.

53:09 Substitution

Substitution Filip Kiss leaves the field to be replaced by Haris Vuckic.

53:09

Aaron Cresswell takes a shot. Save by David Marshall. Joe Mason fouled by Aaron Cresswell, the ref awards a free kick.

52:55

The ball is crossed by Carlos Edwards, Anthony Gerrard manages to make a clearance.

50:28

Inswinging corner taken by Andy Drury, Close range header by Tommy Smith misses to the right of the goal.

48:58

Joe Mason challenges Jay Emmanuel-Thomas unfairly and gives away a free kick. Lee Martin takes the direct free kick.

48:13

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Luke Hyam by Peter Whittingham. Aaron Cresswell takes the direct free kick.

47:05

The assist for the goal came from Carlos Edwards.

47:05 Goal scored

Goal - Michael Chopra - Ipswich 2 - 0 Cardiff Goal scored by Michael Chopra from close range to the top right corner of the goal. Ipswich 2-0 Cardiff.

46:57

The ball is sent over by Carlos Edwards,

45:01

The referee gets the second half underway.

45:00 +1:12 Half time

Half Time The match has reached half-time.

44:10

The referee blows for offside. David Marshall takes the direct free kick.

43:26

Foul by Anthony Gerrard on Michael Chopra, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Aaron Cresswell.

43:05

The ball is delivered by Kevin McNaughton, clearance by Tommy Smith.

42:44

Free kick awarded for a foul by Lee Martin on Peter Whittingham. Free kick taken by David Marshall.

41:39

Kenny Miller is ruled offside. Carlos Edwards takes the indirect free kick.

41:29

Michael Chopra crosses the ball, clearance made by Peter Whittingham.

40:38

The assistant referee flags for offside against Don Cowie. Indirect free kick taken by Arran Lee-Barrett.

39:06

Centre by Lee Martin, Anthony Gerrard gets a block in.

38:40

The ball is swung over by Andrew Taylor, save by Arran Lee-Barrett.

38:22

The ball is sent over by Andrew Taylor, Damien Delaney makes a clearance.

38:07

Andrew Taylor produces a cross, clearance by Andy Drury.

34:36

Aaron Cresswell sends in a cross.

32:01

Peter Whittingham takes a shot. Arran Lee-Barrett makes a save.

29:57

Andy Drury sends in a cross.

29:34

Aron Gunnarsson challenges Luke Hyam unfairly and gives away a free kick. Andy Drury takes the direct free kick.

28:11

The ball is swung over by Daryl Murphy.

25:19

Unfair challenge on Aron Gunnarsson by Michael Chopra results in a free kick. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Peter Whittingham from left wing, clearance made by Aaron Cresswell.

21:14

Effort on goal by Lee Martin from inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the bar.

20:05

Assist on the goal came from Daryl Murphy.

20:05 Goal scored

Goal - Lee Martin - Ipswich 1 - 0 Cardiff Lee Martin scores a goal from inside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Ipswich 1-0 Cardiff.

20:00

Daryl Murphy crosses the ball,

19:23

The ball is crossed by Daryl Murphy, Ben Turner manages to make a clearance.

17:35

Michael Chopra gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andrew Taylor. Don Cowie takes the direct free kick.

16:58

Don Cowie takes a shot. Blocked by Damien Delaney. Corner taken by Peter Whittingham played to the near post, Damien Delaney makes a clearance.

16:44

A cross is delivered by Joe Mason, clearance by Damien Delaney.

15:22

The assistant referee signals for offside against Kenny Miller. Arran Lee-Barrett takes the free kick.

15:06

Andrew Taylor produces a drilled left-footed shot from 35 yards. Arran Lee-Barrett makes a save.

14:11

The ball is crossed by Don Cowie.

11:25

Don Cowie decides to take the corner short.

10:54

Corner taken by Peter Whittingham played to the near post, clearance made by Daryl Murphy.

8:59

Shot comes in from Peter Whittingham from the free kick.

8:59 Booking

Booking The referee shows Arran Lee-Barrett a yellow card.

8:44

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Joe Mason by Arran Lee-Barrett.

7:17

A cross is delivered by Don Cowie, clearance by Daryl Murphy.

6:33

A cross is delivered by Peter Whittingham, clearance made by Luke Hyam.

6:17

Peter Whittingham takes a short corner.

5:51

Corner taken by Don Cowie, clearance made by Tommy Smith.

5:41

The ball is crossed by Kenny Miller, clearance made by Damien Delaney.

5:25

Lee Martin takes a shot. Blocked by Anthony Gerrard.

2:17

Kenny Miller is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Arran Lee-Barrett restarts play with the free kick.

1:48

A cross is delivered by Daryl Murphy, clearance made by Anthony Gerrard.

0:21

Michael Chopra fouled by Ben Turner, the ref awards a free kick. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas takes the free kick. Andy Drury takes a shot.

0:00

The game kicks-off.

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