A strong Gills display goes without reward as Ipswich secure the points at Portman Road.
Conor Chaplin proved to be the match winner as his goal was enough for Ipswich to beat a spirited Gills 1-0 at Portman Road.
The goal came with a little over 15 minutes from time as his low-drilled effort from 20 yards found the bottom corner, giving Aaron Chapman little chance of saving it.
Neil Harris made two changes to the side that beat Crewe in midweek. Vadaine Oliver returned to the starting XI after coming on as a substitute in the win. Charlie Kelman dropped to the bench as a result. Deadline day signing Ben Thompson came in for his Gills debut in place of Mustapha Carayol, who was not fit enough to travel.
Danny Lloyd forced Christian Walton into a save in the third minute. Gills won a free-kick around 25 yards from the goal, and Lloyd took aim. It was a low-drilled effort aimed for the bottom corner, and Walton had to get down to push it behind for a corner.
In the 26th minute, Wes Burns tested Aaron Chapman from 20 yards out. Burns had acres of space to try his luck and fired a shot across the goal towards the bottom corner. However, Chapman did well to get down and push it away from danger.
Thompson came close to giving Gillingham the lead just after the half-hour mark. He had the ball 25 yards from goal and used good skill to run towards the penalty area. Thompson decided to shoot, and his powerful shot looked like it could end up in the top corner. Unfortunately, it curled just wide of the target.
HALF-TIME: Ipswich Town 0-0 Gillingham
Oliver came inches away from putting the visitors in front shortly after the interval. A long ball over the top saw the forward get in behind the Ipswich defence, and he did well to control it on his chest. Oliver then shot on the half volley as it went across the goal and beat Walton. However, his effort hit the post and bounced away from danger.
Lloyd was the next man to hit the woodwork as Jack Tucker’s ball into the box caused havoc for the Ipswich defenders. They were unable to clear the ball as Oliver bundled it forward. Lloyd was the man to direct it towards the goal, but it took a deflection as the ball hit the post from a few yards out.
In the 68th minute, Gills were forced into their first change as Lloyd was stretchered off with what appeared to be a serious knee injury. He was on the end of a rough sliding tackle and was clearly in agony. He was replaced by Kelman.
Conor Chaplin put Ipswich in front in the 74th minute. George Edmundson played the ball into Chaplin 20 yards from goal, and he brought it under his control before aiming a powerful shot towards the bottom corner, leaving Chapman with no chance.
Gills tried to find their way back into the game but couldn't get back on level terms before the whistle.
FULL-TIME: Ipswich Town 1-0 Gillingham
Ipswich Town: Walton, Donacien, Woolfenden, Edmundson, Burns (Edwards 54’), Evans, Carroll, Chaplin (Bakinson 85’), Thompson, Pigott (Bonne 79’), Norwood
Unused Substitutes: Hladky, Jackson, Burgess, Edwards, Celina
Gillingham: Chapman, Masterson, Ehmer (Phillips 90’), Tucker, McKenzie, O’Keefe, Thompson (Dickson-Peters 79’), Tutonda, Lee, Lloyd (Kelman 68’), Oliver
Unused Substitutes: Dahlberg, Jackson, Maghoma, Sithole
Attendance: 20,698 (486 Gills fans)
Referee: Stephen Martin