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Goals from Connor Hourihane, Henri Lansbury and a double from Lewis Grabban ensured Villa returned from Suffolk with all three points.
In hindsight, Grant Ward’s sending off late on in the first half ended the game as a contest, but momentum and confidence is never a bad thing, especially going into what looks like the play-offs.
Despite the result, Ipswich had the first chance, a cross finding its way to Myles Kenlock who’s shot was weak and wide.
But by the time Connor Hourihane scored our opener, Villa had a firm grasp on the game. Lewis Grabban cut in from the left before hitting a deflected shot off the post, but Hourihane doing his Frank Lampard impression running in from deep, was on hand to tuck in.
Ipswich did have more opportunities in the first 45, but none clear cut. James Chester’s inception of Grant Ward’s square ball across the box was a good illustration as to why the Tractor Boys couldn’t get through.
And things would get worse for Ward. With the break looming, the midfielder went for a high ball and ended stamping down on Neil Taylor’s lower thigh. Taylor was lucky to come out of the “tackle” without an injury, while Ward got his marching orders.
Onto the second-half now, and Villa were getting a lot more shots away. Bikir Bjarnason and Josh Onomah went close, and good pressure from our midfield on the Town defence, combined with sterling link up play, meant the chances kept coming.
Before the hour mark, Grabban got a thoroughly deserved goal. Receiving Onomah’s pass, the Bournemouth loanee turned his man prior to shooting across Bartosz Bialkowski and into the bottom corner.
Scott Hogan coming on meant Birkir shifted to left-back, and the striker would’ve probably got Villa’s third had the Icelander squared it to him rather than shooting into the side netting.
It didn’t matter though, as that man Grabban was on the scoresheet thanks to Onomah once again, the former finishing in off the post from the latter’s pass.
And to top it off, substitute Henri Lansbury got in on the act with less than ten minutes to go. The midfielder made a run into the area and met Bjarnason’s cross from the left with his head. 0-4.
It’s great to see Villa so ruthless in front of goal. Even with the game sewn up, the likes of Glenn Whelan and Jack Grealish were fighting for every ball in the middle.
Derby next week will be a tougher test of course, but the construction job as we enter the play-offs, which is most likely, is well underway.
Words by Harry Trend (@HazaTrand) // Follow us on Twitter (@claretandview)
