Aston Villa 2 Ipswich Town 1 - Report and pictures

Two goals from top scorer Tammy Abraham looked to have Dean Smith’s men cruising to victory.

But Freddie Sears set up a nervy finish when he thumped home from 25 yards out.

Trevoh Chalobah then hit the post for the visitors as Villa held on for a win which sent them back into the Championship top half.

Analysis

Smith’s men now sit four points behind sixth-placed Derby, though they have played a game more.

This result rarely looked in doubt from the moment Abraham fired them in front inside six minutes.

After the striker netted his second and 19th of the season from the penalty spot just past the hour mark, it seemed a question of how many the home side score.

Sears’s superb strike came out of the blue but changed the momentum significantly and Villa had to endure some nervy moments before seeing out their first win since Boxing Day.

Villa’s team saw two changes from the one which drew 2-2 with Hull the week previously, Glenn Whelan and Anwar El Ghazi coming in for Birkir Bjarnason and Yannick Bolasie, with the latter now back at parent club Everton.

There was no place in the squad for Andre Green, after the winger picked up an injury in training during the week.

Ipswich had won just three times all season and against a team lacking confidence, Villa made the perfect start.

El Ghazi was fouled on the left and when Hourihane whipped in the free-kick, Abraham fired a volley into the roof of the net with goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski rooted to his line.

Villa have frequently been their own worst enemies of late and they were left breathing a sigh of relief after the visitors failed to capitalise, when James Chester was robbed deep in his own half by Will Keane.

That in truth was a rare moment of alarm for the hosts, who steadily moved through the gears as the first half progressed.

Bialkowski was forced into a low save by John McGinn, with Albert Adomah’s follow-up being ruled out for offside.

Conor Hourihane also tested the keeper from long range, while Bialkowksi made a reflex stop to deny Abraham his second of the afternoon, after the striker had been expertly picked out by Adomah.

Having saved his side from further punishment, he Bialkowski was then grateful for the reactions of James Collins, who cleared behind after he failed to hold a low McGinn drive.

The chances continued to come early in the second period. This time it was an Abraham header which Bialkowski kept out, albeit in somewhat unconvincing fashion.

After Sears had lashed a rare Ipswich effort over the bar from distance, McGinn sent a shot whistling just over at the other end, from Alan Hutton’s driven low cross.

Even two-goal leads have rarely been comfortable at Villa Park this season and when Hourihane under-hit a pass, meaning Chester had to hurriedly clear, there were the first sign of nerves in the home crowd.

Those were quickly dispelled just past the hour mark when Abraham doubled the lead.

Alan Judge was ruled to have fouled McGinn at a corner and Abraham coolly sent Bialkowski the wrong way from the spot.

Villa went close to putting the game even further out of reach, with Bialkowski denying Abraham his 20th of the campaign when he kept out the striker’s delicate chip.

But the introduction of Colin Quaner off the bench had provided the visitors with a presence in the final third and only a brilliant goal-line clearance from Tommy Elphick prevented the striker from pulling one back, after he had rounded Kalinic.

Villa, however, would not be spared a nervy finish. With 14 minutes remaining, Sears smashed home from 25 yards out and suddenly the visitors had renewed hope.

The comeback was almost completed when Chalobah headed Judge’s free-kick off the post.

Bialkowski kept his team in it when he twice denied Abraham, the second with a brilliant flying save. But no more big chances came Ipswich’s way, as Villa saw out a vital win.

Key Moments

6 GOAL - Tammy Abraham gives Villa the perfect start, volleying home Conor Hourihane’s free-kick at close range.

61 GOAL - Abraham makes it two for Villa, stroking home from the penalty spot, after Alan Judge is ruled to have fouled John McGinn.

76 GOAL - Ipswich come bursting back into the game when Freddie Sears fires home from 25 yards out.

Teams

Villa (4-3-3): Kalinic, Hutton, Chester, Elphick, Taylor, McGinn, Whelan (Kodjia 78), Hourihane, Adomah (Elmohamady 68), Abraham, El Ghazi (Jedinak 84) Subs not used: Hause, O'Hare, Davis, Steer (gk).

Ipswich (4-5-1): Bialkowski, Pennington, Chambers, Collins, Kenlock, Judge, Chalobah (Jackson 90+2), Skuse, Sears, Downes, Keane (Quaner 62) Subs not used: Nolan, Bishop, Nsiala, Elder, Gerken (gk).