George Hirst had a spell on loan with Blackburn Rovers during the first half of last season
Ipswich Town weathered a Blackburn Rovers comeback to edge a seven-goal thriller to keep pace at the top of the Championship.
The hosts wasted no time in taking the lead through Harry Clarke on four minutes but Arnor Sigurdsson levelled on his Blackburn debut just five minutes later.
But Ipswich moved back ahead through Nathan Broadhead's drilled low finish and George Hirst's goal against his former club.
Harry Leonard bundled home and Sam Szmodics turned things around for Blackburn before Massimo Luongo sealed the win.
Ipswich's victory means they are second in the Championship, behind leaders Leicester City, after Preston were held to a draw by Rotherham United, while Blackburn are 14th.
Clarke prospered from Blackburn failing to clear a corner to fire Ipswich ahead but the hosts could not maintain their lead for long as the visitors fought back.
Iceland international Sigurdsson's goal came via some good build-up work from Rovers, as Szmodics played through Lewis Travis on the edge of the box who them teed him up to slot past Ipswich keeper Vaclav Hladky.
Ipswich's second goal came via another Blackburn defensive error after goalkeeper Aynsley Pears was dispossessed by Conor Chaplin, who teed up Broadhead's fine finish for his fourth of the season.
Blackburn struggled to deal with the Ipswich attack as, just minutes later, Cameron Burgess set up Hirst having run behind Hayden Carter and he found the net through the legs of Pears.
Rovers boss Jon Dahl Tomasson made two changes at the break and his side took just seven minutes to make a breakthrough after the restart as Leonard scored his third goal of the season.
Blackburn levelled again, this time through Szmodics who coolly took a touch on the edge of the box before firing home, but Luongo struck from a similar range at the other end to edge the Tractor Boys into a late decisive lead.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsIpswich
Formation 4-2-3-1
31Hladky2Clarke6Woolfenden15Burgess3Davis5Morsy25Luongo7Burns10Chaplin33Broadhead27Hirst
- 31Hladky2ClarkeSubstituted forHutchinsonat 60'minutes6Woolfenden15Burgess3Davis5MorsyBooked at 48mins25Luongo7BurnsSubstituted forWilliamsat 60'minutes10ChaplinBooked at 74minsSubstituted forHarnessat 78'minutes33BroadheadSubstituted forTaylorat 83'minutes27HirstBooked at 59minsSubstituted forScarlettat 78'minutes
Substitutes
- 8Evans9Ladapo11Harness12Ball13Slicker14Taylor18Williams20Hutchinson24Scarlett
Blackburn
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Pears2Brittain17Carter5Hyam3Pickering27Travis23A Wharton24Moran8Szmodics7Sigurdsson20Leonard
- 1Pears2BrittainSubstituted forRankin-Costelloat 81'minutes17CarterBooked at 62mins5Hyam3Pickering27TravisBooked at 72mins23A Wharton24MoranBooked at 31minsSubstituted forDolanat 45'minutes8Szmodics7SigurdssonBooked at 40minsSubstituted forHedgesat 45'minutesSubstituted forMarkandayat 55'minutes20LeonardSubstituted forTelalovicat 82'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Hill6Tronstad10Dolan11Rankin-Costello12Wahlstedt16S Wharton18Markanday19Hedges33Telalovic
Referee:Keith StroudAttendance:28,792Match StatsHome TeamIpswichAway TeamBlackburnPossessionHome40%Away60%ShotsHome29Away10Shots on TargetHome11Away5CornersHome10Away5FoulsHome10Away13Live Text Post update
Match ends, Ipswich Town 4, Blackburn Rovers 3.
90'+9'Full Time
Second Half ends, Ipswich Town 4, Blackburn Rovers 3.
90'+7'Post update
Attempt missed. Adam Wharton (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Tyrhys Dolan following a corner.
90'+6'Post update
Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Leif Davis.
90'+4'Post update
Foul by Adam Wharton (Blackburn Rovers).
90'+4'Post update
Dane Scarlett (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+2'Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
90'+1'Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Leif Davis (Ipswich Town).
90'Post update
Attempt missed. Dane Scarlett (Ipswich Town) header from the right side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Marcus Harness.
90'Post update
Attempt missed. Marcus Harness (Ipswich Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right.
90'Post update
Attempt blocked. Jack Taylor (Ipswich Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
90'Post update
Attempt blocked. Marcus Harness (Ipswich Town) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jack Taylor.
88'Post update
Foul by Dominic Hyam (Blackburn Rovers).
88'Post update
Omari Hutchinson (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.
88'Post update
Tyrhys Dolan (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
88'Post update
Foul by Omari Hutchinson (Ipswich Town).
83'Substitution
Substitution, Ipswich Town. Jack Taylor replaces Nathan Broadhead.
82'Substitution
Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Semir Telalovic replaces Harry Leonard.
81'Substitution
Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Joe Rankin-Costello replaces Callum Brittain.
81'Post update
Foul by Adam Wharton (Blackburn Rovers).
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Source: bbc.com