Barrow 2-0 Ipswich Town: League Two Bluebirds beat League One Tractor Boys

League Two Barrow reached the FA Cup third round with a deserved victory over League One Ipswich Town in their second-round replay.

In the only tie of the round that went to a replay, Barrow dominated the first half and were 2-0 up at the break through Jordan Stevens and Robbie Gotts.

Stevens fired a cleverly-worked corner in from the edge of the box, via a slight deflection, before Gotts smashed home from close range.

Ipswich made nine changes from the side which drew at Wigan in the league and struggled to pose any attacking threat before the break.

Despite improving in the second half, with James Norwood poking wide and substitutes Sam Morsy and Joe Pigott forcing good saves from Paul Farman, Barrow were excellent value for their victory.

Jordan Stevens' fourth goal of the season set Barrow on their way to victory

They will now face Championship strugglers Barnsley at Oakwell on 8 January with a chance to reach round four for the first time.

Defeat by lower-league opponents continues a difficult December for the Tractor Boys which has seen boss Paul Cook sacked and defender Toto Nsiala involved in an altercation with Ipswich fans after a loss at Charlton.

Interim manager John McGreal could find no way to counteract an impressive Barrow performance who themselves have been struggling in League Two this season.

The introduction of Morsy and Luke Woolfenden at half-time did spark some life into the visitors but Barrow defended superbly and closed out the game as Ipswich piled forward.

Barrow manager Mark Cooper told BBC Radio Cumbria:

"I thought we played very well and took it to a different level in the first 45 minutes, I thought 2-0 flattered them.

"Second half, we knew there would be a reaction and they would make it a fight, but we stood up to it and we had to do what we had to do and we kept another clean sheet.

"First half, we were fantastic with the ball and didn't give them any time to settle on the ball. We said we needed to start well and manage the game properly.

"That's how I want to play, you have to have that intensity when you haven't got the ball.

"There were a couple of skirmishes and Paul Farman made a couple of saves, but apart from that we were comfortable."

Ipswich Town interim manager John McGreal told BBC Radio Suffolk:

"That first-half performance in particular hurts as it just shows the level of inconsistency in 90 minutes.

"You can argue it's quite easy to get on the ball when they back off a bit and you're 2-0 down, but at least they had a go in the second half. We had to adapt and change the shape just to get at them more.

"I'm only a caretaker, but whatever team you manage, I'm a proud man and you want your team to put on a performance. I couldn't sit there and watch that.

"Things had to be said and changed and I'm not scared of doing that. We had to go with a different type of energy and get some legs into the team and we did that more in the second half.

"I can't say right now if I'll be in charge again on Saturday. There's a lot to work with for the new guy, but there's also a lot of work to be done and I'm hopeful the fans will get behind a new manager as well."