Ipswich beat Bristol Rovers to reach round four

Charlotte Coates
BBC Sport journalist

Kalvin Phillips brilliantly opened his Ipswich Town account as the Premier League club eased past League One Bristol Rovers to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup.

The on-loan Manchester City midfielder started the scoring for the hosts in the 18th minute, taking Jack Clarke's pass on the turn and beautifully placing a strike into the bottom corner.

Six minutes later, Kieran McKenna's side had doubled their lead with Clarke also netting his first goal since a summer switch from Sunderland.

Before half-time, Jack Taylor gave the home side a three-goal advantage after slotting beyond Josh Griffiths with ease. Taylor appeared to be offside but there is no video assistant referee in use for the third round.

The Tractor Boys - in the Premier League relegation zone on goal difference - were awarded a penalty in the 51st minute after a handball from former Ipswich player Grant Ward, but Ali Al-Hamadi put the spot-kick well wide.

Ipswich goalkeeper Arijanet Muric gifted Bristol Rovers their best chance after he passed the ball straight to Ruel Sotiriou, but his effort was then saved by the legs of the Kosovan.

Bristol Rovers, 20th in the third tier and now managed by ex-Brighton defender Inigo Calderon, stood firm in the second half against a side ranked 46 places above them to keep the score at 3-0.

McKenna's side, now unbeaten in three games in all competitions, return to Premier League action on Thursday as they welcome Brighton to Portman Road.

Can Phillips push on after first goal?

Reuters

Kalvin Phillips (centre) has appeared 31 times for England

Eyebrows were raised when Phillips made the switch to Ipswich from Premier League champions Manchester City in the summer, but the move has not quite gone to plan for the midfielder just yet.

Having only featured in 11 of the Tractor Boys' 20 league games this season, Phillips needed the type of performance he put in against Bristol Rovers to remind the home faithful of his talent.

Yes, it may only be League One opposition, and this is an England international, but confidence is a funny thing in football and Phillips' confidence will only improve the more he plays.

After dictating the play from the first whistle, Phillips showed his class on the ball by taking Clarke's pass on the half-turn and placing the ball into the bottom corner from around 20 yards out.

With Ipswich in a scrap to stay in the Premier League, McKenna knows an in-form Phillips would be incredibly valuable to their fight.

Player of the match

K. Phillips
8.56
8 K. Phillips
8.56
47 J. Clarke
7.83
33 N. Broadhead
7.78
7 W. Burns
7.64
14 J. Taylor
7.46
16 Ali Al Hamadi
7.34
1 A. Murić
7.19
6 L. Woolfenden
7.13
15 C. Burgess
7.09
27 G. Hirst
6.92
13 C. Slicker
6.91
18 B. Johnson
6.90
22 C. Townsend
6.90
2 H. Clarke
6.81
44 B. Godfrey
4.21
25 M. Luongo
3.92
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