Accrington Stanley remain out of the relegation places after the defeat at Ipswich but lost goalkeeper Lukas Jensen after he saw red in added time.
The Reds battled hard but a goal in either half set the promotion-chasing Tractorboys on course for victory at Portman Road, where they have only lost one league game all season.
Then, in added time, Burnley loan stopper Jensen was shown a straight red card for racing out of his area and bringing down Harry Clarke with Kyle Edwards firing the free kick beyond replacement Liam Isherwood.
It was a fiery end to a clash which hadn't seen many bookings or fierce tackles and will leave John Coleman deciding whether to recall Toby Savin for Saturday's trip to Charlton.
In-form Ipswich was always going to be a tough ask and Coleman brought in Stanley’s recent signing Anthony Mancini for his first start for the Reds with Sean McConville out following a late two-game suspension.
Ipswich had three ex-Reds in their line-up in Cameron Burgess, Kayden Jackson and Janoi Donacien.
Stanley put a few decent crosses into the box early on but no one was able to capitalise.
Ipswich took the lead on 12 minutes through a quick passing move which resulted in ex-Red Jackson racing down the right wing and playing in a cross for Nathan Broadhead to tap home in the six yard box.
Stanley’s first shot on target came on 14 minutes from a Mancini free kick which had Christian Walton diving low to deny him while, at the other end, Jensen caught a Freddie Ladapo header.
Stanley suffered a blow when they lost Rosaire Longelo to injury on 22 minutes and Jack Nolan replaced him.
However they adapted and enjoyed a spell of possession with a couple of shots off-target and, at the other end, defended stoutly as Ipswich put balls into the box.
The next real chance fell to Ipswich on 34 minutes with Jensen doing well to keep out a Ladapo effort.
It was frantic towards the end of the half. Stanley broke through Mancini and he set up Aaron Pressley with the striker’s effort finger tipped over the bar by Walton. Mitch Clark then had a long range strike collected by the Ipswich keeper as the Reds looked to finish the half in the ascendancy.
However, in three minutes of added time, a dangerous ball in almost found Ladapo before Conor Chaplin had the ball in the net for Ipswich but it was ruled off-side.
Town’s leading goalscorer Chaplin couldn’t find the target just after the restart as he looked for his 20th goal of the campaign.
However, it was two on 56 minutes when Broadhead played a ball into the area, Massimo Luongo’s strike was deflected onto the crossbar and Jackson was there to pounce on the rebound.
Just after the hour mark, Coleman made a triple substitution with Doug Tharme, Cody Adedoyin and Nathan Butler-Oyedeji entering play.
Leif Davis fired wide for Ipswich in a good position but Stanley did well to limit Ipswich’s attacking threat in the final 20 minutes.
However, in added time, the game exploded with Jensen sent off on 91 minutes and sub Edwards adding the third.
Stanley: Jensen, Fernandes, Rodgers (Tharme), Sangare, Clark, Quirk (Adedoyin), Conneely, Longelo (Nolan), Martin, Pressley (Isherwood), Mancini (Butler-Oyedeji).
Subs: Adekoya
Red: Jensen
Yellow: Fernandes
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