Leaders West Ham humbled by Ipswich

The league’s tightest defence met its weakest but it was the Tractor Boys who celebrated their first win in eight matches in all competitions to boost their battle for survival.

The home side led inside three minutes through Michael Chopra, although Carlton Cole hit a post for the visitors moments later.

A crazy end to the first half saw three goals in the final two minutes plus stoppage time, with Daryl Murphy doubling Town’s advantage with a header but Jack Collison halving the deficit within seconds.

Ipswich were then awarded a penalty which Lee Martin converted, and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas added a brace after the break as the Hammers saw their three-game winning run in the league come to an end.

Despite the heavy defeat, West Ham remain top of the pile after Southampton were held to a 1-1 draw by Cardiff.

Craig Conway had given the Bluebirds a first-half lead but Rickie Lambert’s penalty earned Saints a share of the spoils.

Blackpool snatched a last-gasp 2-1 win against Coventry.

Conor Thomas’s goal looked set to give the Championship’s bottom side a shock win, before late goals by Kevin Phillips and Gary Taylor-Fletcher turned the game around.

Chris Martin’s penalty looked set to give Crystal Palace a derby win over Brighton, before Ashley Barnes made it 1-1 from the spot.

Troy Deeney and Joe Garner netted as Watford secured a 2-0 win at Millwall, while a brace from Jay Rodriguez helped Burnley secure the same winning scoreline at relegation-threated Nottingham Forest.