A quickfire first-half brace from former Ipswich Town striker Jordan Rhodes has given Blackburn Rovers a 2-0 half-time lead over the Tractor Boys in the Championship clash at Ewood Park.

Blackburn won their first home league match of the season last weekend 3-0 against Charlton Athletic, but they were pinned back in the opening stages as the visitors looked for an opener.

However, after Christophe Berra had headed Ainsley Maitland-Niles's cross over the bar, Rovers were awarded a penalty when Hope Akpan was allowed to surge into the penalty area and was brought down by Larsen Toure.

Rhodes sent Dean Gerken the wrong way from the spot to give his side the lead, and just six minutes later the Scotland international struck again to double the advantage.

Craig Conway won a corner down the left side and whipped it in himself, and Rhodes's movement in the box worked himself some space to rise highest and thump a header home for his seventh goal in the last five games.

Marcus Olsson thought that he had marked his 100th appearance for Blackburn with a goal when his volleyed finish from Rhodes's flick was ruled out for offside as the hosts looked to add a third almost immediately.

Grant Hanley headed narrowly wide before Jason Steele had to palm Daryl Murphy's shot away as Ipswich briefly threatened, but Rovers looked in control as the half-time whistle sounded.