A sixth-minute goal from Freddie Sears has given Ipswich Town the lead over Championship promotion rivals Bournemouth at half time in their clash at Portman Road.

Daryl Murphy collected a deep cross inside the box before squaring the ball to an unmarked Sears, who rolled a composed finish into the corner for his fifth goal since joining the Tractor Boys in January.

Bournemouth almost found a response four minutes later, when Andrew Surman drilled a shot across goal from an acute angle after being found by Callum Wilson.

Another well-worked move from the Cherries saw Matt Ritchie lay the ball off to Harry Arter, but the midfielder blazed his effort high and wide from outside the penalty area.

Luke Varney broke away down the right flank in the 12th minute and his cross found Ezekiel Fryers, but the defender's wayward effort failed to test Artur Boruc in the Bournemouth goal.

The visitors improved as the half progressed and another good team move found Ryan Fraser, whose powerful drive from just inside the area was palmed away by Bartosz Bialkowski.

Two minutes later Fraser called the Ipswich goalkeeper into action again when his looping cross was palmed over the bar when it looked set to drop into the net.

Two minutes before the break Ritchie went close once more, this time forcing Bialkowski into a save with a strike from distance before Fraser put the rebound wide.