IPSWICH Town suffered more disappointment after slipping to a 1-0 defeat at home to leaders Coventry City.

Matt Godden's 15th league goal of the season - a cool finish past Will Norris in the 16th minute - proved the difference between the sides, as Ipswich tumbled to a fourth straight League One defeat.

At no stage were the Blues as abject as they were during the first half of Tuesday's defeat by the same scoreline against Joey Barton's Fleetwood.

However, Coventry rarely looked troubled and Town only fashioned one big chance, missed by Jon Nolan.

It was a third home defeat in a row for the Blues.

Their seventh loss in nine games sees them drop to tenth, now seven points off the play-offs and 15 behind the Sky Blues.

Coventry, meanwhile, opened up a five-point lead at the top of the table.

Elsewhere in the division, Rotherham United lost ground on the table-topping Sky Blues in a 3-1 defeat at Rochdale, who boosted their own battle against relegation.

The Millers were unbeaten in seven matches but were undone by two goals from Ian Henderson and a third from Matty Lund, before Jamie Lindsay pulled one back for Rotherham late on.

Oxford United propelled themselves from seventh to third with their fifth consecutive win - a 3-2 victory at Shrewsbury Town - while Peterborough United enjoyed a similar jump thanks to a 2-0 triumph over Portsmouth, who dropped from third to sixth.

Sunderland twice took the lead in a 2-2 draw with Gillingham, while Fleetwood dropped out of the play-off positions after failing to get the better of Blackpool - under new boss Neil Critchley - in their goalless derby clash at Highbury.

It was an encouraging day for clubs at the bottom end of the table, with none of the bottom five tasting defeat.

Southend United halted a miserable run of six straight defeats with a 3-1 win against Bristol Rovers at Roots Hall.

Charlie Kelman and Terrell Egbri scored either side of Jayden Mitchell-Lawson's effort for Rovers, before Alfie Kilgour's own goal made sure of the three points for Southend.

Tranmere Rovers made it back-to-back wins in a 2-1 victory at Accrington Stanley, meaning bottom club Bolton Wanderers' goalless draw at AFC Wimbledon was not enough to see them gain ground on the teams above them.

In the day's remaining matches, Lincoln City came out on top in an entertaining 3-2 win over Burton Albion, with Josh Vickers saving a late penalty for the victors, while Doncaster Rovers won 1-0 at MK Dons.