Last updated on .From the section Championship

Lewis Grabban has scored seven goals for Villa since joining on loan from Bournemouth on 31 January

Aston Villa kept their slim automatic promotion hopes alive with a emphatic victory at 10-man Ipswich.

Conor Hourihane put Villa ahead when Lewis Grabban's deflected shot came back off the post for him to tap in, before Grant Ward received a straight red for a high tackle on Neil Taylor.

Grabban turned in the box and finished low into the corner to make it 2-0.

The Villa man stroked in Josh Onomah's pass for his 19th of the season and Henri Lansbury's header ended the rout.

Steve Bruce's side are a point behind Cardiff, who play later on Saturday and have two games in hand, and three adrift of second-placed Fulham.

Ipswich, meanwhile, are 14th and have lost both Championship games since Mick McCarthy's early departure, with Bryan Klug in caretaker charge.

The visitors, still without John Terry, were already dominant before Ward's dismissal and were in cruise control once Grabban got his first after the break.

The on-loan Bournemouth striker is now joint-top of the second-tier goalscoring charts, alongside Derby forward Matej Vydra and Bristol City's Bobby Reid.

Martyn Waghorn had Ipswich's only shot on target - a speculative 30-yard effort held by Sam Johnstone.

Ipswich caretaker manager Bryan Klug:

"We had a plan and when that happens (red card) it all goes out the window.

"It was right in front of us. I don't think there was any malice in the challenge but he did catch him high and it gives the referee a chance to do that and I have no real complaints about that really.

"We tried different ways to get something out of the game and that left us a bit open, and they have got some fantastic players who were able to capitalise and in the end we are well beaten.

"But it's not through lack of effort. We made some uncharacteristic mistakes in the way that we defended and gave the ball away in certain areas, but they are a good team."

Aston Villa assistant Colin Calderwood:

"We had gained ascendancy with the goal and then that (the sending off) certainly made it easier for us with them down to 10 men.

"There's no malice in it, there's no intent, but as much as you feel sorry for the boy you just have to accept it.

"We don't know how hopeful that is for the automatic position but it helps us having a nice rhythm and good form going into whatever may happen come the end of the season.

"We have got to be ready (for the play-offs) and the big games that we have had the atmosphere has been rare and intensified and that gives us confidence and hopefully that will give supporters the belief."