A late Jason Lowe own goal saw Blackburn Rovers have to settle for a 1-1 draw in this afternoon's Championship opener against Ipswich.

Colin Kazim-Richards gave Blackburn Rovers a 1-0 lead at half time but a defensive second half display allowed an average Ipswich get back into the game.

The Turkish international headed home from close range on 21 minutes to give Rovers the advantage.

But Lowe deflected into his own net on 82 after Rovers had been penned back for most of the second half.

After a scrappy start in which Ipswich dominated possession without ever looking as though they were troubling Rovers' back four, it was the visitors who struck first.

Morten Gamst Pedersen's left wing corner picked out the unmarked Scott Dann and his header back across goal was headed home from close range by Kazim-Richards.

Ipswich continued to pass the ball around the midfield without any real penetration as Rovers comfortable soaked up what was thrown at them in the opening half an hour.

Goalkeeper Paul Robinson was first called into action on 41 as he got down low to keep out Aaron Cresswell's free kick from the right.

Robinson was busy again in the dying seconds of the half when he turned Martin's 20-yard strike wide. Martin then nodded over in the last action of the half.

Rovers almost doubled their advantage soon after the restart as the alert Kazim-Richards latched onto a hopeful from Bradley Orr down the right and attempted an audacious chip with Scott Loach in no man's land. The ball landed on top of the net.

The hosts should have been level on 54, Robinson did well to parry Martin's 18-yard strike wide.

But, with the keeper on the floor and the goal gaping, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas attempted to take a touch and the ball ran away from him.

Rovers seemed content to sit back on their first half lead as Ipswich all the second half pressing, without having that final ball to hurt their visitors.

Rovers should have been made to pay for their second half showing on 79 though as Luke Chambers found himself free just yards from goal but missed his kick as the ball bounced off him and wide.

Ipswich got their deserved equaliser on 82 minutes though as Jason Scotland got on the end of a deep free kick to volley across goal and, with Michael Chopra waiting, Lowe saw his attempted clearance fly into the net.

It could have been worse for Rovers had it not been for a brilliant block from Gael Givet in the dying seconds as Martin looked certain to score.