Ipswich maintained their challenge for automatic promotion to the Premier League with a confident 3-0 victory over Swansea City at Portman Road. On their return to Suffolk after four straight games on the road, Anis Mehmeti struck after just three minutes to give the Tractor Boys an ideal start. Ivan Azon doubled the advantage shortly before half-time with a precise finish from a tight angle, and substitute George Hirst added a third late on to cap a composed display. The result moved Kieran McKenna's side to within three points of second-placed Middlesbrough, with a game in hand on their rivals.
The scoreline did not tell the whole story, with Swansea creating a handful of chances that could have shifted the momentum. They had an early equaliser from Gustavo Nunes ruled out for offside, saw Malick Yalcouye and Liam Cullen both denied by Christian Walton, and substitute Zan Vipotnik thundered a free-kick against the crossbar late on. But Ipswich's flowing football, allied to Mehmeti's influence in both creating and finishing, ensured the hosts were always in control of the contest.
Lightning Start as Mehmeti Punishes Swansea Hesitation
Ipswich could hardly have scripted a better opening. A fluent move down the left, involving Sunderland loanee Dan Neil and overlapping full-back Leif Davis, carved open Swansea's right flank within the first few minutes. Davis, wearing the number three shirt, whipped a cross into the penalty area that caused uncertainty in the visitors' defence. Swansea centre-back Ben Cabango stretched out a leg in an attempt to clear, but his touch only diverted the ball into the path of Mehmeti, who rifled his shot low past a helpless Lawrence Vigouroux.