Ipswich Town 1 Swansea City 3

CARLING Cup semi-finalists Ipswich Town slipped further into Championship relegation worries when they allowed Swansea to hit back and take the points at Portman Road.

In front of the lowest league gate for some while the Blues have now lost five consecutive league games for the first time since 1994/95 when managed by George Burley and on their way to relegation from the Premier League.

Andros Townsend headed Town in front in the 51st minute and the game appeared to be won with Swansea losing their early dominance.

But two awful pieces of defending gifted Swansea two goals (Craig Beattie and Joe Allen) before Beattie netted a fine third goal seconds after referee Andy D’Urso turned down what looked like a clear cup penalty.

D’Urso was booed from then on – to take the heat of Town’s fifth home defeat of the season.

This 12.45pm kick-off was shown live on satellite television and there was another low attendance with many season tickets holders among those who decided to watch proceedings from the comfort of their own armchairs.

Blues owner Marcus Evans was looking on having missed the last two games while out of the country.

The pitch was in excellent condition thanks to much hard work by the ground staff and a thaw had improved conditions around the town and the area.

Town made three changes from the side that beat West Brom 1-0 on Wednesday with skipper David Norris going down ill in the morning.

Jaime Peters dropped to the bench and Reggie Lambe dropped out of the squad.

In came Gianni Zuiverloon at right back and Jack Colback and Carlos Edwards in midfield.

There was no place on the bench for experienced defender Damien Delaney who was eligible after serving his one-match ban although he is fit.

Rory Fallon and Jake Livermore, who were both cup tied along with Zuiverloon and Colback in midweek, were both among the substitutes with keeper Marton Fulop’s ankle problem keeping him on the sidelines.

Swansea started the game in third place and included the free-scoring Scott Sinclair in their line-up although Garry Monk was still unfit.

Beattie headed down into the grateful hands of Murphy in the fifth minute as Swansea showed their potential with little atmosphere in the ground.

Six minutes later a misjudged back pass by Rangel put Priskin clear, and he turned towards goal and saw his close range shot well blocked by De Vries.

Swansea have more possession in games than any other Championship club, and they were showing why as the retained the ball for long periods in a game that after half an hour had still not come to life.

In the 32nd minute a good Town passing move ended with Scotland doing well against his former club by charging through the middle and seeing his 18 yard shot deflected just round the post.

Priskin won a duel with three Swansea players before skimming the far post with a powerful angled drive in the 39th minute, and seconds later De Vries had to go down smartly to save a low 25 yard snap shot by Edwards.

Town went within a whisker of taking the lead in first half stoppage time when Brown meets Edwards’ corner with his head and De Vries pulls off a magnificent save diving down to his left.

In the 51st minute the Blues did take the lead after they retained the ball for a while down the right flank before Edwards crossed teasingly to the far post where Townsend made the most of a weak effort by Rangel to deal with ball by heading home powerfully at the far post. It was the Tottenham loanee’s first Blues goal – and a good one.

Four minutes later, Edwards crosses accurately again – this time from the left side. Priskin heads down and goalwards from six yards but not further enough away from De Vries, who saves on the line.

Ipswich pay a heavy price for not extending their lead in the 64th minute when Swansea win a free-kick after a foul by Townsend, and when the ball is curled in Beattie gets way above Murphy and the home defence to head down and into an empty net.

Worse was to follow in the 70th minute when sloppy defending allowed Allen to toe-poke Swansea ahead.

Sinclair was causing danger down the left side, and when he crossed low first O’Dea failed to put in a robust enough challenge and then when the ball fell to Smith on the edge of the six-yard box the young defender decided to try and dribble the ball clear when a big boot was needed. Allen was in no mood to pass up a golden invitation and turned the ball over the line.

In the 86th minute Ipswich looked to have won a clear cut penalty when Gower cut across Edwards with the home player going flying on to the ground. Referee D’Urso was the villain of the piece after that with Swansea rubbing salt into the wound when Beattie scored his second goal soon after with a tremendous 20 yard shot into the far top corner.

Teams

Ipswich Town: Murphy; Zuiverloon, Brown, Smith, O’Dea; Edwards, Leadbitter, Colback, Townsend (Peters 81); Scotland, Priskin (Fallon 65). Substitutes: Lee-Barrett, O’Connor, Livermore, Eastman, Healy.

Swansea City: De Vries; Rangel, Tate, Williams, Taylor; Gower; Dyer (Dobie 88), Orlandi (Pratley 75), Allen, Sinclair; Beattie. Substitutes: Ma-Kalambay, Cotterill, Van der Gun, Serran, Agustien.

Referee: Mr A D’Urso (Essex)

Attendance: 16,978 (153 visitors)

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IPSWICH TOWN v SWANSEA CITY MATCH RATINGS

Ipswich Town: Murphy 6; Zuiverloon 6, Brown 7, Smith 6, O’Dea 7; Edwards 7, Leadbitter 7, Colback 6, Townsend 8; Scotland 6, Priskin 6.

Swansea City: De Vries 7; Rangel 5, Tate 6, Williams 6, Taylor 6; Allen 7; Dyer 7, Orlandi 6, Gower 6, Sinclair 8; Beattie 7.

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MATCH STATS

Ipswich Town 1

Goals: Townsend 51

Bookings: O’Dea 40,

Sent off: -

Shots on target: 7

Shots off target: 7

Woodwork: -

Corners: 4

Free-kicks conceded (including off sides): 10

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Swansea City 3

Goals: Beattie 64, 86, Allen 70

Bookings: Rangel

Sent off: -

Shots on target: 4

Shots off target: 6

Woodwork: -0

Corners: 5

Free-kicks conceded (including off sides): 10