Preview: Ipswich v Swans

22nd April
First team

Having extended their winning sequence at the Liberty Stadium, Swansea City will look to end their run of away defeats when they face Ipswich this afternoon at Portman Road (3pm).

Victory over Rotherham on Good Friday means the Swans have won four of their last five in the Championship and they retain an outside shot of a play-off spot with eight points to make up and four games to play.

While home form has been excellent, it may well be the case that Potter's men are left to rue their difficulties away from SA1 when the 2018-19 season is done and dusted.

The Swans have lost their last seven in a row on their travels, despite there being strong performances along the way, and it is a run they will be desperate to halt sooner rather than later.

They take on an Ipswich side who already know they will be plying their trade in League One next season after having relegation confirmed earlier this month.

Paul Lambert's side have won just four league games all season and have not won in their last seven games at Portman Road.

But one of their quartet of wins this season came against the Swans at the Liberty - with former academy product Gwion Edwards the chief architect of his old club's downfall - and Potter's men will certainly not be taking opponents with a proud history lightly.

Team news

Swansea City are boosted by the return of Bersant Celina from illness as the midfielder prepares to face his former club.

The Kosovo international missed the Good Friday win over Rotherham, but had recovered enough to return to training on the weekend and is in contention to take on the Tractor Boys.

Otherwise, Potter is set to have the same squad to choose from with Erwin Mulder (broken finger), Leroy Fer (hamstring) and Martin Olsson (Achilles) still on the sidelines.

Pre-match views

Graham Potter: “They will have players playing for their futures, either looking for a future in the Championship or to be part of trying to get the club back to the Championship.

“They are a proud club with a great history, you only have to look back and they have traditionally been a very strong club.

“So we expect a tough game, Paul Lambert will have them ready to go and ready to fight in front of their own fans.”

Paul Lambert: “You get performances where things don't go right for you so it's important we bounce back. Thank goodness we've got a game on Monday at home to Swansea.

“I've got a group of young lads who will bust everything and be ready to go. The quicker the season ends the better."

Remember the last time?

This will be Swansea's first trip to Portman Road since their previous Championship campaign of 2010-11, and they emerged 3-1 winners thanks to a Craig Beattie brace in East Anglia.

The first half was a dull affair with neither team threatening the scoresheet, but the game sparked into life after the break

Andros Townsend put the Tractor Boys ahead, heading home Carlos Edwards' cross at the far post on the 50-minute mark.

But, in the space of six minutes, Swansea had turned things around.

Beattie headed home a free kick from Mark Gower in the 64th minute, before Joe Allen profited from Ipswich’s defensive uncertainty to poke home the ball from six yards to give the Swans the lead.

Beattie rounded off the scoring with four minutes to go when he picked up the ball 20 yards out and sent a beautiful shot into the top corner of the net to help Brendan Rodgers' side consolidate third place in the Championship table.

Prime numbers

7 - Swansea City have lost their last seven away league games, equalling the same sequence under Paul Clement between September and December 2017. Seven is also the number of home games Ipswich have gone without victory.

16 - Ipswich have been involved in 16 draws so far this season, the joint-third highest tally in the Championship.