Report | Ipswich Town 3 Swansea City 0

Swansea City suffered defeat on their travels as Ipswich Town eased to three points at Portman Road.

The home side led inside four minutes when Anis Mehmeti arrowed a strike into the top corner, before Ivan Azon doubled their lead shortly before the break.

Swansea had the better of the early stages of the second half, but the game was put beyond doubt when George Hirst netted a third for the Tractor Boys.

Aside from efforts from Malick Yalcouye and Liam Cullen that drew parries from home keeper Christian Walton, the visitors created little of note as they suffered a ninth defeat in 11 away games.

The Swans had made five changes from the draw with Preston as Marko Stamenic, Yalcouye, Melker Widell, Gustavo Nunes and Cullen all came into the side.

Jay Fulton, Goncalo Franco, Leo Walta, Ronald and Zan Vipotnik all dropped to the bench for the final fixture of a three-game week.

Swansea made a far from ideal start as they conceded inside four minutes.

The goal came far too easily as a cross into the box was half-cleared to Mehmeti, and he dispatched an unerring strike into the top corner, giving Lawrence Vigouroux no chance.

Swansea responded reasonably well to the setback, and had the ball in the back of the net when Widell teed up Yalcouye to tap in from close range, but the Sweden international had strayed offside when Ethan Galbraith delayed his pass into space for him.

Vigouroux held a low Dan Neil shot after the Swans had been unable to cleanly clear a long throw into the area from Darnell Furlong.

Ben Cabango made a terrific covering challenge after Cedric Kipre’s ball into the channel had sent Leif Davis racing towards the Swansea area.

Galbraith sent a left-footed effort over the bar after Jisung Eom had squared a free-kick to him before – at the other end – Vigouroux pushed away Azon’s header from a deep corner.

But there was nothing the keeper could do when neat play down the left side of the box by the hosts sprung Azon into space, and he curled the ball into the far corner of the net.

Swansea crafted their best opportunity just before the interval, fine interplay created the room for Yalcouye to strike at goal, with Christian Walton pushing his shot away to safety as the hosts retained their two-goal advantage at the break.

Yalcouye was involved again early in the second half when his good pressing work saw the ball fall for Cullen and Walton had to parry the Wales international’s strike from the edge of the box.

Yalcouye’s livewire presence then saw him drive infield and flash a shot well wide just before he was removed in favour of Franco, with Vipotnik and Ronald also introduced as Matos rang the changes 10 minutes into the second period.

Swansea were having a better period but could not find the guile at key moments to create genuine clear-cut opportunities despite numerous periods of neat build-up play and pressing work allowing them to control the ball.

When the home side broke they threatened, Swansea doing well to crowd out substitute Jack Clarke after he had gone on a raid infield from the wing and driven across the visiting penalty area.

But any hopes of a late comeback were ended when the Swans gave away the ball inside their own area and the ball was squared for Hirst to find the net via the inside of the far post.

The Ipswich sub nearly had a second moments later when he rose unmarked to meet a cross, only for Vigouroux to make a stunning one-handed save to palm the ball around the post when a goal had looked certain.

Vipotnik nearly struck a consolation in the final moments as his free-kick cannoned off the crossbar shortly before the final whistle blew.

Swansea City: Lawrence Vigouroux; Ethan Galbraith, Ben Cabango (captain), Cameron Burgess, Josh Tymon; Marko Stamenic, Malick Yalcouye (Goncalo Franco 55), Melker Widell ( Guatavo Nunes, Jisung Eom (Ronald 55), Liam Cullen (Zan Vipotnik 55).

Unused Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Josh Key, Jay Fulton, Ishe Samuels-Smith, Leo Walta, Joel Ward. 

Ipswich Town: Christian Walton, Leif Davis, Cedric Kipre, Azor Matusiwa (Jens Cajuste 84), Dan Neil (Jack Taylor 61), Wes Burns (Kasey McAteer 69), Darnell Furlong, Dara O'Shea (captain), Ivan Azon (George Hirst 69), Marcelino Nunez (Jack Clarke 61), Anis Mehmeti.

Unused Substitutes: Alex Palmer, Sindre Walle Egeli, Jacob Greaves, Chuba Akpom.

Referee: Anthony Backhouse

Attendance: 27,594