Managing Director – Bridge Classic Cars
The result may not have been great for Ipswich Town but we had a fantastic day none the less. Thank you to Donald’s Mazda for their hospitality allowing us to enjoy the match from the David Johnson suite.
Ipswich Town 0 – 1 Swansea City
Source: ITFC online – Steve Pearce Review
Routledge strike proves the difference for Swans
Will Keane hit the post and Collin Quaner was denied by a terrific save from Kristoffer Nordfeldt as Swansea took the points at Portman Road.
Wayne Routledge’s strike just before the hour after Swans’ highly-rated Daniel James had hit the post proved the difference.
Dean Gerken denied James a second with a fingertip save while Nordfeldt produced an even better effort when Quaner was clear on goal as Blues suffered a second defeat of the Easter fixtures.
Town made seven changes to the side that went down at Preston on Friday, Callum Elder returning to the line-up, with Will Keane leading the line and Dean Gerken in goal.
The visitors had a gilt-edged chance to open the scoring inside five minutes, James racing clear on goal but the Wales international was way off with his finish.
Town responded, Alan Judge had a shot blocked, Keane crowded out inside the penalty area, then George Byers went down under Gerken’s challenge but picked up a yellow card rather than a penalty.
Jay Fulton tested Gerken with a drive from the edge of the box, Ollie McBurnie almost getting on the end of James’ pass, then Toto Nsiala was booked for hauling down the rapid James.
Routledge deflected Fulton’s shot over the bar from close range, Gwion Edwards blocked off as he tried to get his shot in, then Swansea broke with men over but McBurnie’s cross was cleared by Elder.
Edwards and Flynn Downes combined well down the right to force a corner, Swansea failing to deal with the delivery and Keane jabbed the ball against the post, Trevoh Chalobah just wide with the follow-up.
Gerken saved low down from Connor Roberts after Routledge had released him down the right, while at the other end Downes had a shot blocked, Nsiala heading over from the corner to bring a first-half of few chances to an end.
McBurnie was forced away from danger as the second-half got underway, Gerken at full stretch to tip away from James’ curler, then Routledge ran out of room as he looked to cross.
Swansea pressed for the breakthrough, Chalobah denying McBurnie from James’ cross but on 57 minutes the deadlock was broken, James the provider with a shot that cannoned back off the post and Routledge fired the rebound into the roof of the net.
Kayden Jackson and Collin Quaner replaced Andre Dozzell and Keane in a double change for Blues midway through the half, Nathan Dyer on for Routledge.
James’ dancing feet created another chance for the Welshman but his shot was off radar, McBurnie heading over from James’ cross, then at the other end Downes sent Quaner in on goal but Kristoffer Nordfeldt stuck out a left hand to make an excellent save.
Teddy Bishop replaced Chalobah in Paul Lambert’s final shuffle of his pack, James Bree seeing a shot blocked on the edge of the box as Blues searched for an equaliser that just wouldn’t come.
Town: Gerken, Bree, Chambers, Nsiala, Elder, Edwards, Chalobah (Bishop 78), Downes, Dozzell (Quaner 66), Judge, Keane (Jackson 66). Subs not used: Bialkowski, Skuse, Nydam, Ndaba. Booked: Nsiala, Bree.
Swansea: Nordfeldt, Van der Hoorn, McBurnie, Routledge, Carter-Vickers, James (Rodon 90), Grimes, Roberts, Naughton, Fulton (Fer 84), Byers. Subs not used: Benda, Dyer, McKay, John, Baker-Richardson. Booked: Byers, Fulton, Dyer.
