Alan Lee's second-half penalty ensured Championship side Ipswich a safe passage into the FA Cup fifth round with a 1-0 home triumph at the expense of League One giant-killers Swansea.The Town striker broke the deadlock from the spot in the 64th minute but Swansea, riding high in League One, matched the Tractor Boys for long periods. Ultimately, however, Kenny Jackett's men bowed out with their pride intact and reputation enhanced after dumping Premiership Sheffield United 3-0 out in the previous round. The Swans received a boost prior to kick-off when Thomas Butler overcame a hip injury picked up in Tuesday night's 2-0 win over Gillingham. Butler struck twice in the previous round's win at Bramall Lane to help fire Swansea into the last 32 and set up the clash with the Tractor Boys. Swansea defender Izzy Iriekpen found himself in unfamiliar territory inside the second minute when he hit a fierce shot from 18 yards which required a fine block from Gavin Williams. Swans striker Adebayo Akinfenwa then found space to curl a neat right-foot shot just wide of the far post. Ipswich, however, soon established a firm foothold on the game and a steady stream of crosses by Jaime Peters led to several nervous moments in the visitors' ranks. Town midfielder Billy Clarke hit a superb left-foot shot from 18 yards which drew a smart stop from Willy Gueret. Peters then fired over in the 19th minute as Ipswich threatened to make the breakthrough. Further efforts from Clarke and Sylvain Legwinski narrowly missed the target, before Swansea began to create chances themselves as the half wore on. Shortly after the half-hour Leon Britton produced a cross which Butler met with a mishit shot that failed to trouble Ipswich goalkeeper Lewis Price. But the hosts threatened again seven minutes before the break when Gary Roberts crossed for Lee, who headed wastefully over the crossbar. Legwinski tested Swansea goalkeeper Willy Gueret two minutes after the break with a drilled effort, but Swansea came even closer moments later when winger Andy Robinson was denied by an excellent close-range parry from Price. The visitors threatened again soon after when Adebayo Akinfenwa hit a shot which required a fine block from Fabian Wilnis. Remarkably, Swansea threatened once again when Trinidad and Tobago defender Dennis Lawrence hit a 30-yard screamer which almost broke the deadlock. In the 64th minute a goal was scored, but it came from Ipswich as Lee fired home his 12th of the season from the spot after Tom Williams fouled Peters. Swansea boss Jackett threw on Lee Trundle and Pawel Abbott and the move looked to have paid dividends. Trundle made an immediate impact and saw a header saved by Price before hitting a shot which flashed narrowly wide. Then, in the last minute, Ipswich were left breathing a sigh of relief after Abbott connected with Marcos Painter's cross and Price produced another fine save to send his side into the last 16.
Swansea City have never played an FA Cup tie at the Liberty Stadium, their ground since the start of last season, and they will now have to wait many months - and possibly longer - to break that duck. This game against Ipswich was their ninth consecutive away tie in the competition and when Thomas Butler had a chance to finally bring a taste of the Cup to their part of south Wales, he failed to do so.
The scorer and hero of the Swans' win over Sheffield United in the previous round was only a foot away from making contact with Lee Trundle's cross but his miss, combined with Alan Lee's goal from the penalty spot, sent Ipswich into the fifth round. To rub salt into Swansea's wounds, Lee used to play for their local rivals Cardiff City.
Yet Portman Road could have been much more rewarding for the League One side. After all, their previous venture out of Wales for the FA Cup took them to Yorkshire three weeks ago and they beat the Blades 3-0, with that result doing no disservice to anyone.
Despite form favouring the visitors, their manager, Kenny Jackett, sprang one surprise, leaving his side's most gifted player, Trundle, out of the starting line-up, to the relief of Jackett's counterpart Jim Magilton.
Omitting Trundle, which he explained was to match Ipswich in midfield "in bodies and numbers", did reap its negative reward as the hosts' frustration mounted throughout the first half. As it inched its way towards its conclusion, the best Magilton's men could boast was a neat move involving Jaime Peters and Sylvain Legwinski, ending with the Frenchman steering a shot just wide. Minutes earlier, Peters, who was the home side's liveliest player, had tried his own luck but from 20 yards he hit a curling shot that flew over the crossbar.
Shortly after the interval the visitors extracted the first save of note from either goalkeeper as Andy Robinson shot from distance. Lewis Price could only push the ball out to Adebayo Akinfenwa but Richard Naylor recovered his ground to clear the danger.
The game changed in the 64th minute when Gavin Williams, a transfer target for Swansea, floated a high free-kick to the far post. Peters, again a threat, got his shot in but the referee adjudged he had been held back by Tom Williams. From the spot-kick, Lee calmly converted low to his left for his 12th goal of the season.
Magilton was disappointed by Peters' miss but relieved to get a second bite at the cherry. "Sometimes you get those penalties, sometimes not, but Lee showed great composure," he said. Jackett felt the award was harsh.
Unsurprisingly, Trundle's introduction changed the threat that Swansea posed. However, the inability of Butler to think as quickly as his team-mate meant the visitors went home a beaten side. With 12 minutes to go, Akinfenwa found Trundle and his cross took Price out of the equation. Yet Butler had not read Trundle's intentions and slid in too late to stop the Swans leaving this year's competition.
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