IPSWICH, ENGLAND — Ipswich Town delivered a statement performance at Portman Road, dismantling Swansea City 3-0 in the English Championship to end a difficult recent run with authority. Anis Mehmeti set the tone inside three minutes, and goals from Iván Azón and George Hirst ensured the Tractor Boys were never seriously threatened. Despite Swansea edging possession at 53.9%, Ipswich were sharper, more direct, and ultimately far more clinical on a night when Portman Road roared its approval.
The opening goal arrived almost before supporters had settled into their seats. In just the 3rd minute, Mehmeti collected possession in the centre of the box and drilled a right-footed effort into the top right corner, giving Lawrence Vigouroux no chance. It was a finish of real quality — composed, precise, and devastating in its early timing. Swansea, still finding their footing, were immediately on the back foot.
Ipswich continued to press and were rewarded again before the half-hour mark. In the 33rd minute, Azón met a Leif Davis cross with a firm header from the left side of the six-yard box, only to see Vigouroux push it onto the top of the frame — a fine stop that temporarily kept the deficit at one. But the Spanish forward was not to be denied. Eight minutes later, in the 41st minute, Azón latched onto another Davis delivery and this time steered a composed right-footed finish into the bottom right corner. Two goals in the first half, and Ipswich were firmly in control.
Dan Neil had also tested Vigouroux in the 15th minute with a left-footed effort from the centre of the box, the goalkeeper saving comfortably in the centre of the goal. It was a half that underlined Ipswich's intent — probing, purposeful, and relentless in their attacking movement. Davis, operating down the left, was a constant threat, his deliveries causing Swansea's backline persistent problems.
Swansea's manager responded at the break, introducing Zan Vipotnik, Ronald, and Gonçalo Franco in the 55th minute in a triple substitution designed to inject urgency. The visitors did show more ambition in the second period. Liam Cullen had tested Christian Walton with a left-footed effort from outside the box in the 49th minute, the Ipswich goalkeeper pushing it into the top left corner. Malick Yalcouyé also fired wide in the 54th minute. But Swansea's threat was fleeting, and Ipswich's defensive shape held firm.
Ipswich made their own changes in the 61st minute, with Jack Clarke and Jack Taylor entering the fray, and the fresh legs immediately added energy. George Hirst replaced Azón at the same time, and the substitute made an immediate impact. In the 74th minute, Hirst finished clinically from the right side of the six-yard box, guiding a right-footed shot into the bottom left corner after being teed up by the excellent Mehmeti. Six minutes later, Hirst went close to a second when his header from a Mehmeti cross was pushed onto the top of the bar by Vigouroux — a moment that summed up the goalkeeper's difficult evening.
The statistics told a clear story. Ipswich registered 11 shots to Swansea's 10, but the difference lay in accuracy: 6 shots on target for the hosts compared to just 3 for the visitors. Ipswich also won 4 corners to Swansea's none, reflecting their territorial dominance in key areas. The teams shared possession almost equally — 46.1% to 53.9% in Swansea's favour — yet Ipswich's directness and clinical edge made that statistic largely irrelevant. Walton was called upon to make 3 saves, matching Vigouroux's tally, but the Swansea goalkeeper faced far more dangerous attempts throughout. Ipswich were also the more physical side, committing 17 fouls to Swansea's 13, with one yellow card shown to the home side.
In stoppage time, Zan Vipotnik struck the crossbar with a free kick — a moment of frustration that encapsulated Swansea's evening. They had moments, but never the sustained quality to threaten a comeback.
Swansea must dust themselves off and find answers quickly, while Ipswich can approach their next fixture with renewed belief after a performance that combined early aggression, clinical finishing, and defensive resilience in equal measure.