Ipswich Town Vs Swansea — Tractor Boys ease to 3-0 victory at Portman Road

Emerson Raymont

Published: February 28, 2026 10:37 PM ET

Ipswich Town Vs Swansea — Tractor Boys ease to 3-0 victory at Portman Road

In the Championship match ipswich town vs swansea at Portman Road, Ipswich Town swept aside Swansea City 3-0, a result that moves the Tractor Boys within three points of second place and hands them a useful game in hand as the run-in approaches.

Ipswich took an immediate grip

Anis Mehmeti gave Ipswich the perfect start, rifling home with just three minutes on the clock after Leif Davis galloped down the left and his low cross was only half-cleared by Ben Cabango, leaving the loose ball for Mehmeti to finish from just inside the box. The early strike restored memories of an earlier 4-1 win in south Wales in November, the second comfortable victory over Swansea this season.

Late first-half blow from Azon and Hirst’s late finish

Ivan Azon doubled the lead with an acute curling finish in the 41st minute, rolling the ball into the far corner after Mehmeti kept play alive by the corner flag. Substitute George Hirst steered in the third goal 16 minutes from time after Mehmeti dispossessed Josh Tymon and squared for a first-time finish inside the six-yard box; that strike was Hirst’s eighth of the season and his second in successive matches.

ipswich town vs swansea: chances, saves and a disallowed equaliser

Swansea thought they had an equaliser when Gustavo Nunes tapped in from Melker Widell’s low cross only for the Swede to be flagged offside. Swansea goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux produced saves from Dan Neil and Azon, while Ipswich goalkeeper Christian Walton denied Malick Yalcouye and Liam Cullen as Vitor Matos’ side tried to respond. The visitors’ best late chance came with the last kick when bench striker Zan Vipotnik smashed a free-kick against the bar; Vipotnik had begun the day on the bench.

Home form, table impact and squad notes

This was Ipswich’s first home outing since January and their 11th victory in 17 home league games since they dropped out of the top flight last May; Charlton Athletic remain the only visiting side to have won at Portman Road in 2025-26. The win takes Ipswich to within three points of second-placed Middlesbrough, with Ipswich holding a game in hand and having played fewer fixtures than any other side in the division. Ipswich have scored 59 league goals this season, a tally bettered only by leaders Coventry City. Swansea slip to 16th and have now suffered nine defeats in their past 11 away fixtures.

Key players and absences

Mehmeti was central to the victory, involved in the opener and the build-up to the third; his tenacious work including the dispossession of Josh Tymon led directly to Hirst’s finish. Dan Neil and Leif Davis combined repeatedly down the left. Jack Clarke began on the bench for Ipswich, and Jaden Philogene — who has 10 goals this season — was absent through injury. Ivan Azon, who scored from a tight angle, is on loan from Italian club Como.

Reactions and closing moments

Managers and players reflected on the performance in the dressing room: one post-match remark read, "A good performance. I thought the boys went at it with a lot of humility, recognised exactly what the opponent was and what we needed to do. " Another comment captured the tone: "It was certainly hard work, no doubt about that. " On the pitch, Hirst nearly added a second late header that was clawed away by Vigouroux before Vipotnik struck the crossbar to bring the game to a close.

Middlesbrough have the chance to respond when they visit Birmingham City on Monday; Ipswich, with games in hand and fewer matches played than any other side in the division, head into that weekend nicely placed as the run-in approaches.