Ipswich Town 3 Swindon Town 2

IPSWICH, playing with a verve and a cutting edge that belied their recent problems, put together a performance that blew Swindon away on a night when the elements were especially robust, or at least it did until the final 15 minutes when Swindon scored twice.

A glance at the team-sheet would not have inspired great optimism among the Ipswich supporters. Injury and illness had cut such a swathe through George Burley's squad that no less than five central defenders were forced to miss out. Yet they were ahead after only 22 seconds.

It was a magnificent strike with which to end a goal drought, James Scowcroft thundering one in from 25 yards for his first in 14 games. The England Under-21 forward, 21 last Friday, had begun the night rather well.

Swindon attempted to play themselves back into the game and some of their approach play was promising but they were always vulnerable.

The goal scorer was replaced at half-time and within seven minutes Gerry Creaney had scored to put Ipswich two ahead from Steve Sedgley's corner.

Swindon missed a penalty when Mark Walters, who had been tripped by Mauricio Taricco, allowed Richard Wright to make the save and soon after Sedgley showed how it should be done from the spot following Scott Leitch's hand-ball.

With 15 minutes remaining, substitute Peter Thorne pulled one back with a header from Mark Robinson's free-kick and then in injury time Wayne Allison scored Swindon's second.

Daily Telegraph