With 17 minutes to go, Nathan Dyer was the supplier and Scotland created space for himself to turn and drive low into the bottom left-hand corner from 10 yards.

It was Scotland's 15th league goal of the season.

Jordi Gomez's 30-yard free-kick five minutes from time put the gloss on the display as the Swans moved up to seventh in the table - just two points off the play-offs with a game in hand.

Boss Roberto Martinez admitted: "We are now in a position where we can dream of the play-offs.

"We had five first-team players out and that was going to push the squad to the maximum again.

"It would be unfair to single a player out, but Jason is a goalscorer and has that magic touch."

Spanish defender Serran, making his first league appearance since an £80,000 summer switch from Espanyol, fed Scotland for the opening goal.

Ipswich were rocked, but managed to regain their composure and tried to pack out the midfield while providing some useful balls to Owen Garvan and Kevin Lisbie.

Chances were few and far between for Jim Magilton's Tractor Boys, who struggled to carve out anything clear-cut thanks to some solid defending.

The introduction of Pablo Counago after the break seemed to help the visitors and David Norris had their first chance after 50 minutes, sending a curling shot just outside the right upright.

Moments later, Tommy Miller drove low to Dorus de Vries' right but the ball went wide of the target.

However, Swansea restored control and in the 73rd minute Dyer set up Scotland to double the lead from inside the box, before Gomez netted his ninth league goal of the season with a sweet 30-yard free kick.

"I thought we had opportunities, but we didn't take them and they made their moments count," said under-fire Ipswich boss Jim Magilton.

"I don't think we had that incisiveness that we normally have.

"It was up to us to be the aggressors and we knew we could be exploited."

David Dulin (sundaymirror.co.uk)