The Swans would once again go behind in the first quarter of the match, the fifth time in seven games under head-coach Luke Williams.
It would be a more spirited performance however, from the home side who responded well to going behind. Jerry Yates slotting his seventh of the season, but a lack of concentration would once be an issue with Chaplin rifling in from the edge finishing a left-wing cross on the edge of the area after a stoppage in play.
The Swans would rally with chances spurned in the second period but now face the prospect of being just four points outside of the bottom three.
The hosts came into the game looking to bounce back from Tuesday night’s 4-0 hammering by Leeds United in a performance where Williams admitted his side lacked bravery and aggression.
Calling for a raised level of performance Williams, however, would still be without several first-teamers with Liam Walsh, Josh Key, Harrison Ashby, Jamal Lowe, Azeem Abdulai and Harry Darling all missing out on the clash with the Tractor Boys.
Looking to freshen up his starting eleven the former Notts County boss handed starts to Kyle Naughton Ollie Copper and Yates, whilst Joe Allen would make his first league bow of the season.
Visitors Ipswich emphatically got back to winning ways putting four past Millwall in midweek to take the three points after a run of just two wins in ten matches had threatened to de-rail their automatic promotion hopes.
Wales duo Kieffer Moore and Broadhead were both on the scoresheet at the Den and would again lead the line in a side showing just one change. Forward Chaplin returning to the starting eleven having been rested in midweek.
Looking to set the early pace to the match, it would be the Swans would start the brighter in front of a rousing crowd, but it would be Ipswich who would look the more threatening in the final third.
Full back Leif Davis joining the attacking on the left would sting the palms of Carl Rushworth with a rasping drive. The resulting corner would provide an early scare for the Swans with Cameron Burgess heading wide unmarked.
The hosts would not take the warning as Ipswich would get their reward minutes later catching the Swans out high in possession. Omari Hutchinson splitting the defensive line from the right to find the run of Broadhead. The young Welshman showing excellent composure to finish with a deft chip over Rushworth to give his side the lead.
Ipswich should have doubled their lead as the half reached its midpoint. Poor defending from a corner once again allowing former Cardiff forward Moore the chance to score. The on-loan Bournemouth man under no pressure, however, would head wide.
The Swans would rally and would equalise with their first attempt on target. Grimes’ free kick from the right would be headed back across goal by Ben Cabango finding the predatory Yates to get a feint touch from close range to bamboozle Ipswich goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky and hit the back of the net.
The reprieve would be short-lived for the Swans as minutes later the visitors would regain the lead. Connor Chaplin firing powerfully from the edge of the penalty area into the right-hand corner of Rushworth’s net for his tenth league goal of the season following a neat cutback by Davis after Ipswich had broken quickly from a free kick.
The Swans would probe and would come inches away from equalising just after the break. Brazilian Ronald would find space on the right producing a teasing in-swinging ball on to the head of Matt Grimes. The Swans captain’s deft flicked effort would narrowly finish wide of the far post with Yates almost gaining his second sliding in at full stretch but would be unable to get a decisive touch.
Whilst the Swans would have the better spells of play, Ipswich would always look dangerous on the counter attack. Davis once more the provider from the left finding Moore just inside the penalty area. The towering striker’s effort powering off the far post with Rushworth getting the feintest of hands on the ball to keep the effort out.
After a spate of substitutions, the Swans would start to pile the pressure on the Ipswich penalty area. Ukranian Mykola Kuharevich squandering a good opening heading Kyle Naughton’s right-wing cross over the bar, whilst Liam Cullen would fail to divert an effort on goal when well placed with his footwork letting him down as the South Wales conditions worsened.
Harry Darling’s late half volley would sting the palms of Hladky, but Williams’ side would once again fall short in front of their own fans.
It would be a much better showing, but as the old saying says, it never rains, it pours as the Swans would end pointless for the fourth time in a row. A result which sees them slip perilously close to the relegation zone.
Swansea City X1
Carl Rushworth, Josh Tymon, Kyle Naughton (Harry Darling 84), Ben Cabango, Nathan Wood, Joe Allen, Matt Grimes (Captain), Ollie Cooper (Charlie Patino 62), Jamie Paterson (Mykola Kuharevich 62), Ronald (Przemyslaw Placheta 70), Jerry Yates (Liam Cullen 62).
Ipswich Town X1
Vaclav Hladky, Harry Clarke, Leif Davis, Luke Woolfenden, Cameron Burgess, Sam Morsy (captain), Massimo Luongo (Lewis Travis 82), Omari Hutchinson (Wes Burns 66), Conor Chaplin (Marcus Harness 66), Nathan Broadhead (Jeremy Sarmiento 66), Kieffer Moore (Ali Al-Hamadi 78).
[Lead image: Swansea City FC]
