TRACTOR BOYS CLICK INTO GEAR
Hurst so relieved at win
IPSWICH boss Paul Hurst admitted he was delighted and releived as the Tractor Boys claimed their first Championship win of the season in a thriller at Swansea.
Trevoh Chalobah was the hero for the visitors as he headed home Grant Ward’s corner to settle a five-goal encounter in the 84th minute.
Swansea had moved ahead through a Janoi Donacien own goal, but Ipswich equalised through Gwion Edwards and then benefited further as Mike van der Hoorn put through his own net.
In the second half Swansea were dominant and finally equalised through former Ipswich man Bersant Celina. There was still time, though, for Chalobah to net the crucial blow.
Hurst said: “It’s been a long wait for a win and it was probably unexpected with us coming here as huge underdogs. Not many people would have expected this result. The last few minutes felt like hours and it’s a big relief. I have to give credit to the players and we rode our luck at times, but I’m not complaining.
“I felt we looked like we’d score goals and Freddie Sears is a very clever player who had a great game. It’s massive for us to get a win going into the international break.
“We can stop asking the question about when that victory’s going to come now and I really hope we don’t have to wait as long next time to have this sort of feeling.”
Swansea had 74 per cent possession and 18 attempts on goal. Defensive mistakes cost Swansea dear. It took just nine minutes for the home side to take the lead.
Daniel James skinned Toto Nsiala and, although his cross just missed Oli McBurnie, Connor Roberts fired the ball back in and Donacien deflected past his own goalkeeper.
With their first real opportunity, Ipswich then equalised.
Freddie Sears found space down the left and his cross was headed home by Welshman Edwards.
Edwards and Sears then joined forces again for a sec- ond away goal. This time it was Edwards with the cross and Sears with the headed finish which deflected off van der Hoorn for another own goal.
McBurnie came close to an instant equaliser, but his shot was saved brilliantly by Dean Gerken. Joel Asoro appealed for handball and a penalty early in the second half as Swansea started well, Joe Rodon rattling the bar with a header from a Celina corner.
Swansea dominated the ball, but the tempo dropped out of their play and an air of frusthough tration built around the Liberty. Grant Ward fired wide from 30 yards for Ipswich but then another mazy run and cross from James somehow eluded McBurnie.
Boss Graham Potter threw on Leroy Fer and Barrie McKay as he went for broke and got his rewards when Celina found the net, but more poor defending allowed Chalobah to strike the winner.
Potter said: “We had so many opportunities to score, but if you concede three goals it’s very hard to win.”