Ipswich Town avoided a potential FA Cup upset by running out 3-0 winners against Chesterfield.
Walter, Counago and Stead net as Ipswich progress
Ipswich Town avoided a potential FA Cup upset against Chesterfield at Portman Road by running out 3-0 winners.
After Jon Walters broke the deadlock from the penalty spot on 50 minutes there was no way back for the League One outfit.
Pablo Counago added a second just minutes later to put Ipswich in firm control of the tie with Jon Stead's late effort rounding off a fine display by Jim Magilton's side.
Following a cagey opening, in the first competitive meeting between the two sides, visiting goalkeeper Tommy Lee was called into action to save bravely at the feet of Tommy Miller.
Chesterfield's 16-goal striker Jamie Ward came close soon after with a low drive tipped around the post by Ipswich goalkeeper Richard Wright.
Halt in play
There was a halt in play midway through the first half as referee Keith Hill limped out of action, to be replaced by fourth official Gary Sutton.
Jamie Winter blasted a 30-yard free-kick well over the crossbar for Chesterfield, while Ward fired wide as he tried to lob Wright with an audacious 40-yard dipping drive.
Winger Danny Haynes came off the bench on the half-hour mark, replacing a limping Miller, and immediately injected some pace into the home side.
Counago fired just over following a sharp turn inside the box, while Haynes stung the hands of Lee with a rasping cross-shot.
Ipswich broke the deadlock on 50 minutes via a Walters penalty, after Chesterfield full-back Phil Picken was adjudged to have handled an Alan Quinn cross.
Great chance
The visitors had a great chance to level straight from the restart as Wright saved a close-range effort from Lloyd Kerry following a scramble in the box.
Ward went down under a challenge from Ivan Campo as the ball broke loose but the visitors' penalty appeals were ignored.
In a frenetic opening to the second half, Ipswich then doubled their lead through Counago on 53 minutes. The Spaniard guided the ball home after Quinn knocked down a Haynes cross.
Substitute Stead, on for Quinn in the 60th minute, went close to extending Ipswich's advantage but his curling shot was palmed away by Lee.
Chesterfield nearly halved the deficit on 73 minutes but Kerry's diving header from a Ward cross was well saved by Wright.
But Stead put the tie out of their reach on 89 minutes, driving in a Walters knockdown from close range.
| Team Name |
Ipswich Town |
Chesterfield |
| Possession |
53% |
47% |
| Goals |
3 |
0 |
| Shots On Target |
9 |
2 |
| Shots Off Target |
4 |
2 |
| Blocked Shots |
4 |
5 |
| Corners |
1 |
4 |
| Fouls Conceded |
10 |
15 |
| Offsides |
3 |
3 |
| Yellow Cards |
1 |
2 |
| Red Cards |
0 |
0 |
|
