Ipswich edge past Blackpool to book place in FA Cup fourth round

Jaden Philogene and Jacob Greaves scored as Ipswich beat Blackpool 2-1 to reach the FA Cup fourth round.

A trademark curling finish from Philogene and header from Greaves had the Championship side clear, before Ashley Fletcher pulled a goal back for the League One visitors with an added-time penalty.

Ipswich had numerous chances to add to their tally but Tangerines’ goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell was in impressive form.

Peacock-Farrell was called into action as early as the fourth minute when he acrobatically turned a header from Greaves over the bar.

The visitors nearly took the lead midway through the first half when a cross from Christopher Hamilton found Danny Imray but his shot was blocked by Greaves.

Philogene’s close control and ball skills saw him brilliantly juggle the ball over George Honeyman’s head before he fired a volley over the bar.

However, Philogene broke the deadlock in the 35th minute with a precise finish from inside the penalty area, his 10th goal of the season following build-up play from Jack Clarke and Ben Johnson.

Johnson then slipped in his penalty area and Imray was left in the clear but Greaves came to the rescue, while at the other end Chuba Akpom’s left-footed effort was tipped over by Peacock-Farrell and Johnson’s snapshot from the edge of the area flew just wide.

Ipswich goalkeeper Alex Palmer spread himself to deny CJ Hamilton following a rare break by the visitors, while at the other end Philogene shot narrowly wide, Andy Lyons blocked another effort from the Town winger and Ashley Young fired just over the bar.

Greaves’ vital deflection inside the six-yard box from Fletcher denied Blackpool an equaliser but he scored Town’s second in the 87th minute, beating Peacock-Farrell to head home a corner.

The visitors got on the scoresheet in the sixth minute of stoppage time when Fletcher converted from the spot after Greaves had been penalised for tripping Scott Banks in the 18-yard area – however, there was to be no equaliser.