Ipswich Town are through to the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time in 13 years, following an impressive 4-1 victory over Championship side Rotherham.
The Blues, competing against a Millers side who have had their number during their previous battles in League One, came out the blocks strong, with Cameron Humphreys netting in the first half before Kieran McKenna’s men produced a good response following Conor Washington’s equaliser from the penalty spot, just after the break.
Conor Chaplin netted Ipswich’s own penalty, following a foul on Freddie Ladapo, before the former Rotherham striker grabbed one of his own, showing excellent composure to score his side’s third.
Town weren’t done and, when Kane Vincent-Young was fouled inside the box late on, Wes Burns stepped up to convert Ipswich’s second spot kick of the afternoon and complete the scoring.
The victory books Town’s place in round four for the first time since 2010, with the draw being made on Sunday afternoon.
McKenna made eight changes to the side which started Monday’s 1-1 draw with Lincoln City, with only Lee Evans, Kayden Jackson and Sone Aluko keeping their places.
Vaclav Hladky started in goal behind a defence made up of Kane Vincent-Young, Richard Keogh, George Edmundson and Leif Davis.
Skipper Evans was joined in midfield by teenager Humphreys, who scored at Sincil Bank on Monday, with Jackson, Chaplin and Aluko lining up behind former Rotherham striker Ladapo.
New signing Massimo Luongo began on the bench, having rejoined the Blues on Thursday night after 10 years away, but ultimately didn’t make it onto the field, while striker target George Hirst was watching from the stands.
The Blues took control early on, with Chaplin and Jackson having early openings before Conor Washington put the ball in the Ipswich net following a sweeping Rotherham attack and clever pass from Oliver Rathbone. Thankfully for Town, the offside flag was quickly raised.
Aluko forced a springing save from Millers keeper Viktor Johansson, before threading a sublime through-ball which Jackson pulled back for Chaplin to turn towards goal. The visitors’ Swedish keeper saved comfortably and would have been relieved to see Aluko’s shot fly wide a minute or so later.
Town were applying pressure, having set a rapid early tempo, working Rotherham from side to side in a bid to make space to shoot, which Jackson did as he fired an effort straight at Johansson.
Jackson’s next contribution was a telling one as he laid a low cross back across the Rotherham box, taking the Millers defence out of the game and allowing teenager Humphreys to coolly convert his second goal in as many games.
It was an advantage the Blues thoroughly deserved, but lost within a few seconds of the second period beginning.
Keogh brought down Washington in the box, as he threw in a wild challenge as he looked to recover, with the Northern Irishman stepping up and converting from the spot.
Town struggled to reach the high standards they set themselves during an excellent first-half, during the opening 15 minutes of the second, but still had some good moments as the Ipswich wide players found good crossing positions and delivered balls their team-mates couldn’t quite reach.
The Blues did find their feet and regained their lead on 73 minutes, when Ladapo held off Wes Harding well in the box and was rewarded with a penalty, as the Town striker’s former Rotherham team-mate pulled at his shirt far too many times for the liking of referee Sebastian Stocksbridge.
Chaplin did the rest, converting well from the spot before Ladapo put the game beyond doubt for the Blues, as he showed brilliant composure to round goalkeeper Johansson and slot the ball home against his former club.
Ipswich Town: Hladky, Vincent-Young, Keogh, Edmundson, Davis (Leigh, 76); Evans, Humphreys; Jackson (Burns, 76), Chaplin (Edwards, 76), Aluko (Harness, 67); Ladapo (Ahadme, 83)
Subs: Coleman, Burgess, Luongo, Morsy, Ahadme
Rotherham: Johansson; Harding, Wood (C), Humphreys; Kioso (Ogbene, 69), Odoffin, Rathbone, Lindsay (McCart, 75), Bramall; Ferguson (Barlaser, 69); Washington.
Subs: Hemfrey, McCart, Douglas, Bola, Warne
Att: 15,728 (215 Rotherham fans)
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