Ipswich Town: Conor Chaplin on scoring 50th goal in Swansea City win

The attacking midfielder scored the winning goal in yesterday’s 2-1 win away at Swansea City, which saw Kieran McKenna's side register back-to-back victories in the Championship for the first time since mid-December.

“It was a really, really big win,” he said after the game. “It was an impressive performance, we had to grind it out at times.

“Really tough conditions on the pitch. The surface was nice, the playing conditions were nice, but it was a really soft pitch.

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“We had to give energy in the game and it wasn’t easy on a pitch like that. It feels like you’re running on quicksand at times, but it was impressive from probably the whole squad.

“That’s what we pride ourselves on. It’s a really, really impressive squad win.”

Chaplin bagged his 50th goal for Town (Image: Warren Page)
The aforementioned conditions certainly set the tone for the match. There was torrential rain in South Wales, which had a big effect on both the pitch and the ball. As a result, the clash became incredibly scrappy, and it turned into a real battle.

“That’s what it’s going to be away from home and in these conditions,” Chaplin argued. “It’s going to take that, and I thought we showed that throughout the whole pitch.

“We had people throwing their bodies on the line in tackles, people defending the box really well, forwards getting back and connecting on the edge of the box or in wide areas stopping crosses.

“I think we really showed that throughout the whole team.”

You wouldn’t have guessed that the pitch was so problematic when Ipswich tore through Swansea, in the 35th minute.

It took just one lobbed ball from Cameron Burgess to play Leif Davis through down the left, allowing the defender to bag his 12th assist for the season by setting up Chaplin, who in turn took his goal tally to double digits.

“It’s always nice to hit little landmarks throughout the season,” the 27-year-old admitted. “10 goals is something that I’m happy with so far, at this point in time.

“I haven’t scored as much as I would’ve liked to recently, but you go through patches like that, it’s always going to happen. You can’t expect to score every couple of games It’s not as easy as that, playing in a division like this and playing against the players that we are.

“The numbers that Leif is showing on a consistent basis is incredible. He’s a top player.”

On top of that, it means that Chaplin has now scored 50 goals for Ipswich, which is an incredible landmark – especially considering that he only moved to Suffolk in July 2021.

Chaplin says he loves playing for Town (Image: Ross Halls)
“I’m extremely proud,” he stated. “I love playing for this football club, it’s probably the most I’ve ever enjoyed being at a football club. I love everything about it.

“I love the town, I love the fans, I love the players that I’m playing with, the coaching staff. It’s a place that I really feel at home.

“To score 50 goals is a really proud moment, but I want more, I always want more. It’s something that spurs me on to get even more now, to keep going and keep trying to make a difference for the team, work hard and really be a good team-mate. I think that’s a big thing.”

It was also a big day for Wales international Nathan Broadhead, who continued his hot run of form by scoring the opening goal at the Swansea.com Stadium.

The winger had a tricky dry patch that lasted eight matches, but he’s now scored three goals in his last three appearances, showing how much of an impact he can have when he’s at his best.

“He’s another really important, big player for us,” Chaplin said about his team-mate. “It’s not just his goals and creativity, it’s his running and his selflessness.

“He’s having such a good, strong season, and everyone expects it from him really because he’s such a good player and such a lovely lad as well. I love him to bits. He’s been incredible.

“Long may that continue, because we need him.”