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13
Fri, Dec

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JASON SCOTLAND'S superb brace set Swansea on the way to three vital points against play-off rivals Ipswich, making it six wins in their last seven games.
The Trinidad and Tobago international was on target as early as the third minute as his rich vein of form continued from the off. He then doubled his tally with a superb second-half effort before Jordi Gomez's sublime 30-yard free-kick sealed a comfortable victory for Roberto Martinez's high-flying side.

Swansea got off to the perfect start with Scotland finding the net with their first attack of the game. Spaniard Albert Serran, making his league debut, surged down the right flank and slipped in the perfect ball for the prolific striker to drill it past Richard Wright for his 15th goal of the season.

Martinez's men initially failed to capitalise on their early blow. And, far from looking shellshocked, Ipswich took control of the game's early stages with Swansea struggling to move through the gears.

Nevertheless, with the increasingly impressive Nathan Dyer causing the visitors problems, the Swans still had the better chances. But, with Scotland unable to add to his early strike on two separate occasions, it remained 1-0 going in for the break.

The second half descended into a scrappy affair but both teams still managed to create chances. David Norris and Tommy Miller both came close for the Tractor boys while Gomez and Mark Gower had decent chances for the Swans.

In the end it was left to Scotland to get the game's second goal in the 73rd minute. Having collected Dyer's drilled low cross, the skillful striker shrugged off two defends to turn in the box and curl a superb low shot past Wright for his 11th goal in as many games.

Keeper Dorus de Vries then produced a brilliant double save to deny first Alan Quinn and then Jon Stead as Ipswich tried to keep the game alive. But their fate was confirmed when, after a careless foul from the ill-disciplined Quinn, Gomez struck the perfect free-kick to leave Wright stranded and secure a comfortable win at the Liberty Stadium.

Swansea: De Vries, Williams, Tate, Monk, Serran, Britton, Gower (Butler 75), Gomez, Allen (Pintado 83), Dyer (Bauza 90), Scotland.

Subs Not Used: Orlandi, Bessone.
Booked: Tate.
Goals: Scotland 3, 73, Gomez 85.

Ipswich:
Richard Wright, Balkestein, David Wright, Bruce, McAuley, Garvan (Haynes 66), Quinn, Norris (Stead 74), Miller, Walters (Counago 46), Lisbie.

Subs Not Used: Supple, Thatcher.
Booked: Norris, Quinn.
Attendance: 14,020
Referee: Kevin Wright (Cambridgeshire).