Frank Lampard had reignited Coventry City’s dreams of a Wembley return, but those hopes took a major hit after a heavy FA Cup defeat to Ipswich Town.

Instead of a deep cup run, Coventry will now have to pin their ambitions on securing a Championship play-off spot.

There will be no repeat of last season’s semi-final drama under former boss Mark Robins.

This time, Jack Clarke stole the show, scoring twice and assisting another to send Ipswich into the fifth round for the first time since 2007.

George Hirst converted an early penalty, and new signing Jaden Philogene sealed the dominant victory.

A Tough Night for Lampard’s Coventry

Coventry fought hard, managing to equalize early through Joel Latibeaudiere.

Brandon Thomas-Asante also had the ball in the net, but his goal was ruled out for offside.

Despite a controversial decision to sack Mark Robins in November—after he guided the club from League Two to the Championship and came within a penalty shootout of Premier League promotion—Lampard’s arrival has lifted spirits.

Seven wins in his first 14 league games pulled Coventry up from 17th place and a relegation battle to just four points outside the play-offs.

Two consecutive home defeats—first to Leeds and now to Ipswich—won’t help momentum.

However, Coventry’s fighting spirit and flashes of quality suggest their push for a top-flight return is far from over.

Match Recap: Ipswich’s Fast Start Stuns Coventry

Kickoff at the CBS Arena was delayed by ten minutes due to congestion outside the stadium.

Once the game got underway, Ipswich wasted no time making an impact.

Just 20 seconds in, Sam Szmodics charged into the box and was brought down by Liam Kitching, leading to a penalty.

Hirst calmly converted from the spot, scoring his first goal since October.

Coventry responded well, and Jack Rudoni’s dangerous deliveries kept Ipswich’s defense on edge.

One of his inswinging corners found Latibeaudiere, who glanced a header into the far corner to equalize in the eighth minute.

For much of the first half, both teams were evenly matched. But quality moments made the difference.

Just before the half-hour mark, Clarke cut inside from the left and fired a low shot into the far corner to restore Ipswich’s lead.

Moments later, Coventry defender Luis Binks gave the ball away to Ben Godfrey, who quickly set up Nathan Broadhead.

Broadhead’s smart pass found Clarke, who poked home his second goal of the night.

Second-Half Fightback Falls Short

Coventry refused to roll over. Tatsushiro Sakamoto nearly pulled one back early in the second half, forcing a strong save from Ipswich goalkeeper Alex Palmer.

Clarke came close to a hat-trick, only to be denied by a last-ditch tackle from Binks.

Thomas-Asante fired over from inside the box, while Philogene tested Coventry’s Brad Dovin at the other end.

Just as Coventry looked to claw their way back, Thomas-Asante had a goal ruled out for offside.

Moments later, Clarke turned provider, setting up Philogene to score his first goal for Ipswich and secure their place in the next round.

What’s Next?

For Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna, who rotated his entire starting eleven for this game, the dominant win was the perfect response to a recent home defeat against Southampton.

They now advance to the fifth round of the FA Cup, looking to make a deep run.

Meanwhile, Coventry must regroup and shift their focus back to their Championship campaign.

Despite this setback, their play-off push is still very much alive.

If Lampard’s side can maintain their resilience, a Premier League return remains within reach.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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