FORMER Norwich City man, Diallang Jaiyesimi struck twice as Swindon Town beat Ipswich Town 3-2 at Portman Road on Saturday night.

A goal of the season contender from Scott Twine completed Swindon’s victory – a result that saw the club beat Ipswich for the first time in 30 years.

The three points did not do enough to haul the Robins out of the bottom four, but it did result in the club’s second away win of the campaign while leaving John Sheridan’s men just a point from safety.

Former Swindon target Oliver Norwood had equalised for the Tractor Boys before two further goals appeared to leave the visitors home and dry.

A late goal from Alan Judge set nerves jangling, however, Swindon held on for the club’s first win in seven games.

John Sheridan made seven changes to the side that lost 4-1 to MK Dons on December 29.

Debuts were handed to goalkeeper, Mark Travers and left-back, Dominic Thompson while Scott Twine and Matt Palmer also came into the starting line-up after their respective returns from Newport County and Wigan Athletic.

For Ipswich, who haven't played since mid-December due to a spate of Covid issues, saw former Swindon players Kayden Jackson and Luke Woolfenden start.

Swindon had the first chance of the contest after Dion Conroy pinged a long ball into Matt Smith, who took one touch before smashing a right-foot shot well over from the edge of the box.

Up the other end, Conroy did well to put Ipswich striker, Aaron Drinan off when going for a diving header. Following another tame header from Drinan that Travers gathered easily, Swindon opened the scoring in fine style.

Twine worked the ball out to a rampaging Dom Thompson on the left, who took a touch to steady himself before swinging a delightful cross into the middle for former Norwich City man Diallang Jaiyesimi to power a header home.

Swindon debutant, Travers then took his turn to make an important contribution for his new team midway through the first half.

The ball was chipped over the top to an Ipswich man, who looked to have handballed it while controlling, before sliding an effort goalwards.

Just as all seemed lost, Travers leaped forward to deny Aaron Drinnan with an outstretched boot.

Prior to the half-time whistle, some brilliant covering from Caddis prevented Ipswich from squaring the game up with Alan Judge lurking.

Moments later, the Scot repeated the trick to ensure Swindon went into the break ahead.

Two minutes after the break, Swindon had a great chance to double their lead through Twine.

Jaiyesimi held the ball up and found Thompson down the left. The full-back pulled a ball back to Twine on the edge of the box, and just in the position that all Town fans wanted to see him, Twine curled an effort off target.

Sheridan’s men were almost made to pay after Alan Judge struck a wonderful effort off the post from 25 yards once Conroy got sucked into dealing with Norwood in the middle.

Travers slipped as Judge hit it, but the stopper was thankful to see it glance the post and go behind.

However, just past the hour, Ipswich did find their equaliser. And the manner in which the goal came about will have annoyed the Swindon boss to no end.

Jaiyesimi lost the ball inside his own half, and Ipswich pounced immediately. The ball was delivered into Norwood from the right, who just about scrambled it in from three yards out.

Yet, no sooner had Ipswich hauled themselves level, the hosts were behind again after Twine added to his ever-growing list of long-range stunners.

The 21-year-old, who already has a goal of the month award to his name this season while at Newport County, picked the ball up 30 yards from goal before setting his sights and unleashing a fizzing, dipping effort into the top right-hand corner.

If the second goal was sheer quality, Swindon's third was sheer luck.

Five minutes later, Jaiyesimi grabbed his second of the game after swinging a dangerous ball in from the left that missed everyone and nestled into the far corner, away from the despairing dive of Cornell.

However, with time almost up, Judge pulled one back for the home side to set nerves jangling among the travelling contingent.

Excellent work from Norwood allowed the striker to slip Judge in onside. The latter simply struck his effort in at the near post to pull one back.

Ipswich could not find the third though, and Swindon held on for a potentially vital win on the road.

ITFC starting XI: Cornell, Chambers, Woolfenden, McGuinness, Ward, Dozzell, Huws, Jackson, Judge, Dobra, Drinan.

Subs: Holy, Kenlock, Nsiala, Downes, Siziba, Lankester, Norwood.

STFC starting XI: Travers, Caddis, Fryers, Conroy, Thompson, M Smith, Palmer, Lyden, Twine, Jaiyesimi, Pitman.

Subs: Matthews, J Smith, Payne, T Smith, Curran, A Grant, Hope.