City hit town for four

Shaun Goater and Darren Huckerby both netted in the final eight minutes, the first just moments after City keeper Nicky Weaver had denied Alun Armstrong with a superb save.

Earlier, Eyal Berkovic on the stroke of half time and Goater had given Kevin Keegan's side a two-goal lead, before Marcus Bent pulled a goal back for the home side.

All this action came after Ipswich had looked the better side for much of the first half.

Marcus Stewart turned and put a superb ball through for Martin Reuser who muffed an attempted chip and saw his effort go just wide of the goal.

Peralta slipped through Matt Holland who fired an effort into the near post but Weaver kicked away his effort.

In the 43rd minute City took the lead with a superb strike from Berkovic, though the goal was clouded in some controversy as the corner from which the goal came from should not have been awarded.

There was nothing wrong with the goal itself though as Benarbia drove a corner to the Israeli international 25 yards from goal who smashed a superb volley that Andy Marshall got a touch to, which inadvertently diverted it away from Reuser on the goalline and helped it into the net.

Early in the second half it was virtually all Manchester City and they got a deserved second in the 65th minute when Benarbia slipped through a perfect ball for Goater who slotted home for his 25th strike of the season.

Two minutes later Berkovic had a chance to grab a second when the ball fell to him on the edge of the 18-yard box but the Israeli international fired his effort high over the bar.

Twenty minutes from time Ipswich had two chances in quick succession to get on the scoresheet but failed to do so on both occasions.

First Marcus Bent hit a beautiful crossfield ball to Alun Armstrong but the former Middlesbrough striker blazed his effort over the bar.

Then Stewart had an opportunity as a corner fell to him six yards out but his effort instead clipped the top of the City crossbar.

A goal did come 14 minutes from time when Bent exchanged passes with Stewart and then curled a 20-yard drive past Weaver.

A minute later Armstrong got on the end of a long ball and powered a low header that the Manchester City keeper superbly pushed away.

Town were made to pay for this when another slick City passing move resulted in a goal. Benarbia slipped a ball through to Huckerby whose effort was superbly stopped by Marshall but Goater was on hand to head home.

As Ipswich risked everything to push forward, City grabbed another as Huckerby raced through and rounded Marshall before slotting home.

Though the scoreline was not a fair reflection on the game, Keegan will have been happy how at ease his players looked playing against Premiership opposition and will look forward with relish to his side's fifth round clash with his former club Newcastle.

Click here for Opta's quick stats from the game