Wrexham's Ryan Longman (left) celebrates with Josh Windass (right)Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Wrexham were facing Ipswich Town for just the third time in their history

ByIan Mitchelmore
BBC Sport WalesAtStok Cae Ras, Wrexham

Wrexham booked their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time in 29 years as they beat Championship rivals Ipswich Town at Stok Cae Ras.

Josh Windass scored his ninth goal of the campaign across all competitions in the first half to settle the contest in north Wales.

A much-changed Ipswich side failed to register a single shot on target as they missed out on reaching round five for the second successive season.

The Red Dragons now await Monday's fifth-round draw as they target a place in the quarter-finals for only the fourth time in the club's history.

The visitors survived a major scare after just 47 seconds as Windass intercepted Alex Palmer's weak clearing header, although the goalkeeper recovered to keep out Sam Smith's subsequent shot.

Ipswich enjoyed numerous prolonged spells on the ball, although captain George Hirst and Chuba Akpom were unable to trouble Arthur Okonkwo with headers from close range as they lacked a threat in front of goal.

Having already been denied by Palmer with a shot from distance, Windass provided the vital touch on 34 minutes to put the hosts ahead.

Ryan Longman kept the ball alive from George Thomason's over-hit cross and duly whipped in a delivery towards Windass, who coolly guided the ball into the net from six yards out.

Having struck twice in quick succession before the break in their dramatic third-round win over Nottingham Forest, Wrexham very nearly achieved the same feat against the Tractor Boys - only for Palmer to produce a spectacular one-handed save to keep out Ollie Rathbone's curling strike.

Kieran McKenna's side improved after the restart and, after Wrexham had survived a goalmouth scramble, the visitors saw Elkan Baggott guide an effort wide at the back post from Ben Johnson's cross.

Palmer had to be alert to keep out another Rathbone effort as the Red Dragons regained a foothold in the contest - with Ipswich struggling to carve out any clear openings.

Wrexham held on for a first clean sheet in nine home matches across all competitions, moving into the fifth round for the first time since reaching the quarter-finals of the competition during the 1996-97 season.

Analysis: Changes shift the balance

As soon as the team news was announced, McKenna's priorities were made abundantly clear.

The Northern Irishman made 10 changes to the side that started their 2-1 win over Derby County.

As for Wrexham, Phil Parkinson made five changes from his side's 2-0 loss to Millwall, and two of those were enforced as Matty James and Liberato Cacace missed out through injury.

It arguably tipped the tie gently in Wrexham's favour.

Despite having plenty of lengthy spells on the ball, Ipswich sorely lacked a ruthless edge in the final third, and Windass was clinical when it mattered for the Welsh side.

These two teams will meet again at Stok Cae Ras in just eight days in the Championship, and the personnel involved - particularly from an Ipswich perspective - will likely be significantly different.

Crucially, both still have a huge amount at stake in the Championship, although Wrexham will undoubtedly be buoyed from having emerged from their two meetings with automatic promotion hopefuls Ipswich without conceding a goal.

Post-match reaction

Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna:

"It (performance) was mixed. I thought we started both halves well and I thought we started the game well and had a couple of early chances.

"I thought we came out really strong in the second half as well and were close to getting the goal.

"But they had some momentum as well, we know they can do that here and the atmosphere was good.

"Second half, we tried everything but we just couldn't get it over the line."

Player of the match

Number: 10 J. Windass
Average rating 7.54
Number: 10 J. Windass
Average Rating: 7.54
Number: 20 O. Rathbone
Average Rating: 7.26
Number: 1 A. Okonkwo
Average Rating: 6.83
Number: 28 S. Smith
Average Rating: 6.77
Number: 2 C. Doyle
Average Rating: 6.64
Number: 4 M. Cleworth
Average Rating: 6.59
Number: 47 R. Longman
Average Rating: 6.54
Number: 15 G. Dobson
Average Rating: 6.50
Number: 14 G. Thomason
Average Rating: 6.44
Number: 27 L. O'Brien
Average Rating: 6.42
Number: 5 D. Hyam
Average Rating: 6.33
Number: 12 I. Kaboré
Average Rating: 6.33
Number: 19 K. Moore
Average Rating: 6.18
Number: 18 B. Sheaf
Average Rating: 6.04

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.