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Chelsea progressed to the FA Cup fifth round at the expense of dogged Ipswich thanks to a Michael Ballack brace and a spectacular Frank Lampard free-kick.

Ashley Cole crossed to Ballack for the first-half opener before Alex Bruce levelled after calamitous Chelsea defending at a set-piece.

Chelsea were comfortable after the break and a 25-yard Ballack free-kick put the home side ahead once again.

Lampard sealed the win with a dipping 35-yard free-kick into the top corner.

The midfielder’s goal made for a comfortable scoreline but for all the home side’s dominance it was nervy viewing for the Chelsea fans until Lampard’s strike five minutes from time.

Before the game, Ipswich’s assistant manager John Gorman had said his team would take inspiration from Burnley’s Carling Cup victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge back in November.

Yet when Florent Malouda and Lampard both tested Richard Wright in the opening minutes an upset – or even the first-half drama which was to unfold – seemed unlikely.