Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna has called upon his players to 'do something special' in the FA Cup this season following this afternoon's 4-1 victory at Coventry City.

The Blues boss made 11 changes to his side, but goals from George Hirst, Jack Clarke (2) and Jaden Philogene were enough to see off the Championship promotion hopefuls.

Town are into the fifth round of the world famous competition for the first time in 18 years. The draw is on Monday tea-time, with ties scheduled for the weekend of March 1.

"I haven't thought about who I want in the draw, but let's try and go as far as we can!" said a beaming McKenna, after his side ended a four-game losing streak.

"There's only 16 teams left now and whoever we get we'll believe that we've got a chance. There's no-one we haven't competed against in terms of the very top teams this season, so let's see who get and let's see if we can do something special."

On two-goal Jack Clarke, McKenna said: "I think it will be a boost for him. I've got no doubts about Jack's qualities. There have been signs of that performance in training. His understanding of that position, how he can effect the game and the demands of our group is really growing.

"I've said it before, but you can't underestimate the jump and the change for someone like Jack. And we've probably got quite a few players in that category.

"He signed late in the transfer window into a new group, never played in the Premier League, joining a club who haven't been in the Premier League for 22 years. Trying to settle into all that change, in the toughest league in the world, as an attacking player, is not easy.

"We know how talented he is. He's a player we've signed to help us this year, which he is, and for the future as well. I'm sure he's going to keep improving.

"Today was not a big surprise to me. I thought he showed some real good qualities. I won't say 'impossible', but he was really difficult to handle. His work off the ball was outstanding too, which is a big, big jump forward from what he was doing over previous seasons.

"He's making good progress and today's a good little boost for him."

Asked if he feels Clarke can take that form into the Premier League, McKenna said: "We think he can. We believe he can be an effective Premier League footballer and establish himself as a Premier League footballer, as the club is trying to.

"Today is confidence-booster, but there's no doubt about it, Aston Villa (a) next weekend is a big step up for everyone. But we we believe he can be a Premier League footballer and a very, very good one. That's why we've brought him to the football club.

"The challenges in that process are numerous and great, so how long that process takes you can never say for sure, but we'll keep working with the players. I think Jack's certainly got the technical ability, the physical capability and he's young enough to have an impact at Premier League level."

On the game as a whole, McKenna said: "There were some positives out there, for sure. Some really good individual performances, players who showed the growth that they're making in their careers, and as a team there were a lot of good things.

"In the first first half, especially, we put some good moves together and cut through the pitch on a few occasions and looked a goal threat.  We were good value for the lead.

"Second half could have been better, to be honest. We got the goal fairly early in the half, which probably put the threat to bed, and then made some mistakes. But the game was still pretty comfortable, we defended our box pretty well and there were some tired bodies out there who got some good minutes in."

Asked if beating a Championship side comfortably with a 'second string' was another big progress marker for the club, McKenna replied: "In some ways, yeah. I know that individuals who were here last year have improved, I know individuals who were playing elsewhere in the Championship last year have improved, and that we're stronger in many areas. It's a huge jump up to try and show that on a weekly basis (in the Premier League), but I see it day-to-day.

"It wasn't the perfect performance, some things could have been done better, but to be able to make changes and come to a really good Championship side and score four goals without playing at our very, very best I think is a good sign of how we've developed as a club."