Ballack put Chelsea in front in the 16th minute only for Alex Bruce to notch an equaliser before the break.

The midfielder restored Chelsea's lead in the 59th minute with a superb free-kick that was eclipsed by Frank Lampard's 35-yard set-piece special five minutes from time.

But Luiz Felipe Scolari's side, beaten by Burnley in the Carling Cup and taken to a replay by League One side Southend in the FA Cup third round, still squandered a host of chances to kill off Coca-Cola Championship side Ipswich.

Their impotence in front of goal has not gone unnoticed by Ballack who was quick to admit that despite three straight wins, the team was going through a difficult patch.

"It was a difficult game like always in the FA Cup," said Ballack. "We scored in the right moments with some nice goals. But we can still improve our game and play better, we know this.

"We try this every week but it is a difficult period for us at the moment. We have to go through it to get back to better performances.

"Sometimes it is just little things. Confidence and a little more relaxing in our game.

"Sometimes you need one or two chances to score. It is a weakness at the moment - we have a lot of possession and create chances but we are not good enough in front of the goal to score goals and kill the game.

"The opponent always comes back with one set-piece and it is not good enough at the moment.

"The character and spirit of the team is good and that's what we need.

"If your game is not that fantastic and does not look like what it was in the past, at least the spirit is still good. That is what we need in this moment. We have to fight and win the games."

Chelsea's defending against set-pieces has cost them dear this season and Ipswich took advantage of another clanger to cancel out Ballack's opening goal.

The German did not pull any punches when it came to assessing their set-piece defending.

"It is a little bit of a weakness and a difficult period for us right now," he said. "We played last week against Stoke, who are one of the strongest teams at set pieces and didn't concede from one, but we have now done so again.

"We have to be focused on these set pieces and defensively must improve, otherwise we will sometimes kill our good game.

"We have a lot of possession, play good football and the opponent team comes once or twice in front of our goal and we concede a goal. It's not good for the confidence of the team and we have to improve this."

Meanwhile Ballack says he is ready to stay at Chelsea for the foreseeable future.

His contract expires at the end of the season and the Blues are expected to offer the 32-year-old an extension that incorporates a lower salary and bigger bonuses.

Ballack has a one-year option on his contract and is thought to prefer a two-year deal but the midfielder claims he is completely relaxed about his situation.

As revealed by PA Sport, Ballack said: "I am happy here, I feel very comfortable and very good.

"My situation is that we will speak in the next few weeks and I think we will find a way. As I said, I am happy here and I hope I can play a few more years here."

Ipswich boss Jim Magilton hopes the excitement of playing against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge will spur them on to greater things this season - starting with a trip to Barnsley in midweek.

"Hopefully they will be even more motivated to get promoted," said Magilton. "They have had a taste of it in a fantastic setting against a fantastic side. I want them motivated every week with a desire to get back into the top flight.

"The proof of the pudding will be Tuesday night on a wet and windy night, I'm sure, at Oakwell. That will tell me more about my players than today will.

"It was important we took something from the game. Nobody likes to lose, I don't like losing games.

"The players have had a taste of what it is like at his level and they need to use the experience of today as an incentive for the rest of the season."