Ipswich Town 1-1 Fulham. Ipswich Town secured their first Premier League point since their return, but they had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Fulham in a hard-fought match at Portman Road.
Liam Delap gave Ipswich the lead in the 15th minute with a well-placed shot, marking his first goal since joining from Manchester City over the summer. However, Fulham’s Adama Traore equalized just before halftime with a powerful low strike, leveling the score for the visitors.
In the second half, Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno was instrumental in keeping the game tied. He made several crucial saves, including a fingertip stop to divert a deflected shot from Delap, a quick reaction to deny Chiedozie Ogbene, and a sharp save against Omari Hutchinson in injury time.
Ipswich’s spirited performance earned them a valuable draw following a challenging start to the season, which included home losses to Liverpool and away defeats to Manchester City. This result moved Kieran McKenna’s side out of the relegation zone, while Fulham remained in 11th place with four points from three matches.
Ipswich’s Resilience After Tough Start
Ipswich’s early season struggles had put them at risk of two consecutive home defeats under McKenna, especially after a midweek EFL Cup penalty loss to AFC Wimbledon. Despite a nervous start, Delap’s excellent strike provided a much-needed boost, though Ipswich were less assertive for the rest of the first half.
Kalvin Phillips made his first league start since joining on loan from Manchester City, having missed the previous match against his parent club. Phillips played for 70 minutes before being substituted, contributing to Ipswich’s energetic performance. Summer signing Chiedozie Ogbene also played a key role, particularly after the break as Ipswich pushed for a winner against a Fulham side content to defend.
Although Delap continued to be a threat, Ipswich will need to capitalize on their chances as they navigate a challenging season. Their next league fixture is against Brighton on September 14th, following the international break.
Fulham’s Missed Opportunities
After falling behind early, Marco Silva’s Fulham side responded with pressure and equalized in the 32nd minute. Antonee Robinson’s low cross from the left was met by Traore, who scored his third goal since joining Fulham just over a year ago.
Fulham had several other opportunities to take the lead, with Rodrigo Muniz, Emile Smith Rowe, Alex Iwobi, and Raul Jimenez all having chances. Despite their efforts, Ipswich’s goal was not under continuous threat.
The draw extended Fulham’s record of never winning more than one of their opening three Premier League games since 2008. They will look to build on this result when they face West Ham at home on September 14th, following their win over Leicester City.
source – BBC
