29 September 2024
Ipswich Town 2 Aston Villa 2
Aston Villa were the visitors to Portman Road with the chance to join Liverpool at the top of the table. Ipswich Town were still looking for their first victory since returning to the Premier League but Kieran McKenna was aware of how difficult of a challenge Unai Emery’s side posed. The home fans would need to act as their twelfth man in this game.
The Tractor Boys started well. Their industry and work rate was causing the visitors problems as they just could not clear their lines. Some good skill by Phillips released Clarke down the left. As he crossed into the box, he picked out Delap who fired off a first time shot into the bottom corner. Portman Road erupted as the ball nestled into the back of the net.
Questions may be asked over Martinez in the Aston Villa goal as he was beaten at his near post. Not that anyone associated to Ipswich Town was complaining. With only eight minutes on the clock, McKenna’s side had taken the lead against a team who had finished fourth in the Premier League last season. It was a dream start for the hosts.
Ipswich Town were then the architects of their own downfall. Firstly, three players switched off claiming the ball had gone out of play. Then as Villa got into the box, Greaves seemed to have it under control. He opted to wildly swing at the ball to clear it but hit it straight to Watkins. He laid it off to Rogers who swept it into the bottom corner of the goal.
It was the defending of a lower league team and McKenna needs his side to work on that. Rome was not built in a day, these things will take time. Ipswich need to be more composed in those situations and not panic as much as they did. They had plenty of chances to prevent the danger before Rogers found the back of the net.
The hosts continued to ask questions of Aston Villa. Delap was leading the line well. As he won an aerial battle, he was clattered into by Carlos. The referee awarded the Tractor Boys a free kick. As it was lifted into the box, Tuanzebe met it with a header, which looped over the crossbar by a matter of inches. Martinez was at full stretch trying to get something on it.
Hutchinson is looking a great signing for Kieran McKenna’s side. He looks at home in the Premier League. It was his ball out wide to Davis, allowing the full back time to pick his cross. He had spotted the run of Clarke who headed over the bar. From that position he really should have been hitting the target. It was like you ordered Jack Grealish from Temu.
Bailey continued to cause Davis problems in a defensive capacity. He dropped his shoulder and shifted the ball to give himself a yard of space before crossing to pick out Watkins in the box. The England striker made no mistake as he headed home to give Aston Villa the lead. The home support could not believe their luck but these are the fine margins of the top-flight.
Credit where it is due to the hosts, they kept battling away in this game. As the visitors half-cleared a cross, it dropped to Phillips just outside the box. His thunderbolt of an effort was well saved by Martinez in the bottom corner of the goal. It was one of those strikes that as soon as it left his foot, he must have thought he had scored. World class save.
Shortly after, Delap was played in with only the keeper to beat. He looked to slot it past Martinez but the Villa keeper made another great save with his outstretched leg. The Ipswich Town striker kicked the ground in frustration as he knew that was a massive chance to get his side back on level terms. Emery’s keeper was making up for his part in that first goal, that is for sure.
Early in the second half, Morsy was penalised for a foul on Philogene. Emery was incredulous on the touchline as he could not fathom how the referee had not shown the Ipswich Town skipper a second yellow card. He definitely caught the Villa midfielder and was a lucky boy to still be on the pitch after the free kick was awarded.
Konsa was then caught out of position as he pushed forward. Delap had dropped into the space and received the ball to feet. With acres of space in front of him, he made a beeline towards the goal. A neat stepover sold the defender and he struck a left-footed shot into the far corner and Portman Road erupted once again. A superb finish by the young striker.
On the balance of play, it was no more than the hosts deserved. They had created enough opportunities that they should have got something from this game. The Tractor Boys continued to apply the pressure but could not find a winner. The points were shared and this will be a morale-boosting result for Ipswich Town.
McKenna’s side are now four games unbeaten. They are three places above the bottom three. The only two games they have lost this season was against Liverpool and Man City. Delap was awarded the man of the match award and looks like some talent. He could be another youngster who Man City rue letting leave The Etihad, much like Cole Palmer.
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