New Delhi: Premier League newcomers Ipswich Town battled out to a draw against Aston Villa at home courtesy a brace from new signing Liam Delap. The tall, pacey English striker was in top form to deny Unai Emery’s side from going level on points with league leaders Liverpool. While the Tractor Boys continue the search for their first Premier League win of the season, they have looked pretty impressive in their string of four draws.
The hosts began the game on the backfoot as Villa looked the more threatening side of the two but it was Kieran McKenna’s men that drew first blood, within the first 10 minutes of the game. The goal came against the run of play as Ipswich scored with their first attack of the match. Jack Clarke picked the ball up in the box after a scramble and laid it to Delap who produced a neat finish past Emi Martinez to give his side the lead.
They couldn’t hold on to their lead for long though, as Villa scored in the 15th minute to make it level. Some poor defending from Ipswich proved to be their own undoing. A bad clearance from Jacob Greaves saw Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rodgers combined to get the game back on level terms, with Rodgers applying the finish. Villa looked more relaxed after getting the score level and completed the comeback just after the half an hour mark.
Ollie Watkins turned from the creator to the scorer for this one as he met Leon Bailey’s cross into the box with his head and scored an easy to go send his side joint top of the league for a few minutes. The visitors were about to be pegged back just a few minutes after the goal when Delap was through on goal but Martinez made himself big in the 1v1 and maintained his side’s lead as they headed down the tunnel at half-time.
The second half didn’t see as much action as was expected after the first half but less than 20 minutes from full-time, Delap once again produced a moment of magic to earn his side a point from the game. He got the ball on the half-way line from Omari Hutchinson and he ran all the way inside Villa’s box, did a stepover to beat Diego Carlos and slotted the ball past Martinez for the second time to complete his brace.
Ipswich pushed a lot for the winner in the final minutes of the game and Villa looked on the backfoot, desperately trying to hang on to the point. The Tractor Boys couldn’t get that winning goal that they were searching for and would be disappointed not to come out as winners as they looked to be the better side throughout. Even though they’re winless in six, Kieran McKenna has shown that his side have what it takes to compete in the top-flight.
Player of the Match
Liam Delap olé olé. 🎶#IPSAVL pic.twitter.com/6GcQw6asBJ
— IPSWICH TOWN (@IpswichTown) September 29, 2024
There can only be one man for this title tonight and it has to be Liam Delap, the son of former Stoke City full-back Rory Delap. He was instrumental for the Tractor Boys tonight and became the first player since Marcus Bent in 2002 to score a brace for Ipswich in the Premier League. Both of his goals were very well taken and it looks like the former Manchester City youth product will be key to Ipswich’s survival this season.
His two goals tonight made him the youngest Ipswich player ever to score more than one Premier League goal but it wasn’t just the goals that made him the best player on the pitch. He had a pure striker’s game tonight, scoring from two of his three shots on target. That figure looks even more impressive when you factor in that he only had five touches inside the penalty box. He even won three of his duels on the pitch and made two recoveries for his team, helping them to hold onto the point.
Ipswich Town continue their impressive string of draws against quality sides as they rescue a point at home against Unai Emery’s men which sees them propel to 15th in the table. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
