Delap’s Double Helps Ipswich Snag a Draw Against Aston Villa

Ipswich Town managed to grab their fourth draw in a row in the Premier League, finishing 2-2 against Aston Villa at Portman Road.

September 29, 2024
3:30 pm

This hard-earned point lifts the newly-promoted side out of the relegation zone, showing off their grit despite some recent bumps in the road.

Villa, who hadn’t kept a clean sheet in their last 10 league matches, extended that streak when Ipswich struck first just eight minutes in. Liam Delap took full advantage of Jack Clarke’s perfect cross, sliding the ball right under Emiliano Martínez during Ipswich’s very first attack. But the visitors were quick to respond! Morgan Rogers got his season rolling by firing Ollie Watkins’ lay-off into the bottom corner after a dodgy clearance from Jacob Greaves.

Ipswich had a golden chance to take the lead again when Clarke’s header sailed over the bar from a promising spot. They were soon punished as Watkins kept up his hot streak, netting his fourth goal in three league matches with a header from Leon Bailey’s cross. The hosts pushed hard for an equalizer before halftime, with Martínez pulling off two stunning saves. First, he palmed away Kalvin Phillips’ fierce half-volley, then stuck out a leg to deny Delap a second goal.

The second half kicked off a bit slowly, with not many clear chances for either side. Sam Morsy tried a long-range shot just before the hour mark, but it went way off target. Leif Davis also came close, hitting the side-netting. The breakthrough came again from Delap, who wowed the home crowd by bamboozling his defender with a cheeky stepover before finding the bottom corner. This was Delap’s first brace in senior football!

Ipswich’s determination earned them a well-deserved point, keeping them unbeaten in four league matches. This result not only lifts them out of the relegation zone but also shows they can hold their own at this level. Aston Villa, on the flip side, missed a chance to climb to second in the table, though they still boast a solid head-to-head record against Ipswich, having lost just once in their last 15 meetings.

The draw leaves Ipswich in a better spot moving forward as they keep adapting to the Premier League’s demands. For Aston Villa, it’s all about shoring up those defensive gaps and making the most of their attacking flair to push higher up the table. This match was a true showcase of the Premier League’s competitive spirit, where even newly-promoted teams can take on the big boys and snag those all-important points!