toptop
Ipswich
recorded their first home Premier League win of the season as they produced a
huge shock to beat Chelsea 2-0.
Liam Delap was the hero, scoring the first from the penalty spot and assisting
Omari Hutchinson, who was signed from Chelsea in the summer, for the second
goal.
Both of the scorers were not born when Ipswich last won at home in the Premier
League - back in 2002, 8,286 days ago.
Player ratings:
Ipswich: Walton (9), Burns (7), O'Shea (8), Woolfenden (8),
Greaves (8), Davis (7), Morsy (7), Cajuste (7), Hutchinson (8), Broadhead (8),
Delap (10)
Subs: Phillips (7), Szmodics (7), Taylor (7), Johnson (7),
Al-Hamadi (7)
Chelsea: Jorgensen (5), Disasi (5), Tosin (5), Colwill (6),
Cucurella (6), Caicedo (6), Enzo Fernandez (6), Madueke (6), Palmer (7), Joao
Felix (6), Nkunku (5)
Subs: Jackson (5), Gusto (6), Neto (6), Sancho (6)
Player of the Match: Liam Delap
Chelsea flattered to deceive, especially when falling 2-0 behind, as they
suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time under Enzo Maresca and are now
10 points behind league leaders Liverpool, who also have a game in hand.
Cole Palmer hit the woodwork with a free-kick from 22 yards and Christopher
Nkunku's follow-up was gratefully claimed by goalkeeper Christian Walton, who
was a calming influence replacing the dropped Arijanet Muric.
Walton had been recalled for only his second league appearance this season and
had to pick the ball out of his net after 24 minutes before a lengthy VAR check
disallowed Felix's effort.
It was clear from that moment this was Ipswich's night.
And one the locals will remember for a long time with Delap's barnstorming
display completely overwhelming the Chelsea defence.
Delap had been tipped for an England debut by former Manchester City Under-23s
boss Enzo Maresca ahead of this fixture and proceeded to haunt his ex-boss
during a historic occasion at a buoyant Portman Road.
Analysis: Chelsea get well and truly Delaped!
Sky Sports' Lewis Jones:
It takes something special to get a 10/10 in the Sky Sports Player Ratings.
Well, Delap is something special.
There were fears pre-match that kick-off might be delayed due to a road closure
because of the army examining a possible unexploded shell close to the ground.
That device was found to be safe - but the bomb was yet to go off.
Delap's barnstorming display lit up Portman Road like a New Year's Eve fireworks
display. He was simply unplayable.
A one-man wrecking ball, crashing his way through the Chelsea defence, winning
his own penalty that he of course dispatched before setting up Omari Hutchinson
to really add extra sting to the result for the Chelsea fans. He is one of their
own who they let go in the summer.
When Ipswich were out on their feet defending their box under huge pressure from
Chelsea, Delap's ability to charge with the ball up the pitch was priceless.
Kieran McKenna afforded him the standing ovation his performance deserved by
taking him off in stoppage time. A legend is truly born. And Ipswich now have
real survival hopes with a player of this potential in their ranks.
Maresca: Chelsea far off from competing
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca said: "We expected this kind of moment during the
season because we know that this kind of moment belongs to the football. It is
almost impossible to have a season where you do not have a moment like now for
us.
"But in the same time, not one of us in this room expected us to be where we are
now. This means and shows that we are in the right direction, as I've said many
times, but also shows that we are far from competing and consistency and to be
there with the best teams in England.
"Again, I think we have to be satisfied where we are but at the same time, we
have to know we need to do many things better."
McKenna: A special night
Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna said: "It's a special night for the club for the
players and fans. First home win in the Premier League at Portman Road for 22
years and to do it against Chelsea was fantastic.
"Most of the supporters who have been here for 22 years, every moment here is a
landmark for them. Winning the home game is another special little landmark. But
I think the time of year, the night game, the opponent make this a special night
and I want everyone to enjoy it a lot.
"It was everything we needed to be. Started well, pressed well on the front foot
had some nice moments on the ball. Cashed in on the good start with the goal and
after that we defended well, top intensity and organisation. Dealt with the
pressure well and you have to make good saves and have moments go your way and
keep the threat going the other way and we had that throughout. We had some
really good breakaways, shots consistently through the game. At 2-0 we managed
the game really well.
"Incredible year. Everyone involved with Ipswich can probably enjoy a glass of
sparkly stuff tomorrow night and think about some of the games we've had and
moments over the last couple of years. I don't want to point backwards too much
but I think six of the starting line-up today were in our League One team so
it's the journey this group has been on. When you have moments like this you
have a little pause and enjoy it but then move on to the next one."
Teams
Ipswich Town Walton, O’Shea, Woolfenden, Greaves, Davis, Morsy
(c), Cajuste (Phillips 77), Burns (Johnson 86), Hutchinson (Taylor (90+4),
Broadhead (Szmodics 77), Delap (Al Hamadi 90+4)
Subs Not Used Muric, Townsend, Chaplin, Clarke
Booked O’Shea, Delap, Davis
Goals Delap 12 (pen), Hutchinson 53
Chelsea Jorgensen; Disasi Gusto 77, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella;
Caicedo, Fernandez (c); Madueke Neto 77), Palmer, Joao Felix (Jackson 55);
Nkunku (Sancho 65)
Subs Not Used Sanchez, James, Acheampong, Veiga, Guiu
Booked Caicedo, Gusto, Colwill, Fernandez
Goals
Attendance 29,968
Referee John Brooks
VAR Michael Oliver