Match report: Ipswich Town 2-0 Chelsea | News | Official Site

The Blues created loads of possibilities in both half and Joao Felix even had a aim dominated out for offside with the rating at 1-0.

However Liam Delap’s penalty after simply 12 minutes and Omari Hutchinson’s strike early within the second half ensured it was the Tractor Boys who took the victory to maneuver inside one level of Seventeenth-place Wolves.

5 adjustments

Enzo Maresca determined to clean up his facet with the introduction of Filip Jorgensen, Axel Disasi, Noni Madueke, Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku.

It meant Jorgensen was in aim as soon as extra, with a again 4 of Disasi, Tosin Adarabioyo, Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella. Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez had been in midfield, with Cole Palmer forward of them, and Madueke and Joao Felix on the flanks. Nkunku led the road.

There was additionally a return to the matchday squad for the primary time since November 10 for Reece James following his damage.

Ipswich made 4 alterations to the XI, together with altering their goalkeeper as Arijanet Muric was changed by Christian Walton.

It was Ipswich who had the primary probability, as a cut-back from former Blue Hutchinson was turned goalwards by Nathan Broadhead however the shot from eight yards out was blocked.

Blues go behind

The hosts then took the lead on 12 minutes from the penalty spot. Leif Davis picked out the run from Delap with a cross from the left flank and the striker simply bought to the ball earlier than the diving Jorgensen, who was adjudged to have introduced him down regardless of the goalkeeper’s complaints.

Delap, who performed below Maresca for Manchester Metropolis Beneath-23s, beat Jorgensen from the penalty spot regardless of the goalkeeper guessing the proper approach.

It may have been 2-0 a minute later when a blocked clearance bounced into the trail of Delap simply contained in the penalty space and the 21-year-old smashed a first-time effort in direction of the far prime nook which needed to be tipped away by Jorgensen.

So shut

Chelsea had been inches away from equalising twice in a matter of minutes halfway by means of the opening interval. First, Palmer’s low free-kick from 20 yards hit the within of the put up and bounced out into the six-yard field, the place Nkunku dived in to deal with because the ball was about to be cleared and Walton recovered in time to save lots of the rebound.

The Blues did have the ball behind the online when Palmer’s inswinging cross from the proper then picked out the run of Joao Felix on the far put up and he smashed into the roof of the online. However after a prolonged VAR examine, the on-field determination from the referee and assistant was overturned and offside was given.

Chelsea had been more and more on prime because the half progressed and had a variety of efforts over the following ten minutes. Cucurella struck a robust effort extensive, Caicedo despatched a shot from 18 yards over the bar and Joao Felix pressured Walton into one other cease.

Ipswich confirmed their menace on the counter, although, when Delap created sufficient house to hit a fierce shot which might have nestled inside Jorgensen’s close to put up had the goalkeeper not tipped it extensive.

Chelsea continued to seek for the equaliser and Fernandez had a goal-bound effort from near the penalty spot blocked shortly earlier than half-time.

Surprise save

The Blues would have levelled in first-half injury-time had it not been for an excellent save from Walton. Some slick build-up play involving Fernandez and Joao Felix ended with Palmer curling a 20-yard strike in direction of aim however the Ipswich keeper made a surprising fingertip cease to maintain his crew in entrance heading into the break.

Chelsea began the second interval strongly and simply two minutes after the restart, Fernandez stood up a cross for Joao Felix and his header needed to be cleared off the road.

A minute later, Disasi launched Madueke and he had a low drive in direction of the close to put up diverted extensive by Walton. The ensuing nook almost discovered its approach into the aim however Ipswich’s defenders simply managed to scramble the ball away.

Ipswich double their lead

However for all the Blues’ early strain and possibilities, it was Ipswich who scored the sport’s subsequent aim. Disasi’s misplaced cross was collected by Delap near the midway line and after Tosin did properly to carry up the striker, he laid the ball again to Hutchinson and the winger despatched a low shot into the far backside nook.

Maresca reacted instantly by bringing on Nicolas Jackson, with Nkunku shifting into the left-side quantity 10 position which Joao Felix had been occupying, as Cucurella continued to supply the width.

Disasi fired over from distance and Palmer nearly caught out Walton with a cross-shot earlier than Maresca then launched Jadon Sancho rather than Nkunku with 20 minutes remaining.

The Blues saved pushing. Palmer had a shot blocked, there was a penalty attraction for handball and Jackson shot extensive when one-on-one, though he was offside regardless.

Ipswich had been nonetheless a menace on the counter although and Delap had a shot from a decent angle tipped over halfway by means of the half.

Pedro Neto and Malo Gusto had been additionally launched as we entered the ultimate quarter of an hour however Ipswich managed to see out the sport to safe all three factors.

What it means

The Blues’ defeat to Ipswich means we’re nonetheless in fourth place, one level behind Arsenal in third and two factors under Nottingham Forest in second.

What subsequent

Our subsequent recreation will likely be away to Crystal Palace on Saturday 4 January at 3pm GMT. The fixture won’t be televised within the UK however you possibly can comply with all of the motion in our match centre, with dwell commentary and minute-by-minute updates.

The groups

Ipswich City: Walton; Burns (Johnson 86), O’Shea, Woolfenden, Greaves, Davis; Morsy, Cajuste (Phillips 77); Hutchinson (Al-Hamadi 90+3), Broadhead (Szmodics 77); Delap (Taylor 90+3)
Unused subs: Muric, Townsend, Chaplin, J. Clarke
Bookings: O’Shea 32, Delap 83, Davis 88
Scorers: Delap 12 (p), Hutchinson 53

Chelsea: Jorgensen; Disasi (Gusto 77), Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez (c); Madueke (Neto 77), Palmer, Joao Felix (Jackson 55); Nkunku (Sancho 65)
Unused subs: Sanchez, James, Acheampong, Veiga, Guiu
Bookings: Caicedo 67, Gusto 88, Colwill 88

Referee: John Brooks
Attendance: 29,968