Ipswich Town 2-0 Chelsea - Premier League result as Hutchinson and Delap give Tractor Boys third win of season

Liam Delap scored and set up a goal as Ipswich stunned visitors Chelsea to secure their third league victory of the season in a 2-0 win at Portman Road, as Enzo Maresca’s side failed to move second in the table.

Liam Delap broke the deadlock inside 12 minutes, scoring his seventh league goal of the season, when he was brought down in the box by Blues goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen and powered his spot-kick into the bottom-left corner.

Chelsea thought they had levelled the fixture after 24 minutes when Cole Palmer found Joao Felix deep in the box and he fired into the roof of the net – only to see VAR disallow the goal for offside.

Kieran McKenna’s side doubled their lead just after half-time when a mistake at the back was pounced upon by Delap, who darted into Chelsea’s box before finding Omari Hutchinson, and his shot raised the volume at Portman Road by several decibels.

Maresca’s men missed out on a chance to move second in the Premier League, finishing the year sitting in fourth. Whilst Ipswich moved within a point of survival at the bottom of the table.

Next up, Chelsea travel to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace on Saturday, January 4, 2025, while Ipswich are in action against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday, January 5.

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"We created a lot of chances," Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella told Sky Sports. "We conceded two easy goals and then we had to play a different game. We have to continue, we've played a lot of games and can take some positive things.

"People asked what we expected these first few months and no one expected this level. But we need to continue this way. We've done well so far this season, we need to continue to work hard and try to undo these small mistakes."

On Ipswich's first goal: "We conceded the early goal and we had to play more with passing and then the second one we lost our way a bit with mistakes. We need to play always in the same style and take our time but we rushed and made mistakes.

"We need to play with the same intensity and desire. Sometimes we rush and rush to win but I think we have done well this first six months. Maybe we have been better than people expected apart from the last two games."

"We've worked so hard this season and it's not gone right," Ipswich goalscorer Liam Delap told Sky Sports. "The performances have deserved a win and today we showed we are excellent and we defended well, attacked them well. We're buzzing.

"We've had three or four opportunities where we've not had the penalty we probably deserved so nice to get that one and put it in the back of the net. I've practiced them a million times so just aimed for the corner and put it there.

"I don't think it changes much. We've performed as well as that in other games this season but not got the result. Not finished our chances or conceded late. We just need to push on now and get more victories."

Whilst a win against Chelsea at Portman Road might have sounded like a long shot for the majority, a performance of the ages from Ipswich denied The Blues the chance of cutting into Liverpool's lead.

Two defeats in two games for Enzo Maresca's side saw Chelsea finish the year in fourth with a 10-point gap on leaders Liverpool.

Chelsea lacked in the final third and became reliant on individual efforts as the game went on. Despite multiple changes to the starting 11, has the festive period caught up with Maresca's men?

For Ipswich, their third win of the campaign keeps their survival hopes alive. Keeping Wolves within a point, Ipswich now have two wins in their last four - are things finally changing?

Making the most of their chances and pouncing on errors, Ipswich held strong during Chelsea's push for a goal and came away with their first win over The Blues since 1993.

It looks like a yellow card was shown just after the full-time whistle to the Ipswich captain, Sam Morsy.

It's all over. Portman Road erupts as the referee blows the full-time whistle.

Enzo Fernandez is the next player booked.

Jack Taylor and Ali Al-Hamadi come on for the two goalscorers.

Just five minutes left for Ipswich to see this one out or for Chelsea to somehow rescue a point.

Levi Colwill also goes into the book for dissent.

Gusto and Davis have a coming together, with Gusto in a rush to get the ball back, which sparks a few strong words between both sides.

Both players find themselves booked by the referee as a result.

Ben Johnson comes on for Wes Burns, who's un-amused about having to do the lap around Portman Road to get back to the dugouts.

Liam Delap goes into the book.

Ipswich are ten minutes away from their third victory in the Premier League this season unless there's a card Enzo Maresca and Chelsea haven't played yet.

Pedro Neto and Malo Gusto are on for Madueke and Disasi.

Sammie Szmodics and Kalvin Phillips come on for Broadhead and Cajuste.

I was just about to ask how on earth did Nicolas Jackson miss that but luckily for him, the linesman raises his flag.

He's threaded through on goal and just has the goalkeeper to beat, yet manages to put his shot wide of goal.

Delap carries the ball from the half-way line deep into the box and fires from a tight angle to force a corner.

Despite Chelsea pressure, Ipswich have just given Enzo Maresca's side a little reminder that they're still a problem and would probably like to make it three.

This time it's Nathan Broadhead who forces Jorgensen into a low save.