Ipswich drew their fourth Premier League game in a row after coming from behind to rescue a valuable point in a dramatic 2-2 draw with Aston Villa.
The visitors, who had the chance to rise to second in the Premier League with a win, were pegged back early on when Liam Delap swept home Jack Clarke’s low cross, beating Emi Martinez at his near post.
Villa’s bounce back was impressive, though. Some messy defending gifted Morgan Rogers the chance to equalise, and he did so with aplomb, netting his first of the season after Jacob Greaves’ hopeless clearance.
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Liam Delap opens the scoring for Ipswich Town against Aston Villa!
Ollie Watkins completed the turnaround – the league’s most effective forward behind Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah during Unai Emery’s time in charge – as he peeled off Axel Tuanzebe and Dara O’Shea to meet Leon Bailey’s cross and plant a header beyond Arijanet Muric.
But there was a sting in the tail, with more than just a hint of bad luck. Sam Morsy, already on a booking, launched into a tackle on Jaden Philogene in the middle of the park and appeared to go over the top of the ball. Referee Stuart Attwell had a long think, before awarding a free-kick with no further punishment.
“Morsy was really lucky. It was definitely a second yellow,” said Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp. Two minutes later, Ipswich were level.
Substitute Jack Taylor fed Omari Hutchinson after a Villa move broke down and he found Delap, who charged at Martinez, gave the goalkeeper the eyes, and buryed a low strike in the far corner.
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Liam Delap scores again to put Ipswich Town level against Aston Villa!
The sublime breakaway effort was almost repeated with nine minutes left when Clarke carried the ball and played through Burns, but Pau Torres made a goal-saving block.
Villa host Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Story of the match in stats…
Analysis: Davis should be knocking on England’s door
Sky Sports’ Lewis Jones:
With England having to shoehorn centre-backs to play as left-backs, there is a huge argument developing that Ipswich’s creative force in Leif Davis should be in the conversation for a call-up. Luke Shaw can’t get fit. Ben Chilwell can’t get a game. On current form there isn’t a better English left-back playing in the Premier League.
Davis was full of guile as Ipswich properly announced themselves at the Premier League party in a performance full of fight, verve and quality. Most of that quality came down the left flank where Davis was operating.
He created a whopping seven chances for his team-mates. Only Bukayo Saka against Leicester on Saturday has created more in a single game this season. On another day, Davis could have walked away with a hat-trick of assists.
His pass to send Liam Delap through on goal in the first-half was bordering on world-class as he showed yet again that his left-foot is a wand. And is something the national team should be checking out.
