Ipswich stun Chelsea to record first home win Premier League for 22 years
Ipswich celebrated a first Premier League victory at Portman Road since 2002 thanks to goals from a 21-year-old Chelsea sold last summer and another whose early career had been moulded by Enzo Maresca.
Chelsea, who would have ended 2024 in second had they won, fell behind to an early penalty from Liam Delap, Maresca’s protege as an under-21 at Manchester City.
And victory was sealed by a second-half goal from Omari Hutchinson, a player Maresca’s predecessors at Stamford Bridge had deemed worthy of just two appearances.
Not since Darren Bent’s goal downed Middlesbrough 22 years ago had Town enjoyed a top-flight success in Suffolk and the Tractor Boys, though still in the relegation zone, savoured the final whistle.
“It’s good to write history and finally get the first win at home,” Hutchinson said. “I’m grateful for what Chelsea did in my career, they gave me my debut, but I’m playing for Ipswich now and I want to help us stay up.”
“We have had some really good performances here, but to get one over the line at home is pretty special,” added manager Kieran McKenna, whose starting line-up featured six players who helped Town escape League One in 2023.
The game swung Ipswich’s way in the 10th minute when goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, in for Robert Sanchez, rushed out as Delap slid in to meet Leif Davis’ cross.
Delap had minimal control of the ball but was caught by the goalkeeper’s trailing leg and VAR Michael Oliver did not seek to overrule referee John Brooks’ penalty call. Delap converted his spot kick confidently into a bottom corner.
“He was coming out fast so I knew he’d touch me if I didn’t get it round him,” Delap said. “I’ve practised them a million times so just aimed for the corner and put it there.”
Stepped up to convert. 🫡#IPSCHE pic.twitter.com/AhNBSqbQ57
— IPSWICH TOWN (@IpswichTown) December 31, 2024
Fortune favoured Ipswich in the 21st minute when Cole Palmer smacked a free-kick beyond the reach of recalled goalkeeper Christian Walton and on to a post. Christopher Nkunku was first to the loose ball, but shot straight at a goalkeeper in the process of getting up.
Two minutes later Joao Felix converted Palmer’s ball to the back post from a tight angle but was judged by VAR to have been marginally offside.
A breathless half ended with Walton tipping Palmer’s shot onto the bar, which left the Chelsea man smiling and clapping.
The second half began as the first had ended. Wes Burns headed a Felix header off the line, but Ipswich doubled their lead in the 53rd minute via Axel Disasi’s error.
The defender’s pass to Tosin Adarabioyo was intercepted by Delap, who loped into the box and teed up Hutchinson, who took a touch before steering low beyond Jorgensen.
Hutchinson celebrated with a backflip celebration which he had not deployed on the first occasion he scored in the Premier League, against Manchester United in November. “Everyone’s been asking me to do it, so I thought I would do it for the first home win,” he said.
Television cameras panned to a smiling Ed Sheeran, a Town shareholder and shirt sponsor, as Chelsea attempted to retrieve the situation.
Nicolas Jackson, on for Felix, fired wide when clean through but was offside , which summed up Chelsea’s evening.
The match was delayed moving smoothly to its conclusion by two stoppages for bad-tempered shoving matches between both sets of players, and it was a similar story after the final whistle.
Chelsea had only themselves to blame, however, and Ipswich left the pitch with not only the feeling of a job finally well done, but with genuine hopes of beating the drop. They remain in the bottom three, but end 2024 on a high.
Chelsea have picked up just one point from their last three games, perhaps vindicating Maresca’s constant claims that a title challenge is beyond his young squad this season.
“It shows we are far from being near to compete with the best in England,” he said.
10:24 PM GMT
‘To get three points is always welcome’
Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna speaking to BBC Sport:
It was everything it needed to be, I thought we came out really fast, really aggressive, tried to impose ourselves on the game. We defended, outstanding organisation throughout the game. We were having chances throughout the game.
I thought Liam [Delap] was incredible tonight. He was one of many incredible performances tonight.
On the result:
There has been hope in the performances in general, we have been competing in almost every game. If you do that, you always have a chance. We are only a few points short with what we could have had. To get three points tonight is always welcome, of course. We’re in games and we’re not too far away.
10:11 PM GMT
‘We need to play with the same intensity and desire’
Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella speaking to Sky Sports:
We created a lot of chances. 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 in this way. We’ve done well so far this season we need to continue to work hard and try to undo these small mistakes.
Sometimes we have good luck sometimes not it’s part of football but we have to take positives and watch and review clips where we can improve. When we win we are not the best but when we lose we are not the worst. We have to continue in this way and try to win the games.
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. In January we have time to improve, train hard and continue.
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.
10:08 PM GMT
Ipswich striker Liam Delcap speaking to Sky Sports:
On his penalty:
I don’t know what clipped me but something did. I just tried to get there before him [Filip Jorgensen] and he was coming out fast so I knew he’d touch me if I didn’t get it round him.
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.
09:56 PM GMT
Full-time Aston Villa 2 Brighton 2
What a great game at Villa Park tonight!
Lamptey’s late equalier earns a point for Brighton – although they still remain winless in seven games.
Adingra gave Brighton the early lead before Watkins equalised for Aston Villa with a penalty. Then Rogers put Unai Emery’s side ahead inside two minutes of the second half but they could stop Brighton from equalising late on.
09:53 PM GMT
90+3 min: Aston Villa 2 Brighton 2
What a chance for Aston Villa as Ollie Watkins blasts over! John McGinn’s set piece lands at the feet of the striker but he smashes the shot well off target.
Is that Aston Villa’s last chance of the game?
09:51 PM GMT
90 min: Aston Villa 2 Brighton 2
Six minutes of added time at Villa Park.
Igor’s cross from a deep position is well overhit and goes out for a goal kick – a real opportunity wasted by Brighton.
09:48 PM GMT
Full time: Ipswich 2 Chelsea 0
What a result for Ipswich and Kieran McKenna – a first Premier League home win this season. Liam Delap and Omari Hutchinson leaving their mark on the victory.It was a brilliant performance from the hosts!
However, for Enzo Maresca’s side – they end 2024 with back-to-back defeats and well back on league-leaders Liverpool.
09:46 PM GMT
90+3: Ipswich 2 Chelsea 0
Kieran McKenna makes his changes.Delap and Hutchinson make way for the home side. Taylor and Al Hamadi enter the fray for the hosts.
09:43 PM GMT
85 min: Aston Villa 2 Brighton 2
Unai Emery has responded to the Brighton equaliser by making a triple change. Barkley, Maatsen and Onana are for Digne, Kamara and Tielemans.
Villa are fading here – you sense Unai Emery should have made those changes a lot earlier in the second half.
09:41 PM GMT
90 min: Ipswich 2 Chelsea 0
Five minutes have been added onto the second half at Portman Road. Fernandez blazes his effort well over the bar – another wasted opportunity for the visitors.
09:38 PM GMT
81 min: Aston Villa 2 Brighton 2
GOAL
Brighton can smell an equaliser and they have one! Space opens up for Minteh who lays the ball off for Pedro and he moves it on one more for Lamptey.
Lamptey slams the shot past Martinez into the bottom left corner.
Game on at Villa Park now!
09:33 PM GMT
81 min: Ipswich 2 Chelsea 0
Changes for both teams. On come Malo Gusto and Pedro Neto for Noni Madueke and Axel Disasi.
And for the hosts Kalvin Phillips and Sam Szmodics replace Jens Cajuste and Nathan Broadhead.
09:30 PM GMT
79 min: Ipswich 2 Chelsea 0
Jackson’s put through by Fernandez and puts his effort wide, missing a huge opportunity for Chelsea to get back into this game.
However, the linesman’s flag is delayed going up for offside.
09:27 PM GMT
68 min: Aston Villa 2 Brighton 1
What a chance for Joao Pedro! It starts with Boubacar Kamara getting caught on the ball inside the Villa half – Pedro is through on goal. However, he bizarrely opts for power over placement and blasts it wide.
That was such a great chance for Brighton to equalise!
09:23 PM GMT
72 min: Ipswich 2 Chelsea 0
Ipswich continue to look dangerous on the break – the Portman Road faithful are loving this! Jorgenson has to make another strong save to stop a venomous Delap shot.
09:21 PM GMT
65 min: Aston Villa 2 Brighton 1
The visitors bring on Mitoma, Minteh and Rutter for Enciso, Adingra and Gruda. Those changes were needed – Hurzeler needs to inject some energy and pace into his side.
09:18 PM GMT
62 min: Aston Villa 2 Brighton 1
Ollie Watkins is causing the Brighton backline all sorts of problems! Digne gets forward and delivers a cross from the left. Watkins leaps to meet the ball and steers his header straight at Verbruggen.
09:15 PM GMT
66 min: Ipswich 2 Chelsea 0
Cole Palmer swings a cross in the box that requires attention from Walton who gathers for Ipswich. Chelsea need to be more clinical in the final third if they are to stage a fightback at Portman Road.
09:13 PM GMT
55 min: Aston Villa 2 Brighton 1
The hosts have started the second half so well.They are pressing high and piling so much pressure on the Brighton backline – Unai Emery’s team talk at half-time has certainly worked.
09:11 PM GMT
60 min: Ipswich 2 Chelsea 0
Enzo Maresca has seen enough and replaces Joao Felix with Nicholas Jackson. His side are staring down back-to-back defeats for the first time this season.
09:07 PM GMT
52 min: Ipswich 2 Chelsea 0
GOAL
Omari Hutchinson scores against his former club!
Disasi gives the ball away carelessly and Liam Delap drives into the penalty area. He slots the ball across for Hutchinson who bides his time – he picks his spot and finishes calmly into the bottom corner.
And what a celebration from the former Chelsea player!
09:04 PM GMT
46 min: Aston Villa 2 Brighton 1
GOAL
We are back underway at Villa Park and what a start for the hosts. Yet again Ollie Watkins is involved in the action. He plays a lovely pass in behind for Rogers – he controls the ball well to fire into the bottom left corner with his second touch.
It was a sublime finish and what a perfect start for Unai Emery’s side in the second half.
09:00 PM GMT
47 min: Ipswich 1 Chelsea 0
Back underway at Portman Road for the second half. Can Chelsea muster a result? A victory would send the West London side second in the Premier League table.
While for Ipswich, they are 45 minutes away from earning their first home win of the season.
08:47 PM GMT
Half-time: Aston Villa 1 Brighton 1
12 minutes of added time has finally ended at Villa Park. Adingra scored for Brighton to give the visitors an early lead.
Then Villa had a penalty appeal dismissed after a long VAR check but they were then awarded one after Morgan Rodgers was fouled by Joao Pedro.
Ollie Watkins tucked home the penalty for the hosts.
08:43 PM GMT
45+9: Aston Villa 1 Brighton 1
Ollie Watkins is having a great game! The Aston Villa striker tries to squeeze a shot from a tight angle which Lewis Dunk deflects to the wrong side of the post – given the hosts a corner.
Watkins meets the set piece although this effort is just off target. That was a real chance for the hosts to double their lead – Watkins should have scored.
08:41 PM GMT
Half-time: Ipswich 1 Chelsea 0
Here we go, half-time at Portman Road as Kieran McKenna’s side lead after an early Liam Delap penalty.
Chelsea have grown into the half – responding well with Joao Felix equaliser. However, the goal was chalked off by VAR for offside.
08:38 PM GMT
45+4 min: Aston Villa 1 Brighton 1
Sublime defending from Tariq Lamptey – he may have just stopped Brighton from going behind at Villa Park with a brilliant tackle on Ollie Watkins.
08:36 PM GMT
45+2 min: Aston Villa 1 Brighton 1
Right, 12 minutes of added time at Villa Park. Pedro’s head injury in the opening minutes have caused the huge delay and of course there was two lengthy VAR checks.
08:34 PM GMT
45 min: Ipswich 1 Chelsea 0
What a save from Walton! Cole Palmer tries to wrap the ball into the net from the edge of the area but the Ipswich goalkeeper pulls out a sublime one-handed save to deny the Chelsea forward.
08:33 PM GMT
41 min: Aston Villa 1 Brighton 1
Aston Villa are gaining momentum here – Tielemans sends a shot from distance which is narrowly off target.
Now, Leon Baily out muscles Adringa down the left-hand side and fires a cross into the middle. Ollie Watkins rises but he cannot get enough power on his header to steer it past Verbruggen.
08:28 PM GMT
38 min: Ipswich 1 Chelsea 0
What a game Liam Delap is having here! He carries the ball into the area and beats the Chelsea backline. Delap shoots but Jorgenson gets down to make the save.
08:25 PM GMT
34 min: Aston Villa 1 Brighton 1
GOAL
Another penalty shout at Villa Park! Joao Pedro tries to clear the ball but instead seems to kick the boot of Morgan Rodgers. Referee Craig Pawson has a look on the monitor and points to the spot.
Ollie Watkins buries the penalty – sending Bart Verbruggen the wrong way. He has been the forgotten man at Villa Park in recent months with Jhon Duran taking his place in the side.
08:21 PM GMT
30 min: Ipswich 1 Chelsea 0
Chelsea are gaining momentum here at Portman Road. As Madueke feeds Felix on the edge of the area. However, Felix’s effort is blocked into the path by Cucurella who catches the ball well but fires it wide for the visitors.
08:18 PM GMT
27 min: Aston Villa 0 Brighton 1
That is fantastic play from Aston Villa as Morgan Rogers nutmegs Jan Paul van Hecke before the Brighton players slides in with a clumsy challenge. Here we go, VAR are checking it.
Right check over, no penalty will be given.
08:14 PM GMT
24 min: Ipswich 1 Chelsea 0
GOAL
And the visitors have equalised courtesy of Joao Felix. He pounces onto Cole Palmer’s ball and fires the ball into the back of net.
What a start for Felix on his return to the starting line-up for Chelsea. VAR is checking the goal for offside. Not sure if Joao Felix went too early?
Right it will not count as Felix is judged to be offside. Ipswich restore their lead.
08:11 PM GMT
21 min: Aston Villa 0 Brighton 1
Better play from the hosts as Leon Baily wins a free-kick for Aston Villa. However, nothing comes from it as the Brighton backline deal with it.
Bad news for Aston Villa fans as Pau Torres is currently down receiving treatment off the pitch. Tyrone Mings is stripping off and ready on the bench.
08:08 PM GMT
18 min: Ipswich 1 Chelsea 0
Chelsea cannot handle the intensity of Ipswich’s pressing – they keep being turned over in possession in dangerous areas.
It has been a very poor start for Maresca’s side as he opted to ring in the changes after their defeat to Fulham.
08:04 PM GMT
12 min: Aston Villa 0 Brighton 1
GOAL
The visitors strike first at Villa Park! Lewis Dunk hits a sublime forward pass which Pedro chases down.
The Aston Villa backline cannot deal with it and and Adingra backs up his striker to collect the loose ball.
Adingra cuts inside and bends a beautiful curling effort into the bottom right corner. Emiliano Martinez had no chance – he is screaming at his defence.
08:01 PM GMT
11 min: Ipswich 1 Chelsea 0
GOAL
The hosts work the ball forward and Davis threads it through for Liam Delap, who looks to be losing his balance. The striker is wiped out by Filip Jorgenson and referee immediately points to the spot.
Here we go – a big moment for the hosts!
A beautifully dispatched penalty by Liam Delap, who fires the ball into the back of the net.
07:57 PM GMT
8 min: Ipswich 0 Chelsea 0
Liam Delap has started the game well for the hosts. Delap sees Tosin come out on top this time as he out muscles the Ipswich striker to keep possession for Chelsea on the edge of the penalty area.
07:55 PM GMT
6 min: Aston Villa 0 Brighton 0
We are back underway at Villa Park Good news for Brighton fans as Joao Pedro is back on the pitch.
07:53 PM GMT
4 min: Ipswich 0 Chelsea 0
Elsewhere at Portman Road, Liam Delap is causing the Chelsea backline all sorts of problems – as earns the hosts a free-kick.
07:50 PM GMT
2 min: Aston Villa 0 Brighton 0
Early drama at Villa Park as Joao Pedro and Boubcar Kamara clash heads in the opening two minutes. Both are having to receive medical treatment with blood appearing from the face of the Brazilian.
07:46 PM GMT
1 min: Ipswich 0 Chelsea 0
We are underway at Portman Road with Ipswich kicking things off going from right to left while proceedings are also up and running at Villa Park.
07:45 PM GMT
Here come the teams
Aston Villa and Brighton players are emerging from the tunnel at Villa Park as kick-off is moments away!
07:43 PM GMT
Can Brighton end awful record at Villa Park?
There have been 33 meetings between both teams. It is Aston Villa who have by far the better record, winning 18 matches. Brighton have six victories, leaving nine draws,.
Only of those successes for Brighton has come at Villa Park – sadly there were no supporters to watch it. Danny Welbeck and Solly March scored in the 2-1 win during the 2020-21 lockdown season.
07:37 PM GMT
How the bottom of the Premier League table looks
A win for Ipswich will see Kieran McKenna’s side leapfrog Leicester City and close in on 17th-place Wolves.
07:33 PM GMT
The scene at Portman Road
07:17 PM GMT
How things currently stand in the Premier League table
Here’s a glimpse at the top seven ahead of tonight’s action. Arne Slot’s side will head into 2025 at the top of the league regardless of what happens tonight after they beat West Ham on Monday night.
Chelsea could move up to second with victory at Portman Road while Aston Villa would also boost up to sixth with a win over Brighton.
07:14 PM GMT
Manchester United vs Newcastle
Follow the latest from tonight’s other Premier League match with Rob Bagchi.
The headline team news for Manchester United is Marcus Rashford is back in the squad.
Midfielders Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte are suspended so Casmiro and Christian Eriksen come in to replace them.
07:09 PM GMT
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07:05 PM GMT
‘Today is Ollie Watkins’ day’
Unai Emery speaking to Sky Sports:
Today is Ollie Watkins’ day. We are trying to get our performances quality and try to find consistency. We are playing a lot of matches and we are more or less being consistent. We are feeling strong and respecting the opponent. They are playing well and demanding a lot without the ball. They are two points below us.
We are all opponents and still being a contender for the top seven positions. Nottingham [Forest] are performing very well and higher than us. Now we are focusing on this match only, the three points.
07:01 PM GMT
Ollie Watkins starts for Villa whilst Brighton make four changes
Unai Emery has made three changes to the Aston Villa side that lost 3-0 to Newcastle as Diego Carlos, Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey come into the starting line-up.
Jhon Duran misses the game through suspension, while Matty Cash and Amadou Onana drop to the bench.
Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans; Bailey, McGinn, Rogers; Watkins.
Substitutes: Olsen, Mings, Barkley, Buendia, Philogene, Nedeljkovic, Maatsen, Onana, Ramsey.
As for Brighton they make four changes to the team that drew 0-0 with Brentford. In come Tariq Lamptey, Igor Julio, Simon Adingra and Yasin Ayari.
Brighton XI: Verbruggen; Lamptey, Van Hecke, Dunk, Igor; Ayari, Baleba; Gruda, Enciso, Adingra; Pedro.
Substitutes: Steele, March, Rutter, Moder, Minteh, Mitoma, O’Riley, Veltman, McConville.
06:56 PM GMT
Maresca makes wholesale changes and Walton starts in goal for Ipswich
The headline team news for Chelsea is that Robert Sanchez is replaced by Filip Jorgensen
Nicholas Jackson drops to the bench, with Christopher Nkunku expected to lead the line in his place. Reece James makes his first match day squad since November 10.
Chelsea XI: Jorgensen, Disasi, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez, Madueke, Palmer, Felix, Nkunku
Substitutes: Sanchez, Acheampong, Gusto, JAmes, Veiga, Neto, Sancho, Guiu, Jackson
For Ipswich, club captain Sam Morsy is back from suspension to start as Kieran McKenna makes four changes after the defeat at Arsenal.
Ipswich XI: Walton, Burns, O’Shea, Woolfenden, Greaves, Davis, Morsey, Cajuste, Hutchinson, Broadhead, Delap
Substitutes: Muric, Johnson, Townsend, Phillips, Taylor, Chaplin, Szmodics, J Clarke, Al-Hamadi
06:39 PM GMT
Preview: Chelsea looking to return to winning ways
Good evening and welcome Telegraph Sport’s live coverage of Ipswich vs Chelsea and Aston Villa vs Brighton – both games kicking off at 7.45pm.
Chelsea are looking to get back to winning ways tonight against Ipswich. Enzo Maresca’s side have seen their title charge falter over the Christmas period. Firstly, a draw against Everton followed by a first home loss to Fulham in 45 years brought to an end a five-game winning streak – leaving the west London side 10 points behind league leaders Liverpool.
At the other end of the table, Ipswich face an uphill battle to remain in the league. There has not been much to celebrate at Portman Road this season, with Ipswich the only side yet to win a game at home this season. Kieran McKenna’s side have only scored six goals in nine games and were comprehensively beaten 4-0 by Newcastle United in their last home game.
And yet, three points is all that separates them from Wolves – with new manager Vitor Periera making it back-back victories since taking charge. Everton (17 points), Crystal Palace (17) and Wolves (15) are the only ones still within double-digit points, while the three newly promoted sides occupy the bottom three as 2024 draws to a close.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa need to quickly bounce back from their 3-0 defeat to Newcastle United on Boxing Day as they host Brighton this evening.
To make matters worse for Unai Emery’s side, striker Jhon Duran was sent off at St James’ Park – so now Aston Villa are without their leading goalscorer for the next three games. This now leaves the door open for Ollie Watkins to return.
Meanwhile, Brighton are a place behind Aston Villa in 10th. Fabian Hurzeler’s side have faded from a strong start and are without a win in six games. This is now their worst run of form in almost three years and in stark contrast to how well they began the season.
With just four wins in the last 22 Premier League away games through, failure to win tonight at Villa Park could see Brighton drop into the bottom half of the table heading into 2025 – it was only a month ago when they looked like top-four contenders.
Team news coming soon . . .
