Ipswich Town played out a 2-2 draw with high-flying Fulham to kick off 2025.

The Blues went ahead in the latter stages of the first half through Sammie Szmodics, but Raul Jimenez equalised from the spot after the break. The Blues were given a penalty of their own just a few seconds later, which Liam Delap converted, but Jimenez won and scored the third spot-kick of the game right at the death, equalising for his side once again.

With the rain hammering down in West London, Delap got to work straight away, barging into Sasa Lukic straight from kick-off. There was no real malice in the charge, but play had to be stopped as the midfielder went down holding his head.

Christian Walton kept his place in goal ahead of Aro Muric (Image: Ross Halls)

It slowed the momentum of the game a bit, with both sides finding space in attacking areas but struggling to create clear chances.

A free-kick in the ninth minute presented Ipswich with a good opportunity. Lukic gave away the foul after some good work from Delap to hold the ball up, allowing Sam Morsy so flick it into the box. Dara O’Shea and Leif Davis combined down the left to keep it in play, with the latter delivering it back into the centre, where Szmodics was unable to get a touch to turn it into the back of the net.

Christian Walton was the first of the two goalkeepers to be forced into a save, which came after an extended spell of Fulham possession with little in the way of clear-cut chances In the 21st minute, Tom Cairney whipped a cross from the left onto the head of Raul Jimenez, forcing Ipswich’s shot-stopper into a low save.

Ipswich struggled for possession before the half-time break (Image: Ross Halls)

It gave the Cottagers some confidence, and they thought that Town should have been down to 10 men after Harry Wilson was brought down by Leif Davis on the counter. Referee Darren Bond decided that the left-back wasn’t the last man, however, giving him a yellow card.

They kept turning the screw, aside from a brief spell where Ipswich eased the pressure with a corner up the other end. A quick one-two between Antonee Robinson and Wilson allowed the former to try and set up Wilson in the 36th minute, but he went down under pressure from Ben Johnson before the offside flag was raised.

Yet somehow, totally against the run of play, Ipswich took the lead with 38 minutes on the clock. Delap worked hard to carry the ball up the left flank, turning to set up Nathan Broadhead, who crossed it towards the head of Ben Johnson.

Sammie Szmodics scored late in the first half to put Town 1-0 up (Image: Ross Halls)

Robinson looked to beat him to the header, directing the ball off his own crossbar before Szmodics rushed in to fire the rebound into the net, putting his side 1-0 up.

The Republic of Ireland international came close to his second goal just three minutes into the second half. Broadhead was able to play Davis down the left flank, with the left-back threading the ball into the box for Szmodics, who couldn't make contact as he scuffed his shot and Fulham cleared.

The hosts tried to pick up where they left off, but their end product wasn't sharp enough to really test Walton. Ipswich's defenders dealt with the crosses well. Alex Iwobi's wayward strike on the hour-mark summed up their afternoon.

Raul Jimenez equalised from the spot after a VAR check (Image: PA)

After substitute Emile Smith Rowe headed wide from close range, Ipswich rushed up the other end and came inches away from scoring in the 65th minute. Broadhead's powerful strike was palmed away by Bernd Leno before Fulham cleared the resulting corner.

Marco Silva's side were handed a way back into the game in the 69th minute as Sam Morsy caught Harry Wilson inside the box. It seemed a clear penalty, but referee Darren Bond initially awarded a goal kick before being sent to the screen. He changed his mind, allowing Jimenez to step up and equalise with a low strike.

But Ipswich went at them immediately as Broadhead played Delap into the box. Castagne made contact with the striker as the referee immediately pointed to the spot again, awarding the visitors a penalty of their own in the 71st minute - two minutes and 44 seconds after Fulham's.

Liam Delap put Town back ahead with a penalty (Image: PA)

Delap stepped up to take it, firing past Leno for his eighth goal of the campaign.

The Cottagers had chances. Jimenez's header from a free-kick flew just wide of the target. Their approach stayed the same, but they tried to pack the box with more bodies.

Ipswich almost killed the game off in the 89th minute as substitute Jack Clarke surged forward, cut inside and hit the post. However, Fulham countered up the other end and won the third penalty of the match as Jimenez was brought down by Davis.

Jimenez converted the third spot-kick of the game to make it 2-2 late on (Image: PA)

The Mexican stepped up once again, firing into the top right corner to make it 2-2 at the death as Town were forced to settle for a point.

Fulham XI: 3-4-3: Leno; Diop (Smith Rowe 46'), Andersen, Bassey; Castagne, Lukic (Traore 79'), Cairney (Pereira 63'), Robinson; Wilson, Jimenez, Iwobi (Muniz 63')

Town XI: 3-4-2-1: Walton; O’Shea, Woolfenden, Greaves; Johnson (Burns 80'), Morsy, Cajuste (Phillips 73'), Davis; Szmodics (Taylor 73'); Broadhead (J. Clarke 80'); Delap (Al-Hamadi 88')

Attendance: 27,042