Ipswich 1-1 Fulham: Liam Delap strike earns first Premier League point for Kieran McKenna's Ipswich

Report and free match highlights as Liam Delap's long-range strike earned Ipswich their first point of the Premier League season; Adama Traore struck back later in the first half for Fulham; Marco Silva's side take four points into the international break

By Jonny Coffey

Saturday 31 August 2024 18:45, UK

Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich earned their first Premier League point of the season as they drew 1-1 with Fulham at Portman Road.

The hosts started brightly, disrupting Fulham with their high press and showing real purpose in their attacking play, and Liam Delap opened the scoring in the 15th minute when he received the ball deep in the visitors' half and drove towards the edge of the box before letting fly and finding the top left corner via a touch from Bernd Leno.

Ipswich continued to threaten after the goal, but the game slowly swung in the visitors' favour and Adama Traore netted the equaliser with 31 minutes played. Alex Iwobi released Antonee Robinson down the left-wing, and the fullback's whipped cross made its way to Traore at the back post, who guided it into the bottom of Arijanet Muric's goal.

The second period lacked the intensity of the first as both sides struggled to craft anything clear-cut. Delap continued to impress and forced Leno into a good save as he swivelled and shot inside the Fulham box.

Emile Smith Rowe then came close to scoring in consecutive Premier League games, but a decisive block from Jacob Greaves prevented his 65th-minute effort from finding the net.

Strong defensive play at both ends maintained parity until the final whistle, with Leno reacting sharply to deny Omari Hutchinson in stoppage time.

Kalvin Phillips made his first Premier League start for his new side, while Sander Berge enjoyed his Premier League debut for Fulham after being introduced from the bench.

Player Ratings

Ipswich: Muric (7); Tuanzebe (6), Woolfenden (6), Greaves (8), Davis (6); Morsy (5), Phillips (6), Ogbene (6); Szmodics (6), Hutchinson (6), Delap (9)

Subs: Cajuste (5), Clarke (8), Al-Hamadi (5), Chaplin (n/a)

Fulham: Leno (8); Tete (7), Diop (7), Bassey (7), Robinson (8); Pereira (6), Lukic (6), Smith-Rowe (5); Traore (8), Muniz (5), Iwobi (7)

Subs: Berge (5), Jiménez (7), Wilson (n/a), Cairney (n/a), Reed (n/a)

Player of the Match: Liam Delap (Ipswich)

McKenna excited by Delap progression

Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna:

"It was a great moment [Delap's goal], wasn't it?

"It's his first goal for the club and the club's first Premier League goal at Portman Road for 22 years. I enjoyed his all-round performance, each week he's getting stronger, he's learning, he's got great growth to come.

"He's got great potential, we have real faith in Liam and we are enjoying working with him."

On Ipswich's overall performance:

"I think the players have come away from the first three games with more belief to be honest.

"It was a good solid performance from us which showed the growth in the team. We were competitive and had the better of the second half and were the more likely team to win against an established Premier League team.

"To produce a performance as well-organised, coordinated and with good spirit and qualities, it was a positive sign."