Liam Delap double helps Ipswich Town draw with Aston Villa

LONDON – Ipswich Town played a fourth straight English Premier League draw after they held Aston Villa 2-2 on Sept 29 at Portman Road, where Liam Delap opened the scoring for the hosts before grabbing the equaliser in the second half.

Delap told Sky Sports: “We showed what we are about from minute one and we created so many chances... We probably deserved the win after the second-half performance. I think it’s the fourth time we’ve got something from a game, so we are happy.”

Teammate Kalvin Phillips added: “It was a good point and I feel like we dominated in the second half.

“We really took it to them and they really struggled to deal with us and we were unlucky not to score at the end.”

Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins scored for Villa in the first half before Delap grabbed his second, but neither side could find a winner as promoted Ipswich continue to wait for a first win on their return to the Premier League.

Villa missed the chance to go level on points with leaders Liverpool as Unai Emery’s side are in fifth place on 13 points – behind Chelsea on goal difference – while Ipswich are 15th with four points.

Despite that, the Villans’ haul after six league games is the most they have registered at this stage of a Premier League season since 2008-09 (also 13).

Ipswich took the lead in the eighth minute when Villa failed to clear and Jack Clarke cut the ball back for Delap, whose first-time shot slipped through goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez’s glove, even though he had the near post covered.

But Villa responded seven minutes later when Jacob Greaves gave the ball away in a poor clearance, with Rogers picking it up in the box and playing a one-two with Watkins before firing in the equaliser.

Portman Road was quickly silenced soon after, as Leon Bailey whipped in a cross that took out both Ipswich centre-backs and Watkins made it 2-1 with a header for his fourth goal of the season.

Said Watkins: “They always put a lot of pressure on us and we couldn’t really implement our game plan.

“Ipswich were always on to us and it was a bit of a basketball game, which is what they wanted but we didn’t. It was a difficult game and I think a point is a fair result.”

His manager Emery agreed, saying: “It was a pretty good match and I think the draw was fair.

“We were better in the first half, the second half we lost our concentration and the consequences happened because they scored and they could have scored one more.”

Ipswich had two glorious opportunities to level, but Martinez came to Villa’s rescue when he palmed away a Phillips rocket before sticking a leg out to deny Delap when he was clean through on goal.

The second half was not as chaotic as the first, as the two teams played with more composure.

Ipswich equalised on a counter-attack after 72 minutes, however, when Delap beat the offside trap and got the better of defender Diego Carlos with a sublime step-over before beating Martinez.

Said Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna: “It was another good day for Liam Delap... I still don’t think fitness-wise he is anywhere near the level he can get to after a big injury at the end of last season.

“The impact he has had and all-round play, and to have so much growth left in him, we are really happy to have him.”

At 21 years and 234 days, Delap is the youngest Tractor Boy to bag a Premier League brace and the first to do it since Marcus Bent in March 2002 against Newcastle United.

Former Australia and Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer said on the BBC: “Villa struggled with Liam Delap. He bullied them all game and his run down the left side when he scored the second goal was excellent.”

Former England and Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp agreed, saying on Sky Sports: “Delap terrorised (Diego) Carlos. He looks a real snip at £20 million (S$34.2 million) from Manchester City.” REUTERS