Ipswich 2-0 Chelsea: Omari Hutchinson returns to haunt his former club after Liam Delap's early penalty as Enzo Maresca's side slip to second successive defeat
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After all the praise, Enzo Maresca must now take his medicine. For as spirited as Ipswich were in securing their first Premier League home win of the season, Chelsea were equally as culpable. Maresca got away with making wholesale changes for their trip to Southampton, but not this time. Not when Portman Road is this ready to rattle its visitors. Not when Kieran McKenna has his players believing they can pounce on any opponents who underestimate them.
![[Liam Delap had given Ipswich an early lead from the penalty spot at Portman Road]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/30/21/93599037-14237013-image-a-18_1735595670566.jpg)
Maresca named three right backs on his bench and yet chose to use a central defender in Axel Disasi in that position on the pitch. It turned into a Disasi disasterclass as one mad moment from the makeshift full back allowed Omari Hutchinson to confirm this victory in the second half.
![[It was a disappointing night for Enzo Maresca as his side slipped to a second straight defeat]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/30/21/93599051-14237013-image-a-19_1735595702516.jpg)
That followed Filip Jorgensen, who replaced Robert Sanchez in goal, fouling Liam Delap so that he could score from the penalty spot in the first half. Adding to that awkwardness at the back was their lack of ruthless from the front, Cole Palmer striking the post twice and umpteen other opportunities going to waste.
![[Joao Felix had a goal ruled out by VAR and that was as close as Chelsea came to scoring]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/30/21/93599085-14237013-image-a-20_1735595862671.jpg)
The only silver lining for Maresca, if there is one, is he can forget answering questions on the Premier League's title race. He may wish to expect a few on how much harm they are doing to their top-four chances, mind. A draw with Everton, a loss to Fulham, and now this defeat by Ipswich, it has been a week of setbacks.
![[It was a famous night for Kieran McKenna whose side are now just point from safety]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/30/21/93599123-14237013-image-a-21_1735595902930.jpg)
