Ipswich beat Chelsea to claim first Premier League home win in 22 years
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Liam Delap’s barnstorming display helped Ipswich register a first Premier League home win in 22 years with a memorable 2-0 victory over Chelsea to further damage their faint title prospects. Delap had been tipped for an England debut by former Manchester City Under-23s boss Enzo Maresca ahead of this fixture and proceeded to haunt his ex-boss during a historic occasion at a buoyant Portman Road.
It was Town’s leading scorer Delap who won an early contentious spot-kick, which he fired past Filip Jorgensen in the 12th minute after Chelsea’s back-up goalkeeper had been penalised for minimal contact. The goal gave Kieran McKenna’s team a crucial lead to hold on to and, after Joao Felix had an effort ruled out for offside for the visitors in the 24th minute, the hosts doubled their lead straight after half-time.
Omari Hutchinson made the most of an Axel Disasi error to ensure Ipswich won at home in the top-flight at the 10th time of asking this season – and for the first time since 2002 – to make it three games without a win for Chelsea. Blues boss Maresca shuffled his pack after a shock Boxing Day loss at home to Fulham, with Noni Madueke recalled and Jorgensen given a rare league outing in goal.
Chelsea had beaten the other newly-promoted teams during a recent eight-match winning streak, but Delap highlighted the task at hand by knocking both centre-backs to the floor inside two minutes. It added to an already raucous atmosphere and, not long after Nathan Broadhead was denied, the hosts took the lead through Delap’s penalty.
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