Premier League - Sunday 05th January 2025, 2:00 PM
Fulham2
(0)
-
(1)
2
Ipswich
Attendance: 27042
Referee: Darren Bond (Lancashire)
Match events
27
Delap (f)
38
Szmodics
39
Broadhead (f)
Smith Rowe
45
Diop
45
Pereira
63
Cairney
63
Muniz
63
Iwobi
63
66
O'Shea (f)
68
Morsy (f)
Jimenez (pen)
69
71
Delap (pen)
73
Taylor
73
Szmodics
73
Phillips
73
Cajuste
78
Johnson (f)
Traoré
79
Lukic
79
80
Clarke
80
Broadhead
80
Burns
80
Johnson
Jimenez (pen)
91
Pereira (f)
93
Match review
Match Report
Fulham (0) 2-2 (1) Ipswich Town
Premier League Match Day 20 24/25 at Craven Cottage
Sunday 5th January 2025 KO: 14:00
Referee:
Darren Bond (Lancashire)
Live on SkySports
|
Fulham began 2025 with a point at Craven Cottage, drawing 2-2 with Ipswich Town.
Despite a largely controlled first-half display, the Tractor Boys went into the interval with the advantage as Sammie Szmodics punished a defensive error.
The second period was a story of three penalties. Raúl Jimenez got Fulham back on level terms from 12 yards, only for Liam Delap to convert down the other end 60 seconds later. But Jimenez rescued a point for Fulham in stoppage-time to make it eight Premier League games undefeated.
Fulham nearly took the lead in extraordinary circumstances as Tom Cairney’s overhit cross almost turned into a wonder goal, leaving Christian Walton panicking as the ball landed on top of his net.
Plenty of pressure followed, but Walton wasn’t forced into action until the 20th minute, but it was a fine reaction save to deny Jimenez’s powerful header from a curling Cairney cross.
Harry Wilson threatened to race through on goal when he was deliberately dragged down by Leif Davis outside the box, but Darren Bond opted to show the Ipswich defender just a yellow card, much to the home crowd’s frustration.
Against the run of play, it was Ipswich who took the lead shortly before the interval. Ben Johnson’s thunderous header at the back post bounced back off the crossbar and Calvin Bassey wasn’t able to clear his lines when the ball fell at his feet. The defender was only able to kick it as far as Szmodics, who was lurking inside the box, and he rifled a shot home from eight yards.
| Match Stats |
Fulham |
Ipswich |
| Goals |
(0) 2 |
2 (1) |
|
| Scorers |
Jimenez pen 69 |
Szmodics 38 |
| Scorers |
Jimenez pen 91 |
Delap pen 71 |
| |
| Goal attempts |
15 |
7 |
| On target |
4 |
3 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
27% |
43% |
| Possession |
73% |
27% |
| Passes |
595 |
191 |
| Passes Success |
88% |
76% |
| Corners |
9 |
2 |
| Tackles |
15 |
11 |
| Tackles Success |
53% |
55% |
| Saves |
1 |
2 |
| Fouls |
10 |
14 |
| Offsides |
0 |
1 |
| Yellows |
1 |
5 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
|
source: SkySports |
While Fulham dominated the ball in the early stages of the second period, the Tractor Boys continued to frustrate Marco Silva’s side. It took until the hour mark for our first chance of the half to arrive, but Alex Iwobi’s left-footed strike from a tight angle was high and wide.
Opportunities then began to arrive with more regularity as Emile Smith Rowe couldn’t quite guide his back post header into the bottom corner following a teasing cross from the right.
Despite the ball almost constantly being in the Ipswich half up to this point, Leno had to make sure he was alert to keep out Nathan Broadhead’s powerful volley following smart play from Delap.
Wilson was fouled for the second time in the game in the 65th minute, left tumbling in the box from a clumsy foul from Sam Morsy. Bond didn’t initially award a penalty, but after a VAR review, a spot kick was given.
Jimenez made no mistake from 12 yards, calmly slotting the ball past Walton to hand Fulham a route back into the game.
Just 60 seconds later, a penalty was awarded at the other end, with Delap adjudged to have been fouled by Timothy Castagne. Delap’s penalty was emphatic, rocketing the ball into the right side of the net from the spot.
As Fulham searched for an equaliser, Jimenez watched another header whistle narrowly wide as he rose highest to meet Antonee Robinson’s free-kick.
Jimenez was to have the final say in the contest though as yet another penalty was awarded with a minute of normal time to play. After being tripped by Davis,
Jimenez found the back of the net from 12 yards again, sending Walton the wrong way with an unstoppable spot kick.
Fulham boss Marco Silva told Sky Sports:
"It was a great performance by Raul Jimenez. He showed the character and the calmness.
"There are many positives I take from the game. In some moments we cannot concede like we did and we have been punished by some mistakes.
"Everybody can talk about European hopes. I prefer our team to speak on the pitch. If you want to be fighting you have to be much more ruthless and aggressive."
Fulham: Leno, Diop (Smith Rowe 45), Andersen, Bassey, Castagne, Lukic (Traore 79), Cairney (Pereira 63), Robinson, Wilson, Jimenez, Iwobi (Muniz 63)
Unused substitutes: Cuenca, Benda, King, Sessegnon, Godo
Goals:
Raul Jimenez pen 69 (Raul Jimenez converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.)
Raul Jimenez pen 91 (Raul Jimenez converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top right corner.)
Yellow Card: Pereira (9,f)
Ipswich Town: Walton, Johnson (Burns 80), O'Shea, Woolfenden, Greaves, Davis, Szmodics (Taylor 73), Morsy, Cajuste (Phillips 73), Broadhead (J. Clarke 80), Delap (Al-Hamadi 88)
Unused substitutes: Muric, Harry Clarke, Taylor, Burgess, Townsend
Goals:
Szmodics 38 (They're playing more in the Fulham half, and now they've breached the Fulham goal!
Broadhead's initial cross is nodded against the bar by Johnson ahead of Robinson at the back post, before Bassey's sliced clearance falls for the recalled Szmodics, whose effort deflects off him and wrong-foots Leno at his near post.
Marco Silva can't believe it, but Fulham have gone off the boil in the last few minutes and been made to pay.)
Liam Delap pen 71 (Liam Delap (Ipswich Town) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.)
Yellow Card: Delap (27,f), Broadhead (39,f), O'Shea (66,f), Morsy (68,f), Johnson (78,f)
Referee:
Darren Bond (Lancashire)
Attendance: 0
Fulham are next in action on Thursday the 9th January 2025 19.45, at home, against Watford in the
3rd Round of the FA Cup.