Premier League match report: Ipswich Town 1-1 Fulham

The Blues stunned their opponents early on as Liam Delap rifled a strike into the top corner from distance, but they were pegged back later on in the first half as Adama Traore fired home from close range.

The hosts had the better of the chances after the break but couldn't find the winner they were looking for, although the performance gave those in attendance a lot of optimism for the rest of the campaign.

Town started the match with a real intensity, one which was only halted briefly in the opening stages when Leif Davis ran into Traore, sending the Town left-back crashing to the floor. The Blues won the opening corner of the match soon after, with Bernd Leno forced to claw Jacob Greaves’ looping header off the line.

The Blues were a regular threat from set pieces (Image: Steve Waller)

Fulham started to turn the tide. Traore got the better of Davis down Ipswich’s left but was unable to set up a team-mate. The Cottagers kept delivering dangerous balls into the box, but they couldn’t quite find the space to create anything of note in the opening 10 minutes.

A powerful goal kick from Arijanet Muric in the 11th minute saw Omari Hutchinson judge the bounce of the ball before beating his man and breaking forward. He had space to take aim but ended up cutting inside and rolling it into the gloves of Leno.

Liam Delap's early screamer put Town 1-0 up (Image: Steve Waller)

Fulham were able to maintain pressure for a period but crumbled as Town’s counterpress saw them launch up the field via Davis. He played it centrally to Delap, who shrugged off his man before rifling a stunning strike into the top left corner from more than 20 yards out, putting his side ahead after 15 minutes.

A corner in the 19th minute saw the striker head just wide of the Fulham goal. The visitors tried to play out from the back, but Hutchinson chased down the ball and forced it out of play.

The Cottagers had a lengthy period of possession around the half-hour mark, but they struggled to really create anything of note until forcing an overload down their left flank in the 32nd minute. That saw Antonee Robinson find space to pick out Traore in the middle, allowing the powerful winger to equalise with a first-time finish.

Adama Traore equalised for Fulham before the half-time break (Image: Steve Waller)

They came again just a few seconds later. Traore’s looping cross flew over Luke Woolfenden and landed on the head of Rodrigo Muniz, but his low effort was held by Muric.

There were clearly some teething issues in Town’s team, which is understandable for a group making such a big step up to play in the Premier League. Axel Tuanzebe was caught on the ball as Fulham pushed forward, forcing Sam Morsy to foul Muniz. The skipper voiced his frustration to the former Manchester United as he received a yellow card from referee Lewis Smith, the first of the game.

The Blues managed to find some space to break down the left as Hutchinson picked out Davis in the 38th minute. A low cross into the box forced Calvin Bassey to turn the ball behind for a corner, but it was played straight out of play by the left-back.

The Cottagers dominated possession in the first half (Image: Steve Waller)

They came again a couple of minutes later. A long ball played onto the head of Ogbene saw him test Leno before Szmodics scooped the rebound over the crossbar. His blushes were spared, however, as the flag was raised for offside.

The second half picked up where the first left off, with plenty of intensity and end-to-end play. A surging run from Delap saw Sasa Lukic hack him down within five minutes of the restart, picking up a yellow card. Traore was penalised for a foul on Davis a few seconds later, but Ipswich couldn't capitalise from the resulting free-kick.

Everything started to click into place for them. Crisp build-up play saw Hutchinson and Morsy combine, allowing the latter to curl a cross into the box which Delap had to hold up. He used his strength to turn and take aim, forcing Leno to palm it away before Szmodics could get to the rebound.

Ipswich managed to stand toe-to-toe with their opponents in the physical battle (Image: Steve Waller)

They continued to ramp up the pressure, with Fulham getting agitated and committing fouls in dangerous areas. Town matched their physicality but were clever in the right moments, breaking down the right as Robinson was forced to bring down Ogbene just before the hour-mark, picking up a booking. Davis took aim from the free-kick but it smacked the wall and deflected out of play.

Fulham, as an established Premier League side, always have the ability to create something from nothing. A looping cross flew over the head of Tuanzebe in the 65th minute, allowing Traore to hold the ball and set up Smith Rowe, who curled an effort off Greaves and out for a corner.

Ipswich dealt with it well, but the ball was only cleared out as far as the former Arsenal winger, who saw a powerful effort blocked once again.

The hosts were frustrated by their missed chances early in the second half (Image: Steve Waller)

A quick break in the 68th minute saw Hutchinson pick out Ogbene with a superb through ball, but Leno beat him to it before he could take aim. Looking to keep the momentum, Kieran McKenna introduced fresh legs in midfield, bringing on Jens Cajuste for Kalvin Phillips.

Marco Silva responded with a change of his own, taking off Smith Rowe and bringing on towering midfielder Sander Berge. That saw Andreas Pereira move into a more advanced role, allowing him to get Fulham further up the pitch.

Further reinforcements were soon brought on. Jack Clarke, making his Premier League debut, was presented with an opportunity to cut inside and curl a shot at goal late on, but he couldn't quite test Leno in the Fulham goal.

They threw everyone forward in stoppage time, with five minutes added on. Hutchinson turned inside the box to force a good close-range save from Leno. It proved to be the last real chance of the match, a performance that proved what the Blues are capable of at the top level.

Town XI: 3-4-2-1: Muric; Tuanzebe, Woolfenden, Greaves; Ogbene (Chaplin 88'), Morsy, Phillips (Cajuste 71'); Davis; Hutchinson, Szmodics (J. Clarke 81'); Delap (Al-Hamadi 81')

Fulham XI: 4-2-3-1: Leno; Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Lukic (Reed 87'), Pereira (Cairney 87'); Traore, Smith Rowe (Berge 72'), Iwobi (Wilson 87'); Muniz (Jimenez 79')

Attendance: 29,517 (2,952)