Ipswich Town 1-1 Fulham: Stuart Watson's verdict

Jumping for joy: Liam Delap celebrates. (Image: Steve Waller)

WHAT A STRIKE! 

Town’s first Premier League goal at Portman Road in 22 years was worth the wait.

First, Leif Davis intercepted a loose ball from Andreas Pereira and drove 30 yards up the field before rolling a pass inside. From there, Liam Delap set off with intent, eating up the space with long powerful strides and shrugging off Pereira’s desperate grabs at his shoulder to get within 25 yards of goal. To strike the ball so cleanly on the run required exceptional balance and technique. Keeper Bernt Leno got a hand on it, but was beaten by pace. The inside of the side-netting bulged as the home crowd bounced. 

A one-man wrecking ball, Delap constantly crashed into and held off sizeable defenders. He might have to inherit Richard Naylor’s ‘Bam Bam’ nickname at this rate. He put a good headed chance wide in the first half, saw a couple more stinging shots blocked in the second half, constantly played on the half turn and almost slipped Chiedozie Ogbene in. What also shouldn’t go unnoticed was that he did a good job of dropping in and marking deep-lying playmaker Sasa Lukic throughout. 

The 21-year-old, who gave Liverpool’s Jarell Quansah a torrid time in the opening weekend, has made an encouraging start to life in the Premier League. If Kieran McKenna can round off his raw edges and fully maximise those explosive qualities then £15m could end up looking a bargain. 

This was a performance, allied with the news that George Hirst is close to being fit again, that certainly lessened any disappointment of not signing a striker on transfer deadline day.  

Leif Davis battles with Fulham winger Adama Traore. (Image: Steve Waller)

THE 12TH MAN 

Once again, Town’s players and fans fed off each other's energy. Each press, tackle, run and shot was greeted by a roar of encouragement.  

That helped in the early stages as the Blues looked to burst out the blocks and set the tone, and it helped in the second half as a winner was chased. Most importantly, it helped when Fulham equalised and threatened to get on top. 

Using that support, and learning some of the game management lessons from the opening two games, Town managed not to unravel and give themselves a platform to go again.

“When Fulham scored, the crowd all start clapping and singing a song and that’s a brilliant boost to have for the players,” said McKenna. 

“It’s going to be hard to keep that over 38 games, over 19 home games, but that’s we’re going to hope for. 

“That’s the support that will give us the best chance. The supporters have had a fantastic part in what we’ve done over the last couple of years and have played a fantastic part in the first couple of games here.” 

Fulham keeper Bernt Leno saves at the feet of Chiedozie Ogbene. (Image: Steve Waller)

DRAW ABOUT RIGHT 

This was an intense, absorbing, physical match that ebbed and flowed. It was fun to watch. 

Ultimately, I think a draw was probably about right. The stats back that up: Possession: 49% -51%, shots 11-9, shots on target 4-4, saves 3-3, aerial duels won 11-12, corners 8-6. 

There were moments in this game where Fulham, a side with plenty of athleticism and quality, were on top.  

There’s no doubting that the Blues looked the more likely to win it in the latter stages though. If Jack Clarke’s curling effort or Omari Hutchinson’s snap shot had gone in during stoppage-time it wouldn’t have been unjust. 

Town skipper Sam Morsy played with passion. (Image: Steve Waller)

BLENDING OLD AND NEW 

Town looked a little disjointed when six players made their debuts at AFC Wimbledon last Wednesday night. McKenna subsequently admitted that it was going to have to be careful when integrating £100m+ of signings into his team. 

This starting XI was a good blend of old and new. Five of them were from last season (Axel Tuanzebe, Luke Woolfenden, Leif Davis, Sam Morsy, Omari Hutchinson) and six were fresh faces (Aro Muric, Jacob Greaves, Kalvin Phillips, Sammie Szmodics, Chiedozie Ogbene and Delap). 

Those who have been part of the back-to-back promotion journey are playing like they’ve got a point to prove. I thought Woolfenden and Morsy were among the top performers.  

There were plenty of encouraging signs from the recent recruits too. Muric moved on from his Man City nightmare to make some smart stops and aerial claims, Greaves was immense in the air once again, Phillips played some delightful forward passes, Ogbene looks well suited to a wing-back style role, Szmodics pressed and lurked on the last line, while I’ve already discussed Delap. 

Omari Hutchinson gets a shot away at goal. (Image: Steve Waller)

OFF THE MARK 

The first Premier League point is on the board. 

This result prevented Ipswich starting the season with four defeats in a row across all competitions. It also means they aren’t in the no points club (current members being Crystal Palace, Everton and Southampton) going into the first international break.

Three games in and Town have gone toe-to-toe with star-studded Liverpool for 60 minutes, scored and shown resilience at four-in-a-row champions Man City and now arguably been the better side against established mid-table outfit Fulham. 

Portman Road is clearly going to be difficult place to come. Town, showing ambition and bravery both on and off the pitch, are clearly not here to make up the numbers.  

Winning these sort of home games will obviously have to happen at some point if the Blues are to beat the drop. I've seen more than enough already to believe that will come.

“Our culture is never about counting points, looking at league tables and setting goals of where we want to finish,” said McKenna. “It’s just about being the best that we can be and working hard every day to improve.  

“We know we’re most people’s favourites to end up in the bottom of the league and Fulham were favourites today coming to our stadium. 

“But we don’t focus on those things. We’re on our own journey. I feel that the group’s improving, they’re coming together as a team and that’s all that I’m focusing on really. The points at the end of the season, they’ll be what they will be.”