Ipswich Town 2-2 Aston Villa: Delap´s double earns hosts a point

Liam Delap scored twice as Premier League newcomers Ipswich Town claimed a confidence-boosting 2-2 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday.

Villa looked set to forge another comeback win when Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins propelled them into the lead.

But Delap, who had opened the scoring in the eighth minute at Portman Road, had other ideas.

At the end of a rapid counter-attack, Delap brilliantly bamboozled Diego Carlos before firing a left-footed effort into the bottom-right corner in the 72nd minute.

It might have been a hat-trick for Delap if not for Emiliano Martinez, who had made a fantastic save in a one-v-one with Ipswich’s forward in the first half.

Pau Torres preserved a point for Villa with a brilliant last-ditch block from Wes Burns, while both goalkeepers were also called into action – by Ross Barkley and Jack Taylor respectively – late on.

2 – Liam Delap is the first Ipswich Town player to score a brace in a Premier League match since Marcus Bent in March 2002 (v Newcastle), as well as the youngest to do so for the Tractor Boys (21y 234d). Impression. pic.twitter.com/cTwXL4fZK7

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 29, 2024

Data Debrief: Delap’s double delight

Delap became the first Ipswich player to score a double in a Premier League match since Marcus Bent in March 2002 (v Newcastle United), and the youngest to do so in the competition for the Tractor Boys, at the age of 21 years and 234 days.

It was also his first career double in a league match.

At the opposite end, Watkins – who headed in from a Leon Bailey cross after teeing up Rogers’ equaliser – continued his fine form in front of goal. The England striker has now scored and assisted in eight Premier League matches in his career, which is the joint-most of any player for Villa (matching Dwight Yorke and Gabriel Agbonlahor).