Aston Villa missed the opportunity to move into second place in the Premier League as Liam Delap’s brace salvaged a 2-2 draw for Ipswich at Portman Road on Sunday.
Unai Emery’s side initially fell behind to Delap’s early goal but rallied to take the lead before half-time, with strikes from Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins. However, Delap, the promising 21-year-old signed from Manchester City in the close season, equalized after the break.
This result was disappointing for Villa, who had traveled to Suffolk aiming to draw level on points with league leaders Liverpool. Instead, they now sit in fifth place, two points behind the Reds, as their five-match winning streak across all competitions came to an end.
Villa will seek to rebound in their upcoming Champions League clash against Bayern Munich on Wednesday, a rematch of the famous 1982 final that Villa won.
Ipswich, promoted to the top flight, are still looking for their first victory since April 2002, but this match marked another promising performance, with the team now having drawn four times in six league games.
Villa has started strong in their quest to replicate last season’s surprising fourth-place finish, but maintaining that momentum proved challenging against a resilient Ipswich side.
Kieran McKenna’s team opened the scoring with a well-executed attack just eight minutes into the match. Delap showcased his finishing skills, converting Jack Clarke’s pass with a low shot that slipped past Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who made a weak attempt to save it at his near post.
Villa responded quickly, leveling the score in the 15th minute. Jacob Greaves’ mishit clearance inside his own area was intercepted by Rogers, who capitalized on the mistake with a powerful finish that rocketed past Arijanet Muric from 10 yards.
Ipswich had chances to regain the lead, with headers from Axel Tuanzebe and Clarke both coming close, but neither could find the target.
Watkins put Villa ahead in the 32nd minute, rising above the defense to connect with Leon Bailey’s pinpoint cross and deliver a clinical close-range header. This marked Watkins’ fourth goal in his last four matches across all competitions.
However, Ipswich nearly equalized just moments later. Kalvin Phillips unleashed a ferocious long-range drive that had Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez scrambling to push the ball away for a corner. After receiving a two-match ban from Argentina for offensive behavior during international duty, Martinez was determined to restore his tarnished reputation.
The 32-year-old made another crucial stop, sticking out his foot to block a shot from Delap as the forward broke through on goal. Despite their solid record—unbeaten in their last nine league matches when leading at half-time—Villa was denied a third goal early in the second half when Muric rushed off his line to head clear from Watkins.
Ipswich captain Sam Morsy was fortunate to escape a second booking for a crude foul on Jaden Philogene, despite Villa’s protests. Nevertheless, Delap leveled the match in the 72nd minute. Cutting in from the left flank, Delap showcased his pace and poise, leaving Villa defender Ezri Konsa trailing as he glided into the area and planted a fine finish into the far corner.
