Enzo Maresca's men had to come from two goals down to simply rescue a point against a visiting team who are staring relegation in the face
Chelsea will end the season without having recorded a win against Ipswich Town after drawing 2-2 with the Tractor Boys on Sunday. The Blues were beaten 2-0 in the reverse fixture and nearly suffered an even grander humiliation on home soil having trailed for much of the game.
The hosts went close to taking the lead inside 10 minutes when Enzo Fernandez's low cross found Nicolas Jackson at the near post, only for the striker's effort to cannon off the upright and away. Noni Madueke then had a volley caress the side-netting, which led to a good portion of the home crowd believing it had gone the right side of the post.
A breathless start continued with Madueke picking out Levi Colwill with an excellent cross, but goalkeeper Alex Palmer was equal to the centre-back's header. Then, totally against the run of play, Ipswich went in front. George Hirst, standing in for Chelsea target Liam Delap, held the ball up well and released Ben Johnson down the right flank, and his cutback met Julio Enciso to finish from close range.
The Tractor Boys thought they had doubled their lead when Johnson headed in a cross at the far post, but the man who supplied it, Jack Clarke, was at first deemed offside. However, a VAR check – with the help of the new semi-automated offside system – deemed he was onside and the goal was belatedly allowed to stand.
Whatever Enzo Maresca said to his team at the interval clearly worked as they pulled one back only 20 seconds into the second half. The lively Madueke was at the heart of another fine move as he scampered to the byline and crossed low for Marc Cucurella, though he was ultimately beaten to the ball by Axel Tuanzebe to turn into his own net.
Chelsea pushed forward for an equaliser and nearly found one when Jadon Sancho's dangerous delivery pierced the six-yard box, where Conor Townsend was waiting to clear in the nick of time. But with little over 10 minutes remaining, Sancho came up with the goods himself, picking out the top corner from 25 yards after the Blues played a corner short.
Both sides went in search of a winner, and a fifth goal of the day nearly went Chelsea's way when Trevoh Chalobah reached a deep cross, only to be thwarted by a Palmer save. Namesake Cole Palmer was then also denied by the Ipswich goalkeeper midway through six minutes of added time.
With one final opening, Chelsea nearly snatched the points as Moises Caicedo's wicked delivery was brought down expertly by Fernandez, and he too was kept out by an inspired Palmer.
GOAL rates Chelsea's players from Stamford Bridge…
AFPGoalkeeper & Defence
Robert Sanchez (5/10):
Hard to put much blame on him for either goal, but the goalkeeper set a sour tone with incredibly poor distribution and looked a bag of nerves throughout.
Trevoh Chalobah (5/10):
Started the match at right-back before having to shuffle into the middle when Adarabioyo was withdrawn. One of the Blues' more competent performers. Saw a header tipped away by Palmer in the dying embers.
Tosin Adarabioyo (4/10):
Failed to deal with the physical threat of Hirst and didn't give Colwill a shout for the run of Enciso leading to Ipswich's opener. Hooked at the break.
Levi Colwill (4/10):
As mentioned, Adarabioyo should maybe have done more to alert Colwill to Enciso's danger, but ultimately his lackadaisical and languid style is what truly allowed the Paraguyan the time to finish so easily. Didn't show a sign of being up for the fight until the second half.
Marc Cucurella (6/10):
Forced an own goal out of Tuanzebe and was one of Chelsea's most threatening outlets. Which, you know, says a lot considering he's a left-back.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportMidfield
Moises Caicedo (5/10):
Broke up play as usual but didn't have anywhere near as much influence on proceedings as he so often has this season.
Enzo Fernandez (6/10):
Spread play with his fine range of passing to try and open a stubborn Ipswich up. The unfortunate part is the attackers weren't on that same wavelength.
Cole Palmer (4/10):
Out of all of Chelsea's stars who played within themselves, the most glaringly obvious was Palmer. So often refused to take risks, too many times he had a weak shot blocked. Grabbed an assist courtesy of Sancho's screamer rather than anything special himself.
AFPAttack
Noni Madueke (6/10):
One of the few Chelsea players who could say they put in a decent shift. A menace down the right and produced a dangerous cross for Tuanzebe's own goal. Sections of Stamford Bridge booed the decision to replace him with Sancho.
Nicolas Jackson (5/10):
The afternoon might have been different had Jackson scored with the game's first chance rather than hitting the post. His presence was subdued once Ipswich took the lead. Taken off at the last for Nkunku.
Pedro Neto (4/10):
Like Palmer, spent a lot of time aimlessly firing shots at a wall of Ipswich defenders. Silenced too when Chelsea had their backs against the walls.
Getty/GOALSubs & Manager
Malo Gusto (6/10):
Having a natural right-back occasionally go up the line proved important to Chelsea trying to find space, as it turned out.
Jadon Sancho (7/10):
Brought the impetus and ingenuity that Chelsea needed to claw their way back into the contest, coming up with a superb goal.
Christopher Nkunku (N/A):
Didn't have enough time to make an impact.
Enzo Maresca (4/10):
Chelsea taking only one point off this Ipswich side all season is an abject failure. They were fortunate to have even got a draw this time round.