Liam Delap scores twice as Ipswich deny Aston Villa chance to go joint top
Ipswich 2-2 Aston Villa: Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers put Villa ahead after Delap’s early opener
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A fine brace by Liam Delap earned Ipswich Town a fourth consecutive draw and denied Aston Villa the chance to go joint top of the Premier League.
Villa looked set to warm up for Wednesday’s visit of Bayern Munich in the Champions League with another comeback victory after first-half efforts by Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins cancelled out Delap’s opener.
Kieran McKenna’s newly promoted team had other ideas with Delap’s superb 72nd-minute solo effort enough to ensure the spoils were shared after an entertaining 2-2 draw at Portman Road.
This fixture renewed the rivalry from 1981 when both clubs battled for the First Division title and while Villa were back in the big time in midweek, they conceded after eight minutes at Portman Road.
Ipswich struck with their first attack as after Sam Morsy’s shot hit Omari Hutchinson, the fit-again Kalvin Phillips picked up possession and glided into the area before he found Jack Clarke, who cut back for Delap to fire home.
Emi Martinez, made captain in the absence of John McGinn, got a hand to Delap’s low effort but could only push it onto the post and it rolled over the line.
Home celebrations did not last long as Villa levelled in the 15th minute after a gift from Ipswich defender Jacob Greaves.
Graves won back possession but his left-footed clearance only went as far as Rogers, who exchanged passes with Watkins inside the area before he rifled in for his first goal of the season.
After Rogers celebrated with a nod to ex-Manchester City team-mate Cole Palmer, Ipswich responded with an Axel Tuanzebe effort followed by a great chance for Clarke, who headed a superb Leif Davis cross over the crossbar.
Villa punished that profligacy in the 32nd minute when they worked the ball out wide to Leon Bailey on the right and he produced a wonderful delivery for Watkins to head in from close range.
Again newly promoted Town bounced back with a Phillips piledriver pushed wide by Martinez after another dangerous set-piece.
The golden chance for the hosts arrived after 38 minutes when Davis played through to Delap after a smart dummy by Clarke, but Martinez stuck out a boot to deny the Ipswich forward a second goal.
After an end-to-end first half, the second period started at a more pedestrian pace and Unai Emery turned to super-sub Jhon Duran with 26 minutes left.
McKenna made his first move not long after left-back Davis fired wide with Jack Taylor and Wes Burns sent on, which was followed by a brilliant Ipswich equaliser in the 72nd minute.
Substitute Taylor played into Hutchinson after a Villa move broke down and he found Delap, who raced at Diego Carlos and dribbled into the area before he lashed beyond Martinez.
The sublime breakaway effort was almost repeated with nine minutes left when Clarke carried the ball and played through to Burns, but Pau Torres made a crucial block.
Ex-Norwich attacker Emiliano Buendia was introduced by Emery, but sent a free-kick over before Villa survived a late flurry of Ipswich corners as the points were shared.
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