Ipswich 2 – 0 Chelsea
After over 22 years, Ipswich Town finally tasted victory in a Premier League match at their home ground.
The last time Ipswich Town won a Premier League game at home, neither Liam Delap nor Omari Hutchinson had been born. It was fitting that these two young forwards, born in 2003, were the heroes who brought back the long-lost joy. Their 2-0 triumph over top-table Chelsea at Portman Road was nothing short of special for Ipswich coach Kieran McKenna.
On Monday night, 21-year-old Delap opened the scoring from the penalty spot before playing a key role in the second-half goal scored by Hutchinson, also 21.
Prior to this, Ipswich’s last home win in the Premier League dated back to April 2002, a 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough. Just a month later, the team faced relegation from England’s top flight, and they hadn’t managed to return until this season.
During Ipswich’s absence, Chelsea claimed five Premier League titles and two Champions League trophies. But on this occasion, Ipswich, sitting in the relegation zone, shocked the fourth-placed Blues to secure a long-awaited home league win—on the final day of 2024, no less. Naturally, coach McKenna was ecstatic about the historic moment.
“The last match of 2024 against Chelsea is incredibly special. This is our greatest achievement.”
This was Ipswich’s third league win of the season, with their previous two victories coming on the road against Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
After starting the campaign winless in their first 10 matches following their return to the Premier League after 22 years, Ipswich has shown signs of life.
With this victory, Ipswich now sits in 18th place on the table with 15 points, just one point behind Wolves in 17th.
