Raul Jimenez scored two second-half penalties as Fulham twice came from behind to deny Ipswich Town a win that would have taken them out of the Premier League relegation zone at Craven Cottage – but the striker said the result was “two lost points”.
Jimenez initially brought Fulham level in the 69th minute after Harry Wilson was adjudged to have been fouled by Sam Morsy following a pitchside monitor check by refere Darren Bond.
Ipswich, who had led through Sammie Szmodics’s 38th-minute strike from inside the box, restored their lead almost immediately through Liam Delap’s spot kick for his seventh goal of the season, awarded for a challenge on the forward by Timothy Castagne.
Fulham secured a point through Jimenez’s impressively cool penalty a minute from the end of regular time, converting after Leif Davis had brought him down to extend their unbeaten run to eight games, including four successive home draws.
What a second-half this has been! 😨
Raúl Jiménez scores AGAIN from the spot for Fulham ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/kLf0RN8sfR
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 5, 2025
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Jimenez: Fulham ‘need to keep improving’
“We need to look forward and go again,” said Jimenez, telling Sky Sports that the result was “really bad” despite scoring his ninth goal of the campaign.
“We need to start doing it from the beginning [of games] – scoring first and not being behind during the last minutes. We need to keep improving in 2025. I’m happy to be scoring but, to be winning games, we need to keep [clean sheets].”
Sammie Szmodics fires Ipswich ahead 🚜 pic.twitter.com/QhKJxou0ii
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 5, 2025
Matters almost worsened for Fulham 25 seconds before Jimenez’s second goal, when Jack Clarke’s shot hit a post for Ipswich.
The sides also traded chances in quick succession before the Mexico international first struck, Emile Smith Rowe spurning a close-range header for the hosts before Bernd Leno dived to palm Nathan Broadhead’s fierce long-range effort away at the other end.
Raúl Jiménez scores from the spot for Fulham! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/58bBGeIdB1
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 5, 2025
McKenna ‘proud’ of Ipswich
“When you lead twice, you always feel a little bit disappointed not to win,” Tractor Boys manager Kieran McKenna acknowledged.
“I’m so proud of the way we played. We had some chances to get a two-goal margin but weren’t able to take them. We had to defend a lot and we managed the second half well.”
A stunning penalty from Liam Delap puts Ipswich back in front! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/F66sKlT5j3
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 5, 2025
Ninth-placed Fulham are two points behind Aston Villa and two ahead of Brighton & Hove Albion, while Ipswich are behind fourth-bottom Wolves on goal difference and a point shy of Everton, although both of those sides have a game more than them to play.
Fulham are at home to Championship club Watford in the FA Cup third round on Thursday (7.45pm GMT). Ipswich host third-tier Bristol Rovers in the competition on Sunday (3pm).
