Liam Delap scored in either half and Ollie Watkins continued his productive form with a goal and an assist as Ipswich Town and Aston Villa shared a draw at Portman Road in the Premier League to ensure neither side has been beaten since August.
Forward Delap – signed from Manchester City for an initial £15 million in July – struck the eighth-minute opener before Morgan Rogers fired Villa level following a one-two with Watkins, whose tally of 15 assists in the Premier League since last season is matched only by Chelsea’s Cole Palmer.
Watkins scored his first away goal of the season with a 32nd-minute header from Leon Bailey’s cross but Delap drew Town level after a scintillating run from just inside his own half on the left, entering the penalty area and beating goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez with a lashed finish into the far corner of the net 18 minutes from time.
Ipswich’s fourth consecutive draw leaves them a point clear of third-bottom Crystal Palace in 15th, while Villa remain fifth, two points behind leaders Liverpool.
Delap at the DOUBLE! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/bheqAeoSZA
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 29, 2024
📰 Table Of Contents
Ipswich vs Villa: Delap shines
Villa had scored at least twice in each of their five consecutive wins entering this game, but the absence of captain John McGinn through injury was an obvious concern before Delap continued his impressive start to his Ipswich career by drilling part Martinez at the Argentina international’s near post.
Ipswich had secured a last-gasp point in a 1-1 draw at Southampton last time out but they have developed a habit of scoring early, and their opponents followed when Rogers intercepted a Jacob Greaves clearance and exchanged passes with Watkins before slamming in his side’s equaliser.
Watkins, who had three goals in his previous two Premier League games, scored again as Villa threatened a third consecutive Premier League comeback win, having turned the scoreline around against Everton and Wolves.
Watkins heads in his first away goal of the season! 💥 pic.twitter.com/Ahz1YNnbBf
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 29, 2024
Delap goals
They missed out on drawing level with Liverpool, though, courtesy of a moment of magic from England Under-21 international Delap.
Collecting Omari Hutchinson’s pass and driving forward, Delap had space on the flank to arrow towards goal, performing a flash of trickery to unsettle his markers before crashing in a low drive to give Ipswich a point.
Captain Sam Morsy, who rescued that draw for Ipswich at Southampton, was perhaps a little fortunate to remain on the pitch before his late substitution, his six fouls representing the most by an individual in a Premier League game this season.
Liam Delap opens the scoring! 🔵 pic.twitter.com/sV3BfWphVh
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 29, 2024
Ipswich, Villa fixtures
Morsy and Ipswich will feel their next match, at struggling West Ham on Saturday (3pm BST), is one in which they can realistically target their first win of the season.
Villa host Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday (8pm) and Manchester United in the league on Sunday (2pm).
