Chelsea suffer shock defeat at Ipswich

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Ipswich 2-0 Chelsea

Chelsea ended 2024 with a shock defeat away to Ipswich Town.

Liam Delap and former Blues youngster Omari Hutchinson scored the goals as the Tractor Boys secured their first home win in the Premier League since April 2002.

But Enzo Maresca will feel his side should have taken something from the game, having dominated possession and missed a number of big opportunities.

Delap opened the scoring from the penalty spot early on, after he was caught inside the box by Filip Jorgensen.

Minimal contact from the goalkeeper, making just his second Premier League start, was enough to send the striker to the ground. Delap dusted himself off, and smashed his spot-kick into the bottom corner.

Chelsea threatened a quick equaliser, when Cole Palmer curled a free-kick off the post and Christoper Nkunku’s rebound from close range was saved by Christian Walton.

Joao Felix then put the ball into the net with a smart finish before the half-hour mark, but was judged offside after a lengthy VAR check, and Palmer saw another shot tipped onto the crossbar by the Ipswich goalkeeper.

While Chelsea dominated the ball, the hosts found success on the counter, and Delap forced Jorgensen into two important first-half saves.

The frustration continued for the visitors after the break, when Ipswich doubled their lead in the 53rd minute, having cleared a Felix header off the line moments earlier.

Axel Disasi gave the ball away to Delap on the halfway line, and he burst forward before passing back to Omari Hutchinson, who finished well against his old club.

For all their possession, Chelsea faded as the second half went on and substitutes Nicolas Jackson, Jadon Sancho and Pedro Neto all failed to seriously test Walton in the final 20 minutes.

The Blues missed the chance to finish 2024 second in the table, and instead will go into the new year in fourth.

Chelsea: Jorgensen, Disasi (Gusto 78), Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez, Madueke (Neto 78), Palmer, Felix (Jackson 55), Nkunku (Sancho 65).