Wolves leave Ipswich on the brink
Ipswich Town 1 - 2 Wolves
Wolves moved a step closer to securing their Premier League status with a hard-fought 2-1 comeback win over Ipswich Town at Portman Road, leaving the hosts in serious danger of relegation to the Championship.
Second-half goals from Jørgen Strand Larsen and Pablo Sarabia overturned Liam Delap’s early opener, deepening the troubles for Kieran McKenna’s side. Ipswich remain third from bottom and now sit 12 points from safety with just seven matches left to play.
Victory for Wolves, who have now won three league games in a row, means they are almost certain to avoid the drop with 21 points still available.
Ipswich made a promising start and went ahead after 16 minutes. Liam Delap scored his 12th goal of the season, reacting quickly to finish from Dara O'Shea’s knockdown inside the box.
The goal gave Ipswich early momentum, but their composure soon faded. Goalkeeper Alex Palmer nearly handed Wolves a gift when he misjudged a backpass from O'Shea, only just recovering in time to stop the ball crossing the line.
Wolves were then awarded an indirect free-kick from six yards out, but Sam Morsy charged down Emmanuel Agbadou’s shot to keep the scores level.
The home side began to lose their grip on the match after the break. João Gomes struck the post and Wolves continued to apply pressure as Ipswich struggled to regain control.
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The equaliser arrived in the 72nd minute. After a slick passing move, Sarabia guided a low shot into the far corner, finishing off a well-constructed attack involving Strand Larsen.
With Ipswich retreating deeper, Wolves found the winner six minutes from time. Sarabia turned provider, crossing for Strand Larsen to force the ball over the line for his fourth goal in three consecutive matches.
The result leaves Ipswich in deep trouble and now requiring a near-perfect run-in to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.
Best reaction
It was the same old story for Ipswich and their fans. They played ok at times but didn't get over the line and earn at least a point.
Despite that league position, there was still a fantastic atmosphere at Portman Road. Watch the video below for a flavour of what it was like.
We've spoken with a number of fans on different social media platforms who all gave their assessment of the situation.
William said: "The slim hope of a great escape has probably gone now. Most realistic Ipswich Town fans are beginning to accept that we’re heading back to the Championship. The focus now should be on finishing the season with a bit of pride. Without the pressure of survival hanging over us, maybe we can play with more freedom and pick up a few points before it’s over. Going down fighting would at least give supporters something to hold onto."
Ben commented: "Sadly, it was another frustratingly familiar watch. The players put in plenty of effort, but there was no real quality when it came to moving the ball forward. You can see how much we’ve struggled without top-flight experience. It raises questions about how any promoted side can genuinely compete in the Premier League without major investment."
Terry added: "We started well in the first half, but once Wolves got on top there was no reaction. We lacked any cutting edge going forward after the break. When the equaliser went in, you could sense the belief drain from the team. There just didn’t seem to be any confidence that we could turn it around."
