Ipswich Town ran out 3-2 winners away at ten-man Crystal Palace to secure their second win of the Premier League season.
A last-minute winner from new signing Zian Flemming tipped the game in the Tractor Boys’ favour as they moved up to the heady heights of seventh in the early standings.
Gary O’Neil’s side fell behind early on at Selhurst Park when Anan Khalaili drove a fierce shot from inside the box past Kjell Scherpen in the Ipswich goal, although replays showed it took a slight nick on its way in off Leif Davis.
Davis was then involved down the other end when he put in a superb, whipped centre that Emersonn headed into the goal almost unopposed. The striker had acres of space and although Palace appealed for offside, a VAR check confirmed he was on side.
The game’s turning point then came just after the half-hour mark when Axel Disasi was shown a straight red card for a nasty, raking tackle down the shins of Ipswich’s Jack Clarke.
The visitors then turned the game on its head with this Emersonn providing the assist for Davis. The Brazilian flicked the ball into the path of Davis, who had the easy task of nodding home from just a few yards out right on the cusp of half-time.
Palace tried as best they could second half, albeit the handicap understandably made it difficult to create genuine chances. Jorgen Strand Larsen provided a fine finish to make it 2-2, however. The Norwegian showed strength to hold off Issa Diop and then produce a fine finish into the opposite corner.
The hosts could and really should have gone 3-2 up with Khalaili fired over inexplicably as the ball sit up for him invitingly.
Ipswich then made him pay for that horror miss, with substitute Flemming pinching all three points thanks to an instinctive finish from close-range. Ipswich only won four games in their last top flight spell but are already halfway towards that tally.
O’Neil, speaking post-match, praised the spirit and character of his players to keep going right until the end as they sealed the win: “There’s some unbelievable fight and character in the group. I’m pleased because winning away from home in the Premier League is unbelievably tough.”
Palace chief Pierre Sage reflected: “It’s difficult when you play 10 v 11 – but I think we did well with that because we reorganised in a 5-3-1 and we didn’t allow them too much space. We made a mistake before half-time. In the end we came back in the game by playing and being together. We had the opportunity to make it 3-2 and we missed. I am frustrated for the players because they gave a lot and deserved at least a point.”
