If Chelsea fall short in their push for Champions League qualification it will be difficult to look past their curious inability to deal with Ipswich. They remain the only side to have lost at Portman Road in the league this season and their fallibility under pressure was again the theme when they failed to find a way past Kieran McKenna’s defiant but doomed team in the return fixture.
Enzo Maresca later talked ruefully of Chelsea’s struggle to cope with “the environment” at Stamford Bridge being a key factor in this pulsating 2-2 draw. The disconnect with the crowd lingers. Supporters who question Maresca’s patient style of play are quick to turn in trying times. “You’re boring, Enzo,” came the cry from one dissenting voice at the back of the East Stand’s lower tier when Ipswich, surgical in the way they punished Chelsea’s early disarray, swept into a 2-0 lead after 31 minutes.
Both sides finished with regrets. Ipswich were courageous but could not see out a famous win and are 14 points off 17th place with six games left. Chelsea, meanwhile, left it too late to complete a turnaround that would have lifted them one point behind third-placed Nottingham Forest.
A thrilling equaliser from Jadon Sancho, who stepped off the bench to bend in his first goal since December, was lost once the dust settled and the focus switched to Maresca’s side stumbling towards a draw that leaves their hopes of finishing in the top five in increasing peril.
Victory felt imperative given that Chelsea have not won on their travels since December and still have to visit Fulham, Newcastle and Forest. It made the initial inertia baffling. It was startling to watch Chelsea lose composure after Julio Enciso put Ipswich ahead. The panic was underlined by how readily they lost faith with Maresca’s philosophy and acceded to the home crowd’s demands to be more direct, a development that ultimately proved key to the visitors’ second goal.
“We conceded and they decided to play long ball,” Maresca said. “The second goal, we decide to play long because the environment is there – and we concede. You have to continue with the things that you are doing. We are stronger with our fans. It’s up to them to decide the way.”
Chelsea were almost back to full strength after using their second string to beat Legia Warsaw in the Conference League. Maresca did not repeat his rotation from last weekend’s 0-0 draw at Brentford and there were encouraging signs at first. Nicolas Jackson hit the woodwork, Noni Madueke volleyed wide and Levi Colwill drew the first of several superb saves from Alex Palmer.
Yet the atmosphere deteriorated after Ipswich dispensed with their unconvincing attempts to pass out from the back. George Hirst, a 6ft 3in target man who was starting only because Liam Delap was nursing a rib injury on the bench, was ready when he was found by one simple long ball in the 19th minute.
The striker’s hold-up play was of the variety rarely seen in the modern game, the roll away from Tosin Adarabioyo impeccable, and the rest was no less accomplished: a clever pass to the right for Ben Johnson, a cross to the near post from the former West Ham man and a subtle finish from Enciso, who peeled away from Colwill to poke in his first goal since joining on loan from Brighton.
Chelsea’s response was abysmal. Feeling the heat, Robert Sánchez infuriated Maresca by hitting a goal-kick long moments after Jens Cajuste had gone close from 20 yards. Ipswich came straight back. Hirst, who bullied Adarabioyo, flicked the ball on, Jack Clarke released Enciso and the Paraguayan turned provider, crossing for Johnson to nod in his first goal for the club.
Ipswich were not supposed to prove this much of a nuisance without Delap, who counts Chelsea among his many suitors. Could they hold firm? Chelsea adjusted at half-time, Malo Gusto replacing Adarabioyo, and had hope when Madueke beat Cameron Burgess and forced Axel Tuanzebe to score an own goal 18 seconds into the second half.
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A siege beckoned, although Ipswich retained a threat, Hirst spurning two chances. Chelsea were frantic but aimless. They pined for some magic from Cole Palmer but he has gone 14 games without a goal and is not himself.
Others had to step up. Pedro Neto volleyed over and Sancho impressed after replacing Madueke. Ipswich, who lost Jaden Philogene to a knee injury five minutes after bringing the winger on, looked exhausted. Chelsea had time to find a winner when a short corner led to Sancho whipping a beautiful shot high into the net.
The game swung from end to end. Alex Palmer somehow denied Trevoh Chalobah, Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernández. Ipswich had openings but McKenna urged his players to calm down. Maresca’s ran out of inspiration.
