Rashford was featuring in the Premier League for the first time in two months
He hit the post with a free kick before Watkins reacted to poke home equaliser
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By LEWIS BROWNING
Published: 11:55 EST, 15 February 2025 | Updated: 13:22 EST, 15 February 2025
Flashes of the old Marcus Rashford weren't enough for Aston Villa to put away 10-man Ipswich but it was pleasing to see the banished Manchester United star impress on his first Premier League appearance for two months.
Frozen out by Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford, Rashford is in the Midlands for redemption as a loanee. While it's strange to see him wearing claret and blue, this was a positive version of him, skimming past defenders and setting up Villa's goal with a cracking free-kick.
Rashford last appeared in the league for United against Nottingham Forest on December 7 but Unai Emery had no hesitation turning to the 27-year-old at half-time after a red card for Ipswich's Axel Tuanzebe promised more space for Villa.
Though the visitors unexpectedly led with an excellent finish from Liam Delap after 56 minutes, Rashford was the catalyst to haul his new team-mates back into the game.
His set-piece curler from 25 yards thudded against the post and dropped for Ollie Watkins to equalise.
Rashford was also denied a goal by an excellent stop from Ipswich goalkeeper Alex Palmer, playing his first Premier League match at the age of 28.
Marcus Rashford (left) featured in the Premier League for the first time since joining Aston Villa on loan
He hit the crossbar with a free-kick, with Ollie Watkins putting in the rebound to square tie up
Ipswich survived for more than a half with 10 men after Axel Tuanzebe was shown a red card
And in injury-time with Villa pressing for a winner, it was prime Rashford who ran at speed to cut back for Morgan Rogers. His shot deflected off Conor Townsend that Palmer remarkably clawed away at point-blank range.
Although a draw kept Ipswich in the relegation zone, it ended a run of four consecutive defeats and given they were a man down for 50 minutes, the travelling fans deserved to greet the final whistle like a victory.
Their boss Kieran McKenna loved his team's character but remained unhappy at the first of Tuanzebe's two bookings being given for a foul.
'It was a poor one for me,' he said. 'I think it was a decision given against a smaller team against a bigger team away from home. It was out of the pocket before the ball even stopped rolling.'
On Rashford's contribution after being starved of action for so long, Villa boss Unai Emery added: 'He is getting better. He played 45 minutes, felt comfortable, progressively getting fit and he will help us for the next matches.'
Watkins returned from a groin injury for Villa who also gave a debut to defender Axel Disasi, on loan from Chelsea.
Palmer, signed from West Brom last month, had a nervy opening when he collided with Rogers who wanted a free-kick on the edge of the box and possibly a red card for his opponent.
Referee Robert Jones wasn't interested and neither was VAR Michael Oliver.
Alex Palmer (left) was playing in the Premier League for the first time and kept busy throughout
Liam Delap had given the visitors a shock lead as he reacted in true poacher fashion
Unai Emery will be frustrated that his team managed only a draw against a side in bottom three
Early substitutions for Villa's Boubacar Kamara and Julio Enciso of Ipswich interrupted the flow and Watkins couldn't convert a long pass by Disasi, hooking the bouncing ball wide.
Ipswich's comfortable first half was rudely interrupted after 40 minutes when the already-booked Tuanzebe kneed Jacob Ramsey on the back of the leg and received a second yellow.
MATCH FACTS AND PLAYER RATINGS
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez 6; Garcia 6, Disasi 7, Kamara 6 (Mings 16 6), Digne 6 (Maatsen 45 6); Tielemans 6, McGinn 7; Ramsey 7 (Rashford 45 7.5), Rogers 6, Malen 5.5 (Asensio 63 6); Watkins 7
Subs unused: Olsen (Gk), Zych (Gk), Asensio, Bogarde, Jimah
Goal: Watkins 69
Manager: Unai Emery 6
Ipswich (4-2-3-1): Palmer 8; Tuanzebe 5.5, Greaves 6, O'Shea 6, Johnson 6.5; Phillips, Cajuste (Luongo 80); Enciso 6 (Clarke 17 6, Woolfenden 45 6), Hutchinson 6.5, Townsend 6; Delap 7 (Hirst 80)
Subs unused: Muric (Gk), Taylor, Philogene, Broadhead, Godfrey
Goal: Delap 56Booked: Greaves, PhillipsSent off: Tuanzebe
Manager: Kieran McKenna 6.5
Referee: Robert Jones 7.5
Rogers missed a chance from close range and both managers swung the changes during the interval, Ian Maatsen joining Rashford off the bench for Villa and McKenna sending on an extra defender, Luke Woolfenden.
Palmer's busy second half started with flying saves from both Rashford and Maatsen and Ipswich then shocked their hosts against the run of play.
Omari Hutchinson drifted to the right and sent a low cross into the danger area for the waiting Delap.
Like a proper goal poacher, the centre forward reacted quickest to beat John McGinn and Disasi to the ball and divert it past Emiliano Martinez with a clever one-touch finish.
Emery reacted by sending on another big-hitter, former Real Madrid star Marco Asensio, while Rashford optimistically shouted for a penalty when he flew through the air challenging Town skipper Dara O'Shea.
Ipswich fans chanted 'cheat, cheat' at Rashford and the jibe seemed to motivate the begloved forward.
When Villa won their next free-kick, he whipped a right-foot strike against the woodwork where it fell kindly for Watkins to prod home.
Palmer was kept increasingly involved and saved twice from Asensio as Villa looked to go ahead. He saved the best until last by preventing an own goal in injury-time.
It was the first of five games in 14 days for Villa who are also still in the FA Cup and Champions League. It may yet be a productive season personally for Rashford.