Town keeper Alex Palmer was eventually beaten having made a series of big saves at Crystal Palace.Town keeper Alex Palmer was eventually beaten having made a series of big saves at Crystal Palace. (Image: R)
FAMILIAR TALE
This was yet another case of a competitive, fine margins Premier League game tipping the wrong way for Ipswich Town.
Both goalkeepers were in form. Both teams spurned chances. It always felt like the first goal was going to prove crucial. Palace got it late on.
There's no disgrace in losing to the rapidly-ascending Eagles. Their starting line-up contained six players capped by England. They have now won nine of their last 11 games across all competitions. As it stands, only Liverpool have taken more points in 2025.
Oliver Glasner's side weren't at their best in this match though.
Without the injured Jean-Phillipe Mateta and suspended Will Hughes, it stripped them of a target man/goalscorer and some midfield bite.
In the first half, the home side made several misplaced places to groans from the Selhurst Park crowd.
Frustratingly, just like the recent 3-2 defeat at Manchester United, this felt like a missed opportunity.
You have to be ruthless in the Premier League when the opponent leaves the door slightly ajar. Ultimately, Town haven't quite had enough enough quality, chemistry and know-how to do that on a consistent enough basis.
MISSED CHANCES
Ipswich had 15 shots in this game, eight of them were on target, but the xG was just one and they ended up with no goals to show for their efforts.
Jaden Philogene, Julio Enciso and Liam Delap all couldn't beat Dean Henderson with chances inside the box. All were smart stops rather than poor efforts, to be fair.
Jack Clarke did well to win the ball in the left-back area and drove up field to create a two-v-one overload. He put the final pass slightly behind Enciso though and the momentum of the move was lost.
After Delap's header at a corner was patted back into a dangerous area by Henderson, Philogene couldn't force the rebound past Sarr on the line.
Then, in 80th minute, stretching substitute Ben Johnson couldn't get a close-range header on target after Davis picked him out at the far post.
As we all know, if you don't take your chances in the top-flight then you're going to get punished...
Ismaila Sarr celebrates after scoring Crystal Palace's late winner.Ismaila Sarr celebrates after scoring Crystal Palace's late winner. (Image: PA)
THE WINNER
Town did also ride their luck at times in this game.
Alex Palmer had to race off his line and make excellent one-v-one saves with his legs to deny Eddie Nketiah and Daniel Munoz in either half, the latter chance having been gift-wrapped by an under hit Davis back pass.
Eberechi Eze also went close with a couple of deflected shots, one of which hit the post, and dragged a good chance wide inside the box. Ismaila Sarr glanced a header narrowly wide at a corner too.
The Blues' fortune ran out in the 82nd minute. When Kalvin Phillips stepped in to win a 50/50 standing tackle with sub Daichi Kamada just outside the box, the ball spun loose. Sarr then showed lightning reactions to burst past Jacob Greaves and deftly lift the ball over Palmer.
Phillips thinks he's fouled. Luke Woolfenden said afterwards that more Ipswich players should have put pressure on the ref to get VAR involved. If I'm honest, looking at it back, I don't think there's anywhere near enough for it to be ruled out.
Kalvin Phillips looked sharp on his return from injury.Kalvin Phillips looked sharp on his return from injury. (Image: PA)
SOME POSITIVES
Keeper Palmer, as mentioned, pulled off some super stops. That one missed punch for Sarr's headed chance aside, he commanded his box with authority too. It's such a shame it took half a season for the Blues to sort that position out.
Luke Woolfenden built on his impressive FA Cup showing at Nottingham Forest with another solid display. Never flustered, he expertly reads danger. Not all defending has to be of the blood and thunder, last-ditch variety.
It was great to see Phillips, Enciso and Omari Hutchinson all back in action after injury absences. Phillips and Enciso both looked sharp after being thrown straight back into the starting line-up.
I do wonder what could have been had Phillips been able to stay fit all season. He looked much more like the all-action 31-cap England international of old in this game. It's such a shame he's never quite been able to get that run of games to build momentum.
Brighton loanee Enciso picked up where he left off too. The Paraguayan oozes confidence and has real technical ability. Again, it's real shame he had that set-back so soon after joining in January.
NO RELATIONSHIPS
There are signs of individual improvement. There's no doubting, however, that the team lacks the cohesion that underpinned that underdog Championship promotion.
It's no wonder. Plenty of signings arrived late last summer. Four more came in January. Most of the squad have been injured at one stage or another too. McKenna has never been able to field a settled side.
Town have used 32 different players over their 28 Premier League games. Only five of them - Davis (27), Dara O'Shea (25), Sam Morsy (22), Hutchinson (25) and Delap (26) - have started 75% or more of those matches. Throw in Greaves (18) and Jens Cajuste (18) and only seven have started more than half.
There's been three different keepers. Five different players have started at right-back. Five different players have started on the right wing. Five different players have been deployed at the right-sided No.10. Six different players have played as the left-sided No.10. Sometimes it's been a back four, sometimes it's been a back three/five.
Football is all about relationships and Town just haven't been able to build any. Very little of that has been through choice.
Town keeper Alex Palmer and Palace match-winner Ismaila Sarr shake hands at the end.Town keeper Alex Palmer and Palace match-winner Ismaila Sarr shake hands at the end. (Image: PA)
GAP GROWS
A young, inexperienced, injury-hit squad has learnt the hard way in the most unforgiving league in world football.
Wolves' comeback draw at Everton means the gap to safety has grown to six points (effectively seven due to goal difference). And the West Midlands side go to Southampton next.
Ipswich have won just three out of 28 Premier League games. The stark reality is they've now got to win at least two of their final 10 - more likely four - to beat the drop.
It ain't over until the fat lady sings, but she's certainly warming up her vocal chords.