5 April 2025
Ipswich Town 1 Wolves 2
Games were not going to get much bigger than this for Ipswich Town. They welcomed Wolves to Portman Road, knowing anything but victory would be likely to make it ‘mission too-impossible’ for Kieran McKenna’s side. However, if the Tractor Boys could make it -back-to-back wins in a week, suddenly this relegation battle would be interesting again.
It was the visitors who carved out the first real chance as Ait-Nouri got down the flank. He drew players into him before picking out Bellegarde on the edge of the box. He had time and space to plan his effort but it was just a little too high as it sailed over the top corner. That would have struck a dagger-blow to the heart of this Ipswich side that early on.
You felt the first goal in this game was crucial. The hosts may not deal with falling behind in front of their own fans. Despite being in the stands for this game, Vitor Pereira’s side were dominating. Bellegarde linked up with Strand-Larsen, as the striker fired off a shot at goal from a wide position, Palmer did well to save with his legs.
From the resulting corner, Toti rose at the back post and headed it straight into the ground. It looped up towards goal and Palmer had to scoop it over the bar. Wolves would have felt it was just going to be a matter of time before they scored. However, the Tractor Boys pushed upfield and as Enciso tried to create some danger, the ball deflected wide of the goal.
As the corner came in, Wolves managed to half-clear. Ipswich recycled the ball well and O’Shea headed across goal for Delap to tuck it under the keeper to score. Portman Road erupted as the ball hit the back of the net. It was just the start Ipswich had been craving. It was the first time any questions had been asked of the visitors’ defence, and the answers were lacking.
Then the game took a bizarre twist. An innocuous pass to the keeper, saw the ball go under his foot and towards goal. He scrambled back and did brilliantly to scoop it off the line but the referee blew up as he had handled a back pass. Wolves had a free-kick on the edge of the six yard box with every Ipswich player stood on the goal line. As a result, the drilled shot had no chance of going in.
After the interval, the visitors seemed to take it up a gear. Joao Gomes found some space to hit a curling effort from the edge of the box. He had Palmer beaten but it came thundering back off the post. He had a second bite of the cherry but sliced his effort well wide. Another big chance for Wolves to get themselves back on level terms.
McKenna’s side barely made up into their opponents’ half after the break. They were under constant barrage as Wolves launched crosses into the box. The hosts failed to fully clear one and the ball dropped to Ait-Nouri in the middle of the goal. He snatched at the effort and sliced it wide of the goal. They were probably glad Pereira was in the stands, he would have been going crazy on the line.
With time running out, the ball was lifted into a wide area of the box to Strand-Larsen. He plucked it out of the air with superb control. The Norwegian spotted Sarabia on the edge of the box. While he struggled to get the ball down, his initial shot was blocked. However, it came back to him and he drilled a volley into the corner of the goal to send the away end into raptures.
Strand-Larsen had a header in the middle from a curling cross but sent his effort over the bar. He just couldn’t get over it enough. If anyone was going to get another goal in this game, it looked like the visitors. That said, holding on for a draw really did nothing for the plight of the Tractor Boys. They might as well throw caution to the wind.
With just over five minutes remaining, a deep cross into the box picked out Sarabia. He volleyed the ball across the six yard box for Strand-Larsen to bundle it over the line. Vitor Pereira’s side had looked to have won a pivotal game in their bid for survival. All of the players ran off into the corner to celebrate with the fans, such was their joy.
The victory all but mathematically sealed Wolves’ Premier League status for next season. Ipswich Town have only won a single match at Portman Road this season, that is not good enough and gives you no chance of survival. They have been in most of the matches they have lost but just do not have that ability to turn performances into points.
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