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Crystal Palace 1-0 Ipswich Town - Match Report Saturday, 8th Mar 2025 17:08
Ismaila Sarr’s goal eight minutes from time saw Crystal Palace to a 1-0 victory over the Blues at Selhurst Park. As so often this season, there was little between the sides but with the Blues unable to take their chances and Sarr converting one for the Eagles to leave Town still looking for their first Premier League win of 2025.
Julio Enciso, Kalvin Phillips and Luke Woolfenden started as manager Kieran McKenna made three changes to his Town side, which lined up in their all-pink third kit.
Enciso, on loan from Palace's rivals Brighton, was from the knee injury he sustained at Aston Villa almost a month ago and was in the centre of the three behind striker Liam Delap with Jaden Philogene on the right and Jack Clarke on the left.
Phillips was in central midfield alongside Jens Cajuste with Sam Morsy, who played 120 minutes at Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup on Monday, on the bench, the on-loan Manchester City man having recovered from his calf problem.
Woolfenden, making his 200th Town start on the same ground where he made his first back in August 2017 in the Carabao Cup, was at the centre of the defence alongside Jacob Greaves with Dara O’Shea skippering at right-back and Leif Davis at left-back.
Alex Palmer continued in goal, one of only two survivors from the FA Cup tie at the City Ground, along with Woolfenden.
Omari Hutchinson was on the bench having hurt his knee at Manchester United, while Axel Tuanzebe, who was also in the XI that night, was absent having suffered a hamstring injury at Forest.
Christian Walton was back on the bench after his groin problem, while Cameron Burgess was also in the 20 having been subbed at Forest with a calf injury.
For Palace, Jean-Philippe Mateta was absent following the horror challenge in the FA Cup game against Millwall last week after which he required 25 stitches to his ear and midfielder Will Hughes was suspended having reached 10 bookings.
Eddie Nketiah and Jefferson Lerma replaced them in a team otherwise unchanged from the 4-1 league victory over Aston Villa a fortnight ago.
With England boss Thomas Tuchel among those watching, having also been at the City Ground on Monday, Nketiah had a chance to put the home side in front in the second minute.
Adam Wharton played a pass between Woolfenden and O’Shea, sending the former Arsenal man through one-on-one with Palmer, but the Town keeper was off his line quickly to block.
A minute later, Davis was put away in space on the Town left and cut a cross behind Delap but Philogene breaking inside from the right was able to hit a low left-foot effort, which Dean Henderson saved well down to his left, although the ex-Villa man may feel he should have made a stronger contact.
Despite the early Eagles chance, the Blues had started brightly and on the front foot. and on five Delap brought the ball forward down the middle but hit his shot deep into the Holmesdale End.
Palace began to see most of the ball but with Town also having spells of possession, while also causing the Eagles backline problems with their pressing. On 15, Lerma struck a low shot wide of Palmer’s right post.
A minute later, Greaves and Ismaila Sarr chased a long ball down the middle from the back, which bounced through to Palmer. As it did so, Sarr went to ground as Greaves tugged at him and referee Simon Hooper booked the Town defender, who was clearly very unhappy with the decision. VAR gave the incident a check before confirming a yellow rather than red card.
Eberechi Eze’s free-kick slammed into the wall and ricocheted through to Palmer ahead of a number of Palace players waiting to pounce.
On 19, Nketiah played in Eze to the left of O’Shea, but the alert Greaves slid in to make a vital block.
The home side had started to look dominant but following a 23rd-minute Davis run down the left, the Blues subsequently pinned the Eagles back in their half for a spell during which, following a long throw from Cajuste from the left, Enciso tricked his way into the area on the right and hit a shot from an angle which Henderson did well to palm over.
Town kept up the pressure and from a corner on the left, the ball was half-cleared to Clarke, whose well-struck volley was blocked.
The game was held up in the 37th minute after Davis required treatment having landed awkwardly following an aerial challenge. However, the ex-Leeds man was OK to continue.
In the 42nd minute, Delap took the ball round the outside of Daniel Munoz inside the box on the left but allowed it to run out of play before he could cross.
A minute later, with Palace going through a scruffy spell with passes going astray or out of play, much to their fans’ frustration, Sarr crossed from the right and Nketiah reached the ball ahead of Palmer but diverted it behind.
That was the last action of a not overly enthralling half in which there had been little between the teams, like the corresponding fixture at Portman Road.
Nketiah’s early chance was the best opportunity of the half with Palmer reading it well, while Philogene might have done better with his effort soon afterwards and Enciso forced Henderson into a sharp save later on in the half.
Overall, Blues boss McKenna will have been pleased with the half with his side well in the game.
Town created the first danger of the second half three minutes after the restart. Delap was tripped out on the left and the free-kick was played short to Davis on the edge of the area but the full-back got his shot all wrong and it flew high and wide.
A minute later, Palace hit the woodwork, although in fortuitous circumstances. Eze’s cross took a massive deflection off O’Shea and looped beyond Palmer and struck the outside of his far post, Woolfenden turning the loose ball behind.
On 53, Wharton was yellow-carded for a tackle from behind on Delap, play carrying on until Chris Richards pulled back Clarke with the USA international also booked. Soon after, Palace skipper Marc Guehi was cautioned for a foul on Enciso in the centre circle.
Four minutes later, the Blues broke in numbers, Enciso feeding Clarke towards the left and the ex-Sunderland man hitting a shot against Richards.
As the game passed the hour mark, Clarke stole the ball from Eze deep in Town’s half and drove forward before finding Enciso. The pass was behind the Paraguayan, who tried an effort from distance which was straight at Henderson when he would have been better taking the ball on towards goal.
Two minutes later, Delap forced Henderson to palm behind at his near post with an effort from a tight angle on the left.
From Enciso’s resultant corner on the left, Delap nodded back from the far post, Philogene turned the ball against Henderson and Sarr was able to clear off the line. It was a lucky escape for the home side.
The game was moving from one end to the other and on 64 Enciso was booked for a trip on Eze just outside the Blues box to the left.
Palace kept the ball at Town’s end following the free-kick and eventually Eze cut inside and hit a shot which once again deflected off O’Shea and looped towards Palmer’s far post with the keeper this time able to get across his line to paw it behind.
From the corner, Sarr rose highest but flicked his header across the face and wide. It was a fortunate escape for the Blues.
Town made their first changes of the afternoon, Clarke and Philogene making way for Hutchinson and Ben Johnson with the former Chelsea man going into the middle with Enciso to the left.
Palace made their first switches of personnel in the 72nd minute, Nketiah and Tyrick Mitchell coming off and Daichi Kamada and Ben Chilwell taking over. Three minutes later, Nathan Broadhead replaced the always busy Enciso.
In the 77th minute, Johnson played a long ball down the right for Delap to chase in behind Guehi. The striker looked for a moment as if he might beat Henderson to it but the keeper plucked it out of the air.
Within a minute, there was a huge let-off for the Blues. Davis scuffed his back-pass to Palmer, allowing Daniel Munoz in on goal but the Colombian rushed his effort and Palmer saved with his feet, much to the Town left-back’s relief.
Play quickly moved to the other end with Delap smashing a shot well over when he evidently felt he should have done much better.
As the game moved into its final 10 minutes, a well-worked Town build-up ended with Davis clipping a cross to Johnson at the far post but the unmarked sub looped his header over when he should have opened his Blues goals account.
And two minutes later, Town were made to rue failing to take the opportunity. Phillips tackled sub Kamada on the edge of the box and the ball rebounded into the path of Sarr, who took it on into the area before chipping Palmer and then celebrating with absent striker Mateta’s corner flag kick. The Blues appealed for a Kamada foul on Phillips but to no avail.
The goal was harsh on the Blues, who had looked the most likely to score at that point but as so often this season were unable to take their opportunity while the opposition were more clinical when one came at the other end.
Town made their final changes as they looked to get back on terms in the final six minutes, George Hirst and Jack Taylor replacing Delap, who will have given England manager Tuchel plenty to think about even if his shooting radar had been off throughout the afternoon, and Cajuste. Soon after, Wharton was replaced by Justin Devenny for the Eagles.
With the game in the second of three minutes of time added on, Eze was swapped for Romain Esse.
The Blues continued to look for a leveller in the dying moments but were unable to test keeper Henderson any further and referee Hooper’s whistle confirmed another defeat.
Overall, the result was harsh on Town, who deserved something from the match and might have taken all three had they taken their chances. However, at the same time, Palace will point to other opportunities they spurned with both keepers making a number of decent saves.
Later in the evening, Wolves drew 1-1 at home to Everton, moving them six points plus goal difference ahead of the Blues with time and games - only 10 remain - running out for Town.
By the way LeeJames, Burnley got there 26th clean sheet of the season today and have only conceded 10 goals in 36 games - without your mate Muric in goal for them this season. The guy who took them down from the Premier League last season and the same guy who's errors have cost us and are going to take us down this season.
What is it ? - 2 points from a possible 27 now ? - says one thing, and that is we are far from being Premiership Standard. It’s been a pretty costly experience and escapade for the Owners, it will now be an interesting Summer for sure !!! And I had hoped we’d left the other end of the A140 in our wake, and for good. But it isn’t to be
@TimmyH I agree, but I think Phillogene and J Clarke were bought because it was highly likely we would be going back to that level, I think when you look at Coventry now flying up the league our signings will be electric in that division, I personally think the whole team is lop sided to accomodate Leif Davis as our midfielders have to sit too deep and our defense is always out of position to cover him, no point playing a left winger when Davis plays at all, Phillogene has to run back to cover right, even J Clarke had to run back and cover for Davis, if Townsend plays in flat back four then Phillips plays defensive mid and Cajuste attacking mid laying of the wingers or threading to Enciso or Delap but the whole dynamic doesn't work with Davis on pitch, it's awful to watch, that's on Mckenna.
I get that we have come so far in 3 years but this is pathetic... We wouldn't score in 900 minutes let alone 90. It's a slow painful death and I for one cannot wait for this premiership season too be over
This season was always going to be a massive challenge, yes we have been pretty competitive in most games, but we have not quite got enough quality to make a difference in the PL. Our recruitment has been a real mixed bag, however, I’m sure if we can regroup in the summer we will bounce straight back up. COYB
We now have Alex Palmer an excellent goalkeeper , having made saves aplenty in a short time, with hopefully good years ahead for us And a significant reason between the Premier League and below…how many of Ipswich Towns opposition goalkeepers this season have gone home thankful that the onslaught of shots have finished ….? This season Whatever the possession , whatever the commitment , whatever the nearly ifs and maybes, our dangerous shooting is truly poor….wherever we might be from next August , our “ powers that be “ have to find the formula that truly brings what football is all about …the power of scoring !
We Leak at one end - and couldn’t hit a Cow’s Ass with a Banjo at the other. It has to change whatever it takes - otherwise some could be in for a nasty shock next season with this Mob, that includes the Manager, and all his fruitless ‘positives! from every game !! Take nothing for granted - Remember LUTON ?? Beware !!
ArnieM. While I totally get ur point about playing both Hirst and Delap up front, doing so would leave us short in the midfield. Something I'm not sure we can afford to do, as could leave us even more open than we are at times. And actually, there are very few teams in any league who play 2 up front nowadays. But yer, maybe in the situation we are in, I dont suppose weve really got anything to lose by trying it. Can't see it happening tho.
@robsonwark why you still going on about Muric? He isn't at fault for us going down, I've told you before Muric has made 5 mistakes that led to goals 2 against Southampton, 1 v West Ham, 1 vs Newcastle (hammered in both and Bournemouth game I think was the other, same amount mistakes Onana made, Sanchez made etc he hasnt played for weeks, Davis and Morsy have made as many mistakes, Muric goal ratio was 1.6 a game. Its a team game, Walton conceded 16 in 6 plunging our goal difference, and in regards to Burnley Muric took over from Trafford the current Burnley keeper and conceeded far less and they played much better at the end of last season.
Anyway, why you calling me out about that rubbish, Muric hasn't played for a long time aside Southampton.
Its been over for a while if we are honest hope and loyalty dosnt change anything .Its been a bitter pill to swallow but now we need to regroup to have another go ..Hopefully having leared a lot along the way. .
Sadly the noose is tightening, only 21 points left to play for,as you can forget about getting any points from 3 of the April fixtures. And why on earth did we pay 20 million for Philogene, Aston Villa must have seen us coming.
We just fell short again today a bit of quality won it for palace. A very even game both teams had their chances. Really can’t see us turning it around we put the effort in but not scoring enough goals & is a problem for any team. In this league you have to be clinical & we’re not. We will have a great championship team if relegated & don’t sell too many of our best players. We should have plenty of money in kitty for next season to progress. Don’t think it will be in the premiership though.
I probably think that's it for this season, I simply cannot see where points will come from for the rest of the season. The confidence has gone from the team and it was another error strewn performance. Davis has struggled all season and was poor again today, Jaden and Clarke are nowhere near ready for he Prem and Delap has his merits. Enciso, Woolfie, Palmer and Cajuste were the stand out players for me today. If Wolves win tonight we are down for sure.
Leejames99 added 18:52 - Mar 8 "@robsonwark why you still going on about Muric? He isn't at fault for us going down, I've told you before Muric has made 5 mistakes that led to goals 2 against Southampton, 1 v West Ham, 1 vs Newcastle (hammered in both and Bournemouth game I think was the other. Muric goal ratio was 1.6 a game. Its a team game, Walton conceded 16 in 6 plunging our goal difference. Anyway, why you calling me out about that rubbish, Muric hasn't played for a long time aside Southampton.
LeeJames you have absolutely no clue. You know nothing about football, you just quote stats (incorrect stats I should say). Muric is the reason we are going down. Apart from his useless goalkeeping, which could have been even worse if our opponents had been sharper in front of goal, he gave away sooooo many goals for the opposition. I can also remember the second goal he gave away at Man City when he tried to dribble out of goal and was tackled and their 3rd goal when he rushed out and was left in no man's land. Brentford's 4th goal that he let in at the far post. Rashford's goal for Man Utd which he did not come for and Rashford nipped in front of him. I am sure there are loads more that I can not think about right now. Muric has let in 33 goals in 18 games at an average of 1.83 goals per game against the weaker teams. Walton played against Liverpool x2, Chelsea, Fulham, Brighton and Man City. And he was playing with defenders in the team who were gibing away penalties for a laugh. The fact that "Muric hasn't played for a long time aside Southampton" does not matter. He has already relegated us. "Anyway, why you calling me out about that rubbish" Because you were the one bigging him up all season like he could do no wrong.
Have to beat Wolves at home, Brentford home, Leicester away and the Hammers at home or it's all over. Just too big a step up, come back and have another go at promotion next season.
@robsonwark the most ridiculous post ever, abusive as usual, but your right and the opta stats are wrong, of course its all Muric fault, Man Utd goal lol was in first attack and Cajuste fell over and Davis wasn't marking and way out of position as per and defender was in front of Muric
No team is relegated with half a season to go, we aren't even relegated yet, 30 points is alot of points and there is no easy games in the Prem we have won and drawn games we should of lost and lost games we should of won that's football, we drew with Forest on Monday, Forest beat City today, we beat Spurs, Spurs beat City it's football.
I dont know why I waste my time, we got Palmer now and hopefully Townsend in for Davis and backing be fine, too many fans blindsided by the heroes and Mckennas Achievements in last 2 seasons. You refuse to blame them so still blame Muric he wasn't even in the squad today. I know plenty about football thanks and stats don't lie and nor does footage, have a little look and see where Davis was when Diallo started his run, it wasn't in left back where he should of been!
Need points v Forest and Bournemouth, if we lose both we could go into Wolves game 12 points behind, need to hope Southampton (not likely) and West Ham can help us, but it can be done still. Davis has to be dropped for Forest game for Townsend, Hutch on right and J Clarke or Phillogene on left Palmer O'Shea Greaves Townsend Cajuste Phillips Enciso Hutchinson Philligene or J Clarke Delap
It's pretty obvious really and stick to that eleven if they stay fit. We can play then and be sound in defence.
Its getting tighter and I might get downvotes for this but I still have some faith. I still think a 2nd season in the championship would have done more for us BUT I believe we have risen to the occasion really well overall and we can still rise to the challenge and just scrape survival. Following fixtures and predictions for all:
Ipswich - Forest (D), Bournemouth (D), Wolves (W), Chelsea (L), Arsenal (L), Newcastle (L), Everton (W), Brentford (D), Leicester (W), West Ham (D) - 17th on 30 points
Wolves - Southampton (D), West Ham (L), Ipswich (L), Spurs (L), Man Utd (L), Leicester (D), Man City (L), Brighton (L), Palace (D), Brentford (D) - 18th on 27 points
Leicester - Chelsea (L), Man Utd (L), Man City (L), Newcastle (L), Brighton (D), Liverpool (L), Wolves (D), Southampton (D), Forest (L), Ipswich (L), Bournemouth (D) - 19th on 20 points
Southampton - Wolves (D), Palace (L), Spurs (L), Villa (L), West Ham (D), Fulham (L), Leicester (D), Man City (L), Everton (L), Arsenal (L) - 20th on 12 points
Main game will be against Wolves and hopefully Leicester and Southampton can do us a favour and win against Wolves too which would put things more in our favour. Hopefully the results for Town go better than I predict COYB
From what I saw we were completely lack lustre going forward…. Jaden, Clarke just awful with final ball (jaden fluffed a golden chance too). When Hutchinson cone on just kept facing backwards then playing the ball back to the keeper. Encisco looked lively but like many kept giving the ball away. Davis looked a liability nearly gifting palace a goal, we look defeated before a ball is a kicked and completely lack confidence now.
Since the Southampton defeat we have not looked the same, sadly that was when any chances of survival died. What a dreadful miserable season (3 wins) it has been, the squad that did so well last year ripped apart and now had the team will jump ship this summer leaving us in a right mess. I hope we don’t suffer from this losing habit next season like Luton have, as we could find ourselves dropping again. In hindsight I wished Leeds pipped us to 2nd spot and we lost in the playoffs. We are so out of our depth it’s painful, right now we are the worse team in the league (only team this year to not win). I honestly don’t think we will win again this season, maybe a couple of draws. Wolves picked up a useful point tonight too, they will beat us and clearly show why they are streets ahead of us. Relegation can’t come quick enough, put us out of our misery.
@trevski.......I admire your optimism, but we couldn't beat Everton at home,so we're very unlikely to beat them away, especially on their current form,can't see us getting anything at Bournemouth either. Looking at Wolves remaining fixtures, compared to ours,we are goners I'm afraid.
Fifty years I've been watching Town, through good and bad, but this season is right up there with the most un-enjoyable for me.
Out of all our seasons in the Prem, the gulf in quality is insurmountable (for all 3 promoted teams), couple this with a lot of dubious signings, repetitive errors, questionable tactics and top team bias from refs and VAR, has made this season one to forget.
Yesterday I decided to watch the rugby, instead of Town, as I needed a break from watching our ponderous play, in favour of some excitement. So I kept flicking channels to see the score, as the game neared its conclusion and still 0-0, the only thing I expected was a late goal for our opposition, and unfortunately I was not to be disappointed.
Anyone who thinks we have what it takes to survive needs to remove those blue-tinted glasses, the only way we survive is finishing third bottom and City getting a massive points deduction.
Roll on the excitement of the Championship next season!
