It was a goal that won’t be forgotten in a hurry around these parts, for both the quality of the strike and its significance.
Galloping forward from the halfway line towards the Fulham box, Liam Delap exuded the confidence of a veteran talisman. An assuredness with the ball at his feet which belied his lack of experience.
The 21 year old had to bid his time, waiting patiently for a glimpse of space to open up amongst the bodies crowding on the edge the Fulham box.
When that opportunity arose, Delap took full advantage with one decisive swish of his right foot, the ball flying into the top left corner past a helpless Bernd Leno.
With such force did Delap strike the ball that it felt as though it could have burst through net. So loud were the celebrations that followed Ipswich’s first Premier League goal at home since Darren Bent scored against Middlesbrough 22 years that it felt as though it could burst your ear drums.
Delap punched the corner flag with delight, but even more powerful was the ecstasy that poured from the stands and reverberated around Portman Road’s old steel framework and corrugated iron roofs.
But the Blues’ bubble was to be burst by Adama Traore. The Fulham attacker struck just after the half-hour mark to spoil the party after Antonee Robinson managed to make some room to deliver a cross.
It had been a bright start by the hosts. Jacob Greaves peeled away from Emile Smith Rowe to meet Leif Davis’ deep corner, but Leno was able to repel Greaves’ effort.
With the game crying out to be taken by the scruff of the neck, Davis did just that by driving from deep towards the halfway line before playing forward to Delap.
Delap took Davis’ lead, surging towards the Fulham goal before firing into the top left corner. The same man should’ve raised the roof again two minutes later but he could only head wide from Davis’ corner.
Fulham had been experiencing joy down the flanks and finally the quality delivery they had been missing came from Robinson.
Traore was in the right place at the right time in the box to thump home the low cross past Arijanet Muric in the Ipswich goal and celebrated by lifting Rodrigo Muniz – not a small man by any means – over his broad shoulders.
Muniz, both feet safely back on the ground, should have put the visitors ahead moments later but his header was straight at Muric.
That was to be one of the few clear cut chances for the visitors as Kalvin Phillips, making his Premier League debut for the hosts, began to pull the strings from midfield.
There was a scare when a rare Fulham attack forced Jacob Greaves into a brave block to deny Smith Rowe and from the follow up corner the former Arsenal man’s effort was deflected narrowly wide.
At the other end Leno was quick off his line to thwart Chiedozie Ogbene’s advances and substitute Jack Clarke curled narrowly wide with minutes left.
But the second goal never came for the hosts and with that their wait for those first precious three points of the season continues.
