Fulham 2 – 2 Ipswich

Raul Jimenez netted an added-time penalty to earn Fulham a 2-2 draw and prevent Ipswich from moving out of the relegation zone as referee Darren Bond awarded three spot kicks during the second half.

Liam Delap had slammed Ipswich back ahead with a penalty of his own in the 71st minute which was given just 21 seconds after Jimenez had equalised from 12 yards for the first time after Sammie Szmodics’ opener for the visitors.

Referee Bond was at the heart of a dramatic afternoon at Craven Cottage, showing Ipswich left-back Leif Davis only a yellow card for his foul on Harry Wilson, who looked to burst through on goal in the first half. VAR deemed the defender wasn’t denying a goal-scoring opportunity.

“It’s difficult to understand why it was not a red card,” said Fulham boss Marco Silva. “It was a clear penalty – one of the biggest this season.”

The visitors went on to take the lead against the run of play shortly before half-time when Nathan Broadhead’s cross from the left was headed against the crossbar by Ben Johnson. Calvin Bassey scuffed his clearance straight to Szmodics and he fired home in off the Fulham centre-back.

Fulham had dominated the opening period but only had Jimenez hit the target with a header. Marco Silva introduced Emile Smith Rowe at half-time and he glanced a header wide.

Their pressure paid off when Sam Morsy tripped Wilson but Bond waved away the penalty appeals. VAR intervened and overturned the decision, with Jimenez tucking away the equaliser. However, Ipswich immediately responded through Delap’s emphatic penalty having been fouled by Timothy Castagne.

There was more drama to come. Ipswich pushed for a third with Jack Clarke hitting the left post. Fulham countered, and Jimenez was tripped in the box by Davis for the third penalty of the afternoon which he slammed into the top-right corner.

Ipswich remain in the bottom three on goal difference while Fulham stay ninth, four points behind sixth-placed Manchester City.

Fulham are so close yet so far

Sky Sports’ David Richardson:

Fulham are fast becoming the Premier League’s nearly-men despite being unbeaten in their last nine matches, wherein the problem lies.

Six of those games have been draws and they have dropped a league-high 19 points from winning positions.

Their European dream appears more achievable than ever given their performances and that they are only four points behind sixth-placed Manchester City. That makes their recent results even more frustrating.

Fulham have simply not been clinical enough to turn their high-tempo, possession game into wins. It is an issue Marco Silva knows needs solving. “If you want to be fighting you have to be much more ruthless and aggressive,” he said.

Raul Jimenez has earned the starting striker spot, scoring nine goals, but needs his team-mates to convert chances too if they are to shrug this unwanted tag.

McKenna: Referee did well – they were all penalties

Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna told Sky Sports:

“When you lead twice you always feel a little bit disappointed not to win. I’m so proud of the way we played. We had some chances to get a two-goal margin but weren’t able to take them.

“The referee reffed it well and it wasn’t easy to be honest because the crowd were on pretty early from kick-off.

“It wasn’t an easy game to ref and there were lots of incidents and, by my eye, not having watched them all back, I thought they were all penalties.”

Silva: We have to be ruthless to achieve European dream

Fulham boss Marco Silva told Sky Sports:

“It was a great performance by Raul Jimenez. He showed the character and the calmness.

“There are many positives I take from the game. In some moments we cannot concede like we did and we have been punished by some mistakes.

“Everybody can talk about European hopes. I prefer our team to speak on the pitch. If you want to be fighting you have to be much more ruthless and aggressive.”

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