Ipswich 1 Bournemouth 2: Cherries complete epic last-gasp turnaround as Tractor Boys lose three in a row
IPSWICH’s wait for a first Premier League home win in 22 years continues – and what a sickener this was for Cameron Burgess.
The Australian centre-back produced one of the best defensive displays this season, standing up tall, repelling every Bournemouth attack and launching one superb goal-saving tackle in the first half.
If anyone deserved to celebrate Ipswich’s first success at Portman Road in the top-flight since April 2002, then it was this giant antipodean – especially as his clever assist had set-up Conor Chaplin’s 21-minute goal.
But man of the match Burgess was given a reminder how cruel the Prem can be as he was on his knees in agony on 87 minutes following the Cherries’ equaliser.
Ipswich goalkeeper Arijanet Muric was beaten by Dango Ouattara’s ball and Burgess could not prevent Enes Unal from scoring at the back post with a downward header.
To make matters even worse, in the fifth minute of stoppage time, Ouattara scored the winner for the Cherries and it survived a VAR review for possible offside.
Within the space of ten minutes, Ipswich had gone from finally ending their long wait for a Prem win in Suffolk to a real gut-punch.
At least the crowd acknowledged the effort and application they had seen and applauded the home side off despite the disbelieving finale.
How things could have been different if referee Michael Salisbury had decided to issue the quickest red card in football history.
Chaplin kicked-off proceedings from the centre circle but then as the contest started, Justin Kluivert aggressively tried to get round the side of Sam Morsy.
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The skipper went down clutching his nose because he was whacked in the face by the flapping right arm of the Dutch winger.
Players have been dismissed for less than that but given it happened after one second of play, it would have been a brave decision to award an unprecedented sending-off.
In a frenetic first half, played at breakneck speed, Chaplin showed skill and composure to score – he has now notched goals in all FOUR divisions of English professional football.
It was a classic big-man and little-man combo as Burgess found Chaplin with a smart pass and the midfielder was lifted up by teammates in the group celebrations.
After a superb save by Kepa Arrizabalaga, who punched clear a deflected Jack Taylor strike, Ipswich had the ball in the net again, this time courtesy of a Cook own goal, but it was ruled out.
In a box full of wrestling and shoving, Liam Delap was penalised for pushing Adam Smith and blocking the goalkeeper and VAR chose not to change the on-field call.
VAR also reviewed the moment when Marcus Tavernier struck a post but more for the prior coming together involving Kluivert, Dara O’Shea and Burgess.
Nothing was given but Cherries boss Andoni Iraola was incandescent with rage and was cautioned for his touchline outburst.
Burgess stands out
Burgess is some defender and it was his excellent tackle on Kluivert that saved a potential goal and saved the blushes of Morsy, who had lost possession so cheaply on 35 minutes.
In the second half, Ipswich’s Sam Szmodics – who scored in the 2-1 November win at Tottenham – notably had an attempt saved by Kepa.
And not long after that, Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo forced a decent block from Muric.
The ability to close out the match is something Ipswich will need to learn – and sharpishly – because not only did they concede an equaliser, with the final touch coming off Burgess, then they threw away a point.
Muric’s foot blocked the first attempt by sub David Brooks but Ouattara slammed home the winner for Bournemouth’s third win in a row.
A brief delay for a VAR check meant celebrations had to be put on hold momentarily but soon the away fans were singing their hearts out on a chilly afternoon.
“That’s why you are going down” sang the Bournemouth end and unfortunately for Ipswich, it was hard to argue with that.