Ipswich slip to 1-0 defeat against rival relegation candidates Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace recorded their first away win of the season against fellow Premier League strugglers Ipswich Town thanks to the only goal of the game from Jean-Philippe Mateta with a lovely lofted finish and one of the classiest moments of the game.

The Tractor Boys, still searching for their opening home victory of the season, huffed and puffed but rarely troubled the visitor’s goalkeeper Dean Henderson with his fellow England international Mark Guehi marshalling his defence superbly to snuff out Ipswich attacks.

Town’s dynamic and much vaunted duo of Omari Hutchinson and Liam Delap failed to make an impression and Ipswich remained in 19th spot on nine points with Palace three points ahead in 16th.

With the clock ticking round to two minutes Jacob Greaves, making his first appearance since suffering a hamstring injury post West Ham, on October 5, swept a wonderful pass forward for Leif Davis to run onto but he failed to control the ball.

Then after seven minutes two consecutive corners for Ipswich failed to lead to any openings and two minutes later Town striker Delap strode forward with intent but he just failed to connect with a pass to Hutchinson.

There were a series of tackles from Delap and skipper Sam Morsy which referee Craig Pawson ruled unfair much to the disgrace of the home fans.

Palace won a free kick some 30 yards from the goal when Dara O’Shea upended Ismaila Sarr and was shown the first yellow card of the game.

From the resultant kick England international Eberechi Eze fired the ball into the six-yard box and O’Shea stooped to head the ball behind.

Moments later Palace’s Cheick Doucoure cynically tripped Jack Clarke and was subsequently booked.

Just on the half hour mark O’Shea suffered a head injury and after some on-field treatment had to leave the field of play and returned with his head fully bandaged.

Palace were pressing for the opening goal with Ipswich goalkeeper Arijanet Muric being kept busy and they had the best chance of the game when he went down low to save sharply from Eze.

With a minute before the end of the first period a corner from Davis found Harry Clarke at the near post but Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson blocked his header with his knees.

The visitors made the first substitution of the game at the start of the second period bringing on Colombian international Jefferson Lerma for Doucoure.

A rare Ipswich attack saw Wes Burns crossing into the Palace penalty area where Delap headed the ball straight into the arms of Henderson.

Then a shot from Eze was blocked behind for a corner by O’Shea who moments later fired a shot just over Henderson’s goal from 30 yards out.

Will Hughes was handed Palace’s’ second yellow card of the game when he fouled Jack Clarke. But with an hour gone Palace took the lead through Mateta.

Eze found him and he muscled his way past Greaves and cooly lifted the ball over Muric and into the Ipswich net.

With 66 minutes on the clock Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna replaced Burns, Jens Cajuste and Jack Clarke for Conor Chaplin, Jack Taylor and Nathan Broadhead.

Mateta nearly made it 2-0 to Palace but Muric blocked his effort and they withdrew Eze for Justin Devenny, Chris Richards for Trevoh Chalobah with Ipswich bringing on Ali Al-Hamadi for Delap.

Ipswich nearly levelled following a training goal free kick from 30 yards out.

Davis squared the ball to Chaplin and it was clipped to the back post where Greaves’ looping header back across the goal just evaded Al-Hamadi and struck the post.

In the final moments Palace introduced former Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah for Sarr as the visitors hung on for three precious points in front of 29,533 fans in the stadium and much to the delight of their 2,939 visiting supporters.