Fulham 2-2 Ipswich: Raul Jimenez snatches a point for the hosts with late penalty after Liam Delap and Sammie Szmodics gave Tractor Boys the lead

Four goals, three penalties and one point each. What a ridiculous, crazy and chaotic start to 2025 for Fulham and Ipswich after this remarkable match at Craven Cottage.

Liam Delap thought he had won the title for the Tractor Boys, thought he had achieved back-to-back top-flight victories for the first time since 2002, thought he had dragged his side out of the relegation zone, dreaming of survival along with the traveling fans, only for Raul Jimenez to snatch it away.

The clock had run into stoppage time when Leif Davis tripped the Fulham striker in the penalty area and referee Darren Bond pointed to the penalty spot for the third time this afternoon and Jimenez tucked one away for the second time.

You know a referee has had a controversial day at the office when he awards an injury time penalty that gives a team a point and their supporters are still chanting that he doesn’t know what you’re doing and they boo you off the pitch.

Ipswich got into this after a famous win over Chelsea and another win here would have given them even more hope that survival wouldn’t be too ridiculous an ambition for their supporters to cling to.

And why not have dreams when you can drape them over Liam Delap’s broad shoulders and let him carry them along this difficult and unknown road.

It was Delap who almost secured this victory, burying the penalty he himself had won, giving Ipswich the lead for the second time after Sammie Szmodics’ opener.

What a joy to watch, this 6ft 2in throwback to the golden age of English centre-forwards. Who needs false nines and a fox in the box when you have a raging bull like Delap, causing mayhem and mayhem with socks up to halfway down his shins.

Why hire a locksmith when you have a bulldozer?

Immediately from the kick-off, Delap ran towards Sasa Lukic and knocked him to the ground. Talk about making a first impression.

It was almost fitting that at the end of this chaotic encounter on the banks of the Thames, it was the 21-year-old Englishman, who had already been tipped as Harry Kane’s natural successor, who was immersed in the winner’s admiration. .

And yet, while all the attention was on the bright pink battering ram, it was a centre-forward on the other side, quietly going about his business.

Jimenez, who scored the opener in Fulham’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth last time out, leapt highest to meet Tom Cairney’s cross, aimed his header at goal and was only denied by a clever save from Christian Walton in the Ipswich goal.

Once Fulham got through the early rough and tumble of Ipswich, they settled down, put their foot on the ball and often moved it too quickly for the visitors.

Alex Iwobi fired into the penalty area to cause chaos, but a tangle of pink shirts left the players in white lurking.

It felt as if Fulham were the only team to take the lead and perhaps that would have been the case if Ipswich defender Leif Davis had received a heavier penalty when he brought down Harry Wilson as the striker appeared to be breaking through on goal.

Bond, the referee, only showed a yellow card as everyone of a home persuasion in Craven Cottage demanded red. Perhaps teammate Jacob Greaves would have come there to take cover, but that wasn’t how an irate Marco Silva saw things as he watched the replay on a screen in the dugout.

Just over 10 minutes later Ipswich took the lead. Ben Johnson’s header rattled the crossbar and Calvin Bassey could only slide his ball straight to Szmodics to put Ipswich ahead as new signing Ben Godfrey watched from the stands.

A slap and grab perhaps? That would be a bit harsh on Ipswich, who showed plenty of quality, heart, fight and desire, and could even have had a second when Broadhead forced a save from Brand Leno just after the hour mark.

But that’s what can happen when you have a battering ram out front. It was strong work from Delap to shake off Joachim Andersen, hold the ball up and play wide before the ball came in.

If referee Bond had sensed Fulham’s anger in the first half, it was nothing compared to the fury that greeted the three-minute spell in the second that turned the match on its head and back again.

Bond first waved away calls for a penalty when Morsy brought down Wilson in the penalty area, before VAR sent him to the screen and awarded the penalty which Jimenez neatly tucked away.

The party had barely ended when Bond pointed to the spot on the other side. Castagne on Delap this time, hard but this time not dubious enough for the VAR to get involved.

Delap buried it in front of the traveling supporters and ran to celebrate them singing his name.

You can’t imagine that it will be long before English fans will sing it too.

But that wasn’t supposed to be the end. Jimenez had one last word. Bond would do that too.

Deep into injury time, another penalty follows. Jimenez taken down by Davis. This time Jimenez went the other way and buried it while Delap sat on the couch with his head in his hands.