Crystal Palace 2 Ipswich 3: Zian Flemming’s last-gasp winner seals massive win for Tractor Boys vs ten-man Eagles

ZIAN FLEMMING helped the Tractor Boys reap a three-point harvest in South London as Ipswich beat Crystal Palace 3-2. Jorgen Strand Larsen looked to have saved Axel Disasi from disaster after his strike put Palace level following the Frenchman’s first-half sending off. Zian Flemming’s last-gasp winner saw Ipswich leave Crystal Palace with all three points Credit: Reuters Axel Disasi’s red card proved too much for Palace to overcome Credit: Shutterstock Editorial But there was to be no valiant comeback story for Palace as they fell to a defeat against Ipswich at Selhurst Park for the first time since 2010. With identical records in the league it was no surprise there was nothing to separate these two sides in the opening half an hour, with goals from Anan Khalaili and Emersonn cancelling each other out. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! But Disasi’s needless studs up challenge on Jack Clarke in the Ipswich half saw Palace surrender the lead and a chance at successive wins in the Premier League, something they have not done since last December. Leif Davis had been the provider for the Tractor Boys’ opener before he turned goalscorer for the goal that put Gary O’Neil’s side on course for their first win in the league since the opening day. Yet a profligate Ipswich display in the second half gave the Eagles enough of a lift to get back into the game despite being down to 10-men, with Strand Larsen’s clinical strike across goal seeing the two sides level entering the 89th minute. But a Davis header floated towards goal and hit the crossbar before it fell kindly to Flemming, whose shot wrong-footed Benitez to squirm in at the far post and see Ipswich take the three points. Palace boss Pierre Sage was without Dean Henderson because of an ankle injury he picked up in their Conference League final win against Freiburg. That saw Sage opt for Walter Benitez between the sticks, marking his first Premier League start since March, while Adam Wharton wore the captain’s armband in Henderson’s place. Most read in Sport SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS The South Londoners were also without their famous Holmesdale Fanatics ultras, the Ipswich clash being the second league game without the group after they effectively disbanded. But they could have desperately used their voices in support after Disasi’s silly red card – and perhaps an even more damning assessment when the away end started chanting “you’re support is f***ing s***.” The balance of the clash had been on a knife-edge in the opening quarter of an hour, with neither team able to force a breakthrough. That was until Yeremy Pino cut through the Ipswich defence like butter to play in Daichi Kamada, who in turn passed the ball to flying right wing-back Khalail who thundered home his first goal for the Eagles. Anan Khalaili made it 1-0 to Palace Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Emersonn scored Ipswich’s first goal of the afternoon Credit: PA Leif Davis put the visitors in the lead for the first time Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Palace threatened to grab a second when Jorgen Strand Larsen, fresh off the back of his brace against Middlesbrough midweek, lashed the ball at goal after a great ball in behind by Khalaili. But his effort went straight at Kjell Scherpen, who parried it away with firm hands. Ipswich got themselves level pegging again after Emersonn was left unchallenged by the Palace backline, who fell asleep waiting for an offside flag that never arrived. Emersonn notched his second goal of the season as he headed a wonderful Davis cross past the hapless Benitez 10 minutes after the opener. Another 10 minutes later, Disasi inexplicably decided he simply had to challenge Clarke – making his first start of the season for the visitors – for a loose ball. But the 28-year-old was late to the challenge, and was promptly given his marching orders by Chris Kavanagh before VAR Craig Pawson confirmed the decision – with the former Chelsea man standing by the corner flag in front of the players tunnel while he bizarrely waited for confirmation on the stonewall red card. Sage opted for the conservative approach and switched out Pino for Takehiro Tomiyasu. And the signs of a goal were there to see when only a poor touch stopped Clarke from shooting from close range, with the ball cleared by Chris Richards. The breakthrough would come a minute later, with Abdul Fatawu slipping a pass down the side of the Eagles defence for Dara O’Shea, who delivered a ball into Emersonn whose failed attempt at a shot then found Davis in acres of space at the far post. Jorgen Strand Larsen celebrates levelling the game for the hosts Credit: Reuters Zian Flemming won the three points for the Tractor Boys Credit: Getty Ipswich seemed to play with their food for much of the second half, with one occasion seeing Julio Enciso speed in behind Richards to lay a pass to Fatawu who then tried to turn in the area instead of shooting before Palace got back in numbers to defend. Benitez then produced a smart save to deny Clarke, but it wasn’t until the 68th minute when winds of change in the game started to open the door for a Palace equaliser. Palace continued to threaten as attack after attack swooped towards the Ipswich box, before Strand Larsen sunk his talons into the goal with his vicious shot across goal. The home fans had also found their voice even without their ultras, drowning out the away support for the final 20 minutes and that was reflected on the pitch with it seeming like it was the visitors who were a man down. But Flemming’s first Prem goal of the season saw Ipswich escape potential embarrassment by landing all three points. Comment now