Aston Villa 1 Ipswich Town 1 - Ollie Watkins spares hosts blushes
Villa’s push for a top-five Premier League finish suffered another setback as they were held at home by 10-man Ipswich.
Unai Emery’s men played with a man advantage for most of the match after Axel Tuanzebe was sent-off five minutes before the break.
But it was the visitors who then took the lead when Liam Delap turned home 11 minutes into the second half.
Ollie Watkins levelled for Villa after Marcus Rashford’s free-kick hit the bar but the hosts could not find a winner.
Analysis
That was largely down to a superb display by visiting keeper Alex Palmer, making his Premier League debut following his January move from Albion.
The keeper denied Morgan Rogers and substitute Marco Asensio twice each, while also pulling off a superb stoppage time stop to prevent Jacob Greaves putting through his own net.
Palmer’s heroics won’t change the fact this was a hugely frustrating result for Villa, who dominated possession but could not find a way through despite their array of attacking talent.
Recent additions Rashford and Asensio both came off the bench but the home side could not make their dominance count and were guilty of conceding a sloppy goal from a rare visiting attack.
Palmer’s day would have gone very differently had referee Robert Jones taken a different view of an incident 70 seconds into the game.
The keeper came racing out to meet Morgan Rogers and the Villa man got to the ball first and then tumbled to the ground after knocking it beyond Palmer but referee Jones ruled no foul.
Axel Disasi was making his Villa debut following a deadline day move from Chelsea, partnering Boubacar Kamara at the heart of defence.
But that changed inside 16 minutes when Kamara became the latest Villa player to be forced off in the first half of a match, the fit-again Tyrone Mings replacing him off the bench.
Villa were on top but struggling to create clear-cut chances, Donyell Malen missing his kick and Lucas Digne then blazing over from outside the box.
When a lofted pass from Disasi then did split the visiting defence, Watkins could not take the opportunity, shooting wide with just Palmer to beat.
Ipswich were holding out well but five minutes before half-time found themselves a man down. Tuanzebe, booked earlier for tripping McGinn, hauled down Ramsey just outside the box and was shown a second yellow by referee Robert Jones.
Villa almost made the advantage count immediately but Palmer did superbly to deny Rogers at close range.
Emery wasted no time making a change at the break, introducing Marcus Rashford for Ramsey. The substitute forced a save from Palmer just three minutes after entering the pitch.
But 10 minutes into the second half it was the 10-men who took the lead. Four Villa defenders were in the box when Omari Hutchinson crossed but it was Delap who got there first to flick a finish into the far corner.
Ian Maatsen, another player brought on by Emery at the break, almost brought the hosts level straight away but Palmer tipped his drive over the bar.
Villa Park was becoming frustrated and took a moment of near magic from Rashford to spark them. The striker sent a 25-yard free-kick clattering off the bar and the rebound fell perfectly to Watkins, who turned it home.
The hosts had their tails up and it needed a brilliant save from Palmer to prevent Rogers from heading them in front. Marco Asensio, brought off the bench before the equaliser, then lifted an effort over the bar, before becoming the latest player to be denied by Palmer, who pushed his low effort round the post.
The keeper then saved arguably his best save of the afternoon for stoppage time when he somehow kept the ball out after Jacob Greaves had deflected it toward his own goal.
Key Moments
40 RED CARD Axel Tuanzebe is sent-off, after being shown a second yellow card for hauling down Jacob Ramsey.
56 GOAL The 10-men take the lead. Four Villa defenders are in the box but it is Liam Delap who gets to Omari Hutchinson’s cross first to turn it home.
69 GOAL Villa are level. Marcus Rashford’s free-kick hits the bar and Ollie Watkins turns home the rebound.
Teams
Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Garcia, Kamara (Mings 16), Disasi, Digne (Maatsen HT); McGinn, Tielemans; Malen (Asensio 63), Rogers, Ramsey (Rashford HT); Watkins Subs not used: Bogarde, Jimoh, Zych (gk), Olsen (gk).
Ipswich (4-2-3-1): Palmer; Tuanzebe, O’Shea, Greaves, Townsend; Johnson, Phillips; Cajuste (Luongo 80), Hutchinson (Taylor 90+5), Enciso (Clarke 17 (Woolfenden HT)); Delap (Hirst 80) Subs: Philogene, Broadhead, Godfrey, Muric (gk)
Ipswich lost four straight.
Lost 10 of last 12 at VP.
