- Ipswich’s wait for a first home Premier League win continued after the defeat
- Enes Unal equalised late on before Dango Ouattara scored with seconds to play
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When Bournemouth’s billionaire owner Bill Foley triumphantly declared last December that the club could qualify for Europe within five years, many scoffed at the statement.
The Cherries were 14th at the time following a difficult start to the season that saw Andoni Iraola come under pressure.
Yet, a year later and that claim is looking more credible than ever after last-gasp goals from Enes Unal and Dango Outtara alighted Bournemouth’s European push as they secured a dramatic win against Ipswich.
The win was a triumph for Iraola’s game management, with both scorers introduced off the bench to leave the Cherries level with seventh-placed Brighton.
‘We are really happy and excited,’ Iraloa said post-match. ‘It was a game that we didn’t deserve to lose and probably you start thinking it’s not going to be our day. But the subs have been the deciding factor.
‘I think we shouldn’t look at the standings right now. It’s very early in the season and I don’t even know where we are.
Bournemouth came from behind to seal a dramatic win over Ipswich at Portman Road
Conor Chaplin scored his first Premier League goal after 21 minutes to put the hosts ahead
Enes Unal was there to nod home from close-range to break Ipswich hearts after 87 minutes
‘We value 24 points but we have to focus and recover. I hope we can continue adding points because the Premier League is so difficult.’
For Ipswich, the defeat was another brutal reminder of the Premier League, with Kieran McKenna’s side still searching for that elusive first home win, despite a battling display.
The Tractor Boys have competed in pretty much every game but the final quality in both boxes has cost them – and this is the third time they have dropped points in added time.
‘Of course, it’s a devastated dressing room,’ McKenna said. ‘I thought there were so many good things in the game and performance.
‘The commitment levels were outstanding and our play was really good right up until their first goal.’
Earlier, after a shaky start, which saw Marcus Tavernier somehow miss from a yard out, Ipswich found their feet and went ahead when Conor Chaplin sweeped home following Cameron Burgess’ cut-back.
Chaplin’s goal saw him join the exclusive club of scoring in the top four divisions of English football and his rise epitomises Ipswich’s over recent years.
Burgess thought he had added a second when he nodded home from a corner, but referee Michael Salisbury penalised Liam Delap for a foul on Kepa, much to the home crowd’s bemusement.
Dango Ouattara sealed victory for Bournemouth with just one minute left on the clock
Ipswich are still waiting to celebrate a home win following the heartbreaking last-gasp defeat
Evanilson then struck the post, while Justin Kluivert and Unal were guilty of spurning golden chances as Bournemouth piled on the pressure but it looked as if they were going to be heading home with a defeat.
Yet, when Outtara beat Arijanet Muric to a through ball after the keeper rashly came out, Unal nodded home to break Ipswich hearts.
And it was about to get worse for the hosts as Outtara reacted first with seconds to go when Muric saved Brooks’ shot to knock a real hammer blow into Ipswich’s hopes of survival.
‘We didn’t get what we deserved but that’s football,’ a defiant McKenna added. ‘And as much of a devastated dressing room it is, I know what the reaction will be and I expect them to be back fighting next week.’
