Ipswich 1-1 Leicester: Jordan Ayew nets stoppage-time equaliser to deny Kieran McKenna’s side their first win of the season – after Kalvin Phillips was sent off for the Tractor Boys

Ipswich 1-1 Leicester: Jordan Ayew nets stoppage-time equaliser to deny Kieran McKenna’s side their first win of the season – after Kalvin Phillips was sent off for the Tractor Boys

  • Leif Davis fired the hosts into the lead with a wonderful volley on 55 minutes
  • But Leicester equalised through Jordan Ayew after Kalvin Phillips was sent off
  • LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off!, available wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Monday and Thursday 

Just when it looked like Ipswich were about to turn over a new Leif, they threw away what should have been their first Premier League win in calamitous fashion.

Leif Davis scored a scorcher to put them firmly in the driving seat against Leicester. But a nightmare year for Kalvin Phillips continued when he was sent off with 13 minutes to go.

And the pressure eventually told deep in stoppage time when Jordan Ayew struck an equaliser to leave Ipswich still without a win in any of their opening ten top-flight games.

Maybe we should have seen it coming. Leicester have scored in every league game this season, and the Tractor Boys coughed up a point in their previous game to a 96th-minute Brentford winner.

It’s 12 points dropped from winning positions now for Ipswich and if you can’t beat Leicester at home when you’re leading, it promises to be a long, hard season.

Jordan Ayew came off the bench to rescue a point for Leicester against Ipswich on Saturday

The Ghanaian forward netted in stoppage-time to put the game back on level terms

The Ghanaian forward netted in stoppage-time to put the game back on level terms

Steve Cooper's side now sit five points clear of the drop zone in their return to the top flight

Steve Cooper’s side now sit five points clear of the drop zone in their return to the top flight

It was a case of no Steve Cooper, no problem for Leicester to start this game. The Foxes boss was watching from the stands instead of the dug-out after picking up a touchline ban for three yellow cards.

But three straight defeats for Ipswich before this game had tested patience and got some nerves jangling for the Tractor Boys.

And they made a shaky start, allowing Jamie Vardy to feed Stephy Mavididi for a golden opportunity he squandered badly with a fluffed shot.

Arijanet Muric then had to make a flying save from Abdul Fatawu, who let fly from the edge of the box.

When Ipswich rallied, Sam Szmodics headed a chance over after Omari Hutchinson robbed a sleeping Jannik Vestergaard.

Facundo Buonanotte then had a deflected shot well saved by Muric at the other end but the home side were growing in confidence and Dara O’Shea should have done better with a wayward header from a corner.

The visitors controlled much of the action throughout the early going at Portman Road

The visitors controlled much of the action throughout the early going at Portman Road

But Leif Davis netted a magnificent volley after the interval to fire the hosts into the lead

But Leif Davis netted a magnificent volley after the interval to fire the hosts into the lead

The opener left Kieran McKenna's side just 30 minutes away from their first win of the season

The opener left Kieran McKenna’s side just 30 minutes away from their first win of the season

MATCH FACTS 

IPSWICH (4-2-3-1): Muric; Davis, Burgess, O’Shea, Johnson, Morsy, Phillips, Szmodics (Clarke 71), Chaplin (Cajuste 81), Hutchinson (Burns 81), Delap (Hirst 75)

Subs not used:  Walton, Woolfenden, Townsend, Luongo, Walton, Broadhead

Booked: Muric, Chaplin, Cajuste, Hirst

Sent off: Phillips

Goal: Davis 55′

LEICESTER (4-2-3-1): Hermansen, Kristiansen (Ayew 87), Vestergaard, Faes, Pereira (El Khannous 80), Winks, Ndidi (Soumare 71), Mavididi (McAteer 71), Buonanotte, Fatawu, Vardy

Subs not used: Ward, Justin, Coady, Okoli, Skipp

Booked: Mavididi, Buonanotte

Goal: Ayew 90+4 

Conor Chaplin was inches away from giving Ipswich the lead when he cut inside and unleashed an effort from the edge of the box. But Leicester had had the better chances by the time the half time whistle blew.

It was an absolute peach which finally broke the deadlock, and it came from the boot of Davis ten minutes after the break.

Sneaking in at the far post, he connected perfectly with a deep cross from Sam Morsy to place a brilliantly controlled side-foot volley past Hermansen and into the far corner.

Harry Winks tested Muric from distance in reply, and then disaster struck for Ipswich when Phillips received a second yellow card.

The former England midfielder took a bad touch and went in late on Ricardo Pereira as a result. Referee Tim Robinson took his time to think about it and then gave Phillips his marching orders.

But disaster struck when Kalvin Phillips received a second booking late in the game

But disaster struck when Kalvin Phillips received a second booking late in the game

The former England international was given his marching orders by referee Tim Robinson

The former England international was given his marching orders by referee Tim Robinson

Leicester piled on the pressure in the closing stages and were rewarded with an equaliser

Leicester piled on the pressure in the closing stages and were rewarded with an equaliser

But Cameron Burgess cleared off the line from Foxes sub Jordan Ayew and Muric saved from Buonanotte and in the fourth minute of stoppage time, Leicester struck.

Morsy gave the ball away and the Foxes broke with Vardy slipping in Ayew, who slotted home to crush home hearts.

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