Chelsea fight back against Ipswich but may regret dropped points, admits Maresca

The Tractor Boys were two goals up at the break at Stamford Bridge. 

LEVEL: Chelsea's Jadon Sancho celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game during the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge. 

Chelsea 2 Ipswich 2 

Jadon Sancho's fine equaliser prevented still-doomed Ipswich from celebrating a home and away double but really this result was nothing but a big boost for Chelsea's rivals for Champions League qualification.

Ipswich, who beat Chelsea 2-0 at Portman Road in December, were 2-0 up at the break through Julio Enciso and Ben Johnson.

Chelsea pulled one back within 18 seconds of the restart through Axel Tuanzebe's own goal but despite creating many chances were able to add just a single point to the tally.

Will Chelsea end up regretting conceding four points to a club whose relegation will be confirmed in a matter of days? "At the end of the season, we'll see," said manager Enzo Maresca. "Hopefully not for us.

"We are going to win games but at the same time we are going to drop points because it's normal."

Chelsea dominated early on. Nicolas Jackson pinged a post from close range before and after team-mates either forced Town goalkeeper Alex Palmer into saves or failed to hit the target from inviting positions.

Ipswich had seemed unable to string two passes together before suddenly it clicked for them on the counter-attack.

George Hirst, in up front as Liam Delap had a rib problem, powered forward and released Johnson for a ball across the box that Enciso, nipping in between the centre-backs, poked home in the 19th minute. It was the Brighton loanee's first Ipswich goal.

Chelsea were caught out again in the 31st minute when Johnson arrived at the back post to nod across Robert Sanchez. Enciso, the supplier of the cross, was flagged offside but the semi-automated technology introduced this weekend ruled he was marginally on.

Chelsea were booed off at the break. "We are stronger with our fans, we are a better team and it's up to them to decide the way," was Maresca's take on that.

To their credit, Chelsea required just 18 second-half seconds to pull a goal back, with Tuanzebe diverting Noni Madueke's low ball into his own goal.

Hirst twice went close at the other end however as Ipswich regained some composure and Chelsea reverted to creating chances without taking them.

Substitute Sancho showed them how to do it with his first goal since December 8. The on-loan Manchester United man dropped off to receive the ball just inside on the left from a short corner. He took aim and found the far top corner.

Chelsea pressed for a winner but Town keeper Palmer pulled off two fine saves in stoppage-time, first to deny Cole Palmer and then Enzo Fernandez.

It was a decent display from Ipswich but Wolves' 4-2 win over Tottenham underlined that decent displays simply haven't added up to enough points for Kieran McKenna's side, who were in League One two years ago.

"It's been too much of a mountain for us this season in terms of picking up the points that we would have wanted," he admitted. "We've not been too far away from it, but it looks like we're not going to be able to climb that mountain."

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez 6; Chalobah 6, Adarabioyo 5 (Gusto 46, 5), Colwill 6, Cucurella 6; Caicedo 6, Fernandez 6; Madueke 6 (Sancho 68, 6), Palmer 6, Neto 6; Jackson 5 (Nkunku 87).

Subs (not used): Jorgensen, James, Acheampong, Badiashile, Dewsbury-Hall, George.

Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1): Palmer 9; Tuanzebe 6, O'Shea 7, Burgess 6, Davis 6 (Townsend 62, 5); Morsy 6, Cajuste 7; Johnson 7, Enciso 7 (Taylor 75), J Clarke 6 (Philogene 71 (Broadhead 75)); Hirst 7 (Delap 71).

Subs (not used): Walton, Woolfenden, Luongo, Chaplin.

Referee: Stuart Attwell 6