Ipswich Town came from behind twice to beat ten-man Crystal Palace 3-2 on Saturday, with substitute Zian Flemming scrambling in a stoppage-time winner to give Gary O'Neil's side their second Premier League win of the season.
Crystal Palace had taken a deserved lead after 14 minutes when Anan Khalaili capped an incisive move with a finish drilled into the bottom corner, his first goal for the club. Palace were reduced to ten men when defender Axel Disasi was sent off for a reckless, high challenge on Jack Clarke, and could not hold on despite twice more taking control of the game.
Ipswich Level Against The Run Of Play
Ipswich got back into the game against the run of play when the Palace backline switched off, allowing Leif Davis to cross from the right for Emersonn to guide a free header past goalkeeper Walter Benitez.
Palace continued to look comfortable despite the lapse until Disasi was late on Clarke in midfield, flying over the ball with his studs up and catching him on the shin. Referee Chris Kavanagh had a straightforward decision to send him off, leaving Palace to defend for 55 minutes with ten men.
The red card sparked Ipswich into life, and Davis and Emersonn combined again, this time in reverse order, to put Ipswich ahead. Emersonn's miscued attempt struck his shoulder and fell for Davis at the far post, with the Palace defence again allowing a man to roam free in the area.
Palace Hit Back Despite Being A Man Down
Ipswich sat deeper in the second half as they looked to close the game out, and it nearly cost them. Jorgen Strand Larsen shrugged off Issa Diop to get a shot away from just inside the area and drilled it past goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen to make it 2-2.
At that point Palace looked the more likely winners, with the momentum swinging in their favour despite being a man down. Khalaili, who had scored his maiden Palace goal in the first half, should have wrapped up the points when he skied over an open net from a few yards out.
Palace paid for the miss when the clock struck 90 minutes. Davis latched onto a deep cross and headed towards goal, his effort striking the crossbar before dropping for Flemming, whose scuffed contact secured all three points.
O'Neil Praises His Side Despite Wobble
"It wasn't perfect but we won," O'Neil said. "Palace had a couple of moments that we struggled with and we need to get better with that because we could easily have been punished in that small spell. But looking at the game as a whole, only one team deserved to win and thankfully we did."
It has been an impressive start for O'Neil's side. It was the first time Ipswich had come from behind to win in the Premier League since beating Tottenham Hotspur away in December 2001. Their two defeats so far this season have come against Liverpool and Manchester United.
Sage Admits Palace's Defensive Problems
Pierre Sage's Palace side have shipped 11 goals in their opening four Premier League games, with their starting back three changing in every match.
"I'm aware we are conceding too many goals," Sage said. "We conceded the same goal three times: a cross in the box and not winning the ball in our box. We have to work on it and prevent crosses into the box."
For Ipswich's first goal, the Palace defence had expected the linesman to raise his flag for offside and froze, gifting Ipswich a route back into the game. Sage conceded that his players had made the same mistake in training during the week.
Jaydee Canvot, one of Palace's best young talents, was dropped from the squad after one poor performance. Palace have not kept a clean sheet in their last 10 Premier League matches.
