Premier League - Chelsea FC vs Ipswich Town Preview & Matchday Thread

[Frosty]

Chelsea FC v Ipswich Town



Sunday 13th April 2025 – 14:00


Stamford Bridge








Pre-match Thoughts - Mike



I think it is fair to say that we have had a fair few disappointments this season but I doubt we have had too many worse than last weekends demise at the hands of Wolverhampton Wanderers. Going into a must win game with our hopes at the last chance saloon we could all be forgiven for expecting us to really give it a go and give it our all, instead what we got was the proverbial roll over and die performance which can't be described any other way apart from bitterly disappointing.

The first half actually wasn't too bad and we found ourselves a goal to the good fairly early on, thanks once again to star man Liam Delap who this time found the poachers instinct to grab himself goal number Twelve which given our poor season is quite remarkable and explains why many of the big clubs are circling. A neat header from defender O'Shea created the chance from which Delap scored and at this point it really looked and felt like Town could go on and keep the season alive.

Both sides created chances during the first half and it just felt we definitely needed a second to put the game to bed as Wolves were definitely a threat themselves. We did survive a massive scare with ten minutes of the half remaining as Alex Palmer in the Town goal made a right howler by letting the ball slip under his foot and creep towards the goal, thankfully he got back to somehow push the ball to safety but in doing so he conceded a free kick on the Six yard line, thankfully our skipper Sam Morsy was there to block the free kick and the danger was averted.

Unfortunately we were unable to add a second goal to ease the pressure but in truth Wolves had look the more likely to score the longer the half went on. Morsy had looked very bright while O'Shea was also having a good game at the heart of the Town defence.

When the teams emerged after the break I really did expect us to step it up and get this game won, after all it was a massive opportunity to close the gap further on our opponents, what followed was anything but a "let's get at them" showing, in fact it can only be described as abysmal.

What I find disappointing, and dare I say it, concerning, is the fact we had no idea how to counter the changes that Wolves clearly implemented after the break, they had a plan B which changed the whole complex of the game, we changed nothing, and it showed. As has been the case for the majority of games this season we just went with what we started with and then compounded it with bizarre substitutions once more. Their manager openly said after the game that they had to change tactics to win the game, what a refreshing change that would be for us to be in that position.

I think the thing I am struggling with the most is the apparent inability from the Manager and coaching staff to get the team fired up and motivated in what was their very last chance to keep the tiniest bit of hope alive, six points behind was ever so slightly doable, Twelve is relegated, and while I feel we were down weeks ago many didn't and as such must be even more annoyed than I was last Saturday evening.

What it all means now is that the last Seven games are basically meaningless other than pride, we have a tough Three games coming up and to get anything from any of them would be a real surprise but hopefully we go about them in a good and professional manner which I am sure we will. It has been suggested we should maybe look to utilise players that will in all probability be serving us in the Championship next season but with it still not confirmed we are down I doubt very much KM will go down that route yet.

On the subject of next season I hope we are already looking at what we need to do and what players need to be moved on, clearly some will leave, Delap being the biggest and most disappointing of them all, Enciso, Phillips and Cajuste will all be gone too, while the likes of Leif Davis & Omari Hutchinson could well be heading off to pastures new. If the talk is true that Sam Morsy has had an offer to go play in Saudi then we will also be on the lookout for virtually a new Midfield and captain too, should O'Shea stay I think that role is earmarked for him.

On we go to Chelsea and with it the chance of our first double of the season, yeah right !!! Hopefully we keep it close at the very least and give the travelling fans something to be happy about Sunday evening. I think most will be expecting another defeat which is exactly how I see it too, it's just a case of seeing these last seven games out before we can reset and look forward to the future with hope and expectation once more. Better days will definitely be ahead. COYB'S


The Opposition – Chelsea FC - Honours



LEAGUE



First Division/Premier League (6)

1954–55, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10, 2014–15, 2016–17

Second Division (2)

1983–84, 1988–89


CUPS


FA Cup (8)

1969–70, 1996–97, 1999–2000, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2017–18

Football League Cup/EFL Cup (5)

1964–65, 1997–98, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2014–15

FA Charity Shield/FA Community Shield (4)

1955, 2000, 2005, 2009

Full Members' Cup (2)

1985–86, 1989–90


Continental


UEFA Champions League (2)

2011–12, 2020–21

UEFA Europa League (2)

2012–13, 2018–19

UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (2)

1970–71, 1997–98

UEFA Super Cup (2)

1998, 2021


Worldwide


FIFA Club World Cup

2021




The Manager – Enzo Maresca








League Table as at 08.04.2025







Form Guide





Chelsea FC



25 Feb Chelsea 4 - 0 Southampton

9 Mar Chelsea 1 - 0 Leicester City

16 Mar Arsenal 1 - 0 Chelsea

3 Apr Chelsea 1 - 0 Tottenham

6 Apr Brentford 0 - 0 Chelsea




Ipswich Town



26 Feb Manchester Utd 3 - 2 Ipswich Town

8 Mar Crystal Palace 1 - 0 Ipswich Town

15 Mar Ipswich Town 2 - 4 Nottm Forest

2 Apr Bournemouth 1 - 2 Ipswich Town

5 Apr Ipswich Town 1 - 2 Wolverhampton





Head to Head






Match Referee – Stuart Attwell










CHELSEA FC 1 IPSWICH TOWN 1

[ITFC2024]

Thanks for continuing to do these previews. Hate to say it, but I’m not bothered by the rest of the season. I might view in if we shock the football world with a win, but I won’t be planning to watch anymore games.

Sorry just ready to move on to next season.

[hallamblue]

Same here ^^^

[Blue Wilf]

Good preview and I agree with it all. I fear we will go down with a whimper but it dod not need to have been like that. Seven games to keep our pride and heads up as it would be a shame to go into the summer without some glimmers of hope on the field as well. Maybe they will come from Townsend or a resurgent Woolfenden or maybe someone like Jack Taylor stepping up but I think KM will keep them on the bench and do what he has done all season. Same routine, same format, same tactics, same result. Anything less than a 3 goal margin would be the best we can hope for, sadly

[mugen1]

Thank you for all the previews over the season, it's appreciated.

Like others have already said, I too have given up on the season.

Roll on the Championship

[Mauswara]

Never give up! Never surrender!

[marko69]

Classic film, mauswara. Watched it on a flight years ago (with the headphones on obviously) but laughed out loud all the way through pi$$ing off the wife and everyone else on the plane, but . Was funny.

Unlike the preview. Too close to reality and thats not funny.
Add to that, 24 leaving until August.

Pressure off so Ipswich win or draw on this one. Hopefully.

Caption:
Ref: “This is Chelsea, Pep. Why you here? Leave!”
Enzo: “Very good Ref! Like I’ve never heard that one before!”

[MasseyFerguson]

Anything other than defeat would be a big surprise. Our season is, effectively, over and Chelsea are playing to secure a top four finish.

The championship next year will be huge for us. If we manage to bounce straight back, and I think we will if KMcK stays, we will be much better prepared for the EPL next time.

[Denny61]

Anything other than defeat would be a big surprise. Our season is, effectively, over and Chelsea are playing to secure a top four finish.

The championship next year will be huge for us. If we manage to bounce straight back, and I think we will if KMcK stays, we will be much better prepared for the EPL next time.

I don't understand how you can say we be better prepared for the Premier league nxt time....as regards quality of players..we will have most likely a lesser quality of player in championship...but still enough to go up hopefully...so you saying that team then ,will be a lot better so to take on Premier clubs than what we have now !! You must be joking.. we will have to do the same as this time..invest over a hundred million Again and that's not going to guarantee us a better placing than 18th ??

[arana peligrosa]

The one and only opposition we've beaten at Portman Road this season, maybe we can go for a double over them.

Unfortunately it ain't going to happen as voted to lose and we'll pretty much take nothing away from the trip there. McKenna could play the same formation as always, he could experiment and try something different, it's all rather immaterial at this stage of the season. Suppose we were to win there, we could win all remaining league fixtures and it probably won't be enough. Relegation came to pass with the last defeat, it's almost impossible to avert the inevitable now.

This season back in the EPL has been garbage. High points have been very few and far between, enjoyment has been minimal. Perhaps we'll win one more game before falling back but it won't be here. The defense we got is absolute sub-standard, guess you can pin something like damage limitation for the trip there. Not going to apologize for being negative, we're a poor ineffective team that gets picked off too easy and too regular, that's regrettably how it is.

Chelsea 3 ITFC 1

[Bluemike]

Hirst gets his chance today, Delap not recovered from his knock last week, only makes the bench. Jack Clarke also starts as does Leif Davis

[TODD66]

Good lord.

Just checked and we are 2 up!

Come on boys

[Charnwood]

Not bad from 27% possession and two shots on target. Ben Johnson & Enciso a goal and an assist each. Hirst for the first goal and Jack Clarke for the second made significant contributions in the build up.
Johnson having a very good game although a mistake a few mins back almost gifted Chelsea an opportunity to claw one back.

[Charnwood]

Based on the first 45 mins alone we could really do with trying to keep Enciso and Cajuste.

[Bluemike]

A bit of a shock but we've done OK, sat deep and defended for much of the haf and caught them on the break twice. Defending very well and Johnson been excellent, still think Clarke is by and large hopeless tbh.

I think this could be a long second half though but we could get chances as they have to come at us.

[Bluemike]

And people talk about Burgess, shocking defending

[Charnwood]

And people talk about Burgess, shocking defending

… and where the hell was Leif Davis ?

[Charnwood]

A bit of a shock but we've done OK, sat deep and defended for much of the haf and caught them on the break twice. Defending very well and Johnson been excellent, still think Clarke is by and large hopeless tbh.

I think this could be a long second half though but we could get chances as they have to come at us.

With 4th place and a Champions League place at stake we’ll do well to take a point. At least this is showing there’s life after Delap. Hirst is also getting himself into some decent positions and looks our most likely next scorer.

[Charnwood]

So pleased to see Townsend replace David who in my opinion has had a really poor game especially since half time since he’s twice gifted Chelsea unnecessary possession and decent scoring opportunities. He may well be good at creating chances but he’d a complete liability when it comes to defending.

[Charnwood]

Sometimes you just have to accept it when an opponent scores a brilliant goal and nobody is at fault. 2-2 it is with a long 10 + mins to play..

[Bluemike]

All in all it wasn't bad, woeful from Burgess and Davis fir their goal, some block from Townsend to thwart another chance and had Davis been on the field that's another goal.

I think when you see the different attributes of Delap and Hirst it's criminal they've never played together sometimes.

Incredible saves from Palmer, would be at least Ten points better off had he started season instead of that car crash we had in goal.

I'm confident about next season and really looking forward to it, i believe we'll have an enjoyable season, a successful season and we'll bounce back and be much better for it.

[ITFC2024]

Well I’ve jinxed myself for saying I’m not bothered. Now my Peacock App won’t playback PL replays it keeps freezing!

[ITFC2024]

I was able to get the match replay on my phone. Just finished watching the first half, and we played very well. We don’t look like a relegation team. I almost don’t wanna watch the second half. Don’t think I will.

[arana peligrosa]

I was able to get the match replay on my phone. Just finished watching the first half, and we played very well. We don’t look like a relegation team. I almost don’t wanna watch the second half. Don’t think I will.

You'd do well to view after the interval as in fact we were fortunate to take a point from it. Palmer made 2, 3 impressive stops once the score was tied to get the team a point. Their first was scrappy, Palmer could do nothing about the second. No goalkeeper in the league would have got to it.

Can't abide us playing in pink, it may get some favorable scores like today but give it to the women's squad for fucks sake. It's just not appropriate for our second strip. Believe today any thought of survival has vanished what with Wolverhampton winning. Just going to be too tough to make up enough ground to overtake them with games remaining.

All told we came close to winning home and away against one of the more heavyweight names the EPL can provide. That's an impressive statistic but then again if not for Palmer we could just have easily been beaten in the closing stages.

[ITFC2024]

Agree the pink strip is awful!

[Charnwood]

I was able to get the match replay on my phone. Just finished watching the first half, and we played very well. We don’t look like a relegation team. I almost don’t wanna watch the second half. Don’t think I will.

That’s what you said about the rest of the season yesterday.

[Charnwood]

Agree the pink strip is awful!

I don’t think I’d buy it but I luv it. Maybe a topic for a survey when it all goes quiet on here.

[lucy]

Maybe now the Club will announce Season Ticket Details. It's getting a bit late

[Shed on tour]

Loved the chant yesterday from our fans of “10 more years Delap, 10 more years”. He even laughed when he heard it whilst warming up on the touchline.

[Bluemike]

To the tune of Kum-buy-ah