The 2-2 draw between Fulham and Ipswich at Craven Cottage provided plenty of drama and talking points, with Fulham manager Marco Silva particularly critical of a key refereeing decision. Silva expressed his frustration over referee Darren Bond’s decision not to send off Ipswich defender Leif Davis after his challenge on Harry Wilson, which many believed denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity. While VAR reviewed the incident and decided a yellow card was sufficient, Silva remained unconvinced.
“I’m on the same page as the Fulham fans,” Silva remarked post-match. “It was a difficult afternoon for the referee, and the decision was hard to explain. We’ve seen similar situations, such as Tom Cairney’s red card after a VAR upgrade against Tottenham, but this time it went the other way. I don’t want to get into trouble, so it’s better to stop here, but I can’t understand why it wasn’t a red card.”
Despite the contentious decision, Fulham managed to salvage a point through two Raul Jimenez penalties. The Mexican striker showed great composure, especially with his stoppage-time spot-kick, ensuring his team avoided defeat. Fulham had to come from behind twice, with Sammie Szmodics giving Ipswich an early lead and Liam Delap scoring another penalty to restore their advantage in the second half. Jimenez’s contribution was critical, and Silva will undoubtedly feel that his side’s fighting spirit merited more than a single point.
Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna, meanwhile, had mixed feelings after the result. While a point at Craven Cottage is an achievement, his side will regret conceding so late. “It’s a point gained but also two points dropped because they scored in the 90th minute,” McKenna said. “I’m proud of aspects of the performance, but the penalties we gave away were unnecessary. Still, there are many positives to take, and we’ll build on them.”
One of the major positives for Ipswich was the continued development of 21-year-old striker Liam Delap. McKenna was full of praise for the forward, highlighting his physicality, movement, and confidence. “He’s showing real desire. He’s always making his presence known to the centre-backs, and he’s becoming an excellent outlet for us. To take the penalty in the manner he did shows his maturity and confidence.”
Off the pitch, Ipswich received a boost with the addition of Ben Godfrey on loan from Atalanta. The former Everton defender, who has Premier League experience, offers much-needed versatility and defensive stability. McKenna expressed optimism about Godfrey’s arrival. “We’re happy to have him. Axel Tuanzebe has missed a lot of time, and we’ve been lacking a centre-back who can also play right-back and excel in one-on-one situations. Ben has the hunger and experience we need for the second half of the season.”
For Ipswich, the draw moves them level on points with 17th-placed Wolves, who still have a game in hand. While survival remains a tough challenge, performances like this against established Premier League sides show that McKenna’s team has the resilience and quality to fight for safety. Fulham, on the other hand, will rue the missed opportunity to capitalize on their dominance and turn a point into three. However, their ability to recover from losing positions reflects a side that still has the belief and firepower to secure a strong finish to the season.
As both teams reflect on the match, the result may feel bittersweet for their respective campaigns. Ipswich continues to battle hard for survival, and Fulham looks to consolidate in mid-table, but the ongoing debate around refereeing decisions will likely remain a focal point long after the final whistle.