Fine Mateta finish gives Glasner and Palace much-needed win over Ipswich

Jean-Philippe Mateta gave Crystal Palace their first away win of the season against fellow Premier League strugglers Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Tuesday evening.

Contents

Talking Point – Can Ipswich stop the rot?Player of the Match – Jean-Philippe Mateta Player Ratings Key Moments Key Stats

Ipswich looked to bag their first home victory of the season against Palace, but were outclassed by the Eagles who took the lion’s share of possession early on.

Clear cut chances were not in abundance for either side, though Palace made considerably more shots in the first half.

Ipswich began to show their teeth towards the end of the first half, and came back into the second half looking like they might cause serious problems for the visitors.

But it was Mateta who broke the deadlock in the 59th minute, as he found the net, and despite fleeting opportunities for both sides, neither were able to capitalise on them to add any more to the tally.

Talking Point – Can Ipswich stop the rot?

To be almost halfway through the season and not have managed a single home win in that time is a grim statistic for the home side. It is nonetheless easier to understand after a match like tonight, in which neither side looked particularly threatening.

Ipswich will have opportunities to pick up points before the brutal festive calendar gets into full swing, against the likes of Wolves, and potentially Newcastle and Bournemouth. On the strength of a display such as this, it’s increasingly hard to see a change in their fortunes.

Player of the Match – Jean-Philippe Mateta

The goal by Mateta was really the only redeeming feature of an otherwise frustrating match, but to give Mateta his dues, it was a goal befitting a higher calibre fixture.

Player Ratings

IPSWICH: Muric 5, Clarke 5, O’Shea 6, Greaves 5, Davis 5, Morsy 5, Cajuste 5, Clarke 5, Burns 5, Hutchinson 5, Delap 6. Subs: Chaplin 5, Taylor 5, Al-Hamadi 5, Broadhead 5.

CRYSTAL PALACE: Henderson 5, Munoz 6, Chalobah 6, Lacroix 6, Guehi 5, Mitchell 5, Hughes 6, Doucoure 6, Sarr 6, Eze 6, Mateta 7. Subs: Lerma 5, Richards 5, Devenny 5.