The Blues had the better chances for most of the match, with Leif Davis latching onto a superb Sam Morsy pass to open the scoring in the second half. However, Kalvin Phillips’ red card changed the flow of the game, with substitute Jordan Ayew scoring in stoppage time to ensure that Town’s winless run in the Premier League continues.
Although an overhit backpass from Stephy Mavididi almost caught out Mads Hermansen in Leicester’s goal, it was the visitors who had the first chance. Ipswich’s define parted as Wilfred Ndidi’s through ball picked out Jamie Vardy. The striker went to set up Mavididi instead of taking aim himself, with Dara O’Shea making enough contact to take the pace off the ball before the winger scuffed his shot.
The Foxes had the better of the opening exchanges. In the eighth minute, a curling strike from winger Abdul Fatawu – who manager Steve Cooper claimed was an injury doubt before the match – forced Arijanet Muric to parry it out for a corner.
A heavy touch from Jannik Vestergaard saw Omari Hutchinson steal possession in the final third. He floated a cross from the right onto the head of Sammie Szmodics, who headed over the crossbar from close range in the 10th minute. Seconds later, Conor Chaplin floated a near-post effort just wide of the post after some quick footwork.
Liam Delap had chances to show off his strength in Leicester’s box. The first time, he went down under pressure inside the box, but a brief VAR check confirmed that there was no foul. Soon after, he ran the ball out of play before clashing with Wout Faes, with both players warned by referee Tim Robinson.
An impressive save from Muric prevented Facundo Buonanotte from scoring after beating Ben Johnson and Kalvin Phillips, with his looping shot parried away by the Kosovo international before Ipswich could clear.
Ipswich’s first corner of the game presented an opportunity in the 21st minute. Davis’ delivery found Phillips just inside the area, where the midfielder saw his shot blocked before O’Shea curled a deflected effort out of play. The second corner was cleared, where Leicester were able to break before Mavididi gave away a foul and Buonanotte was booked for kicking the ball away.
The Blues had the better of things around the half-hour mark. Quick play from Hutchinson allowed Johnson to win a corner, where Davis delivered a ball onto the head of the onrushing O’Shea, who placed his shot narrowly past the post.
All the fast, exciting build-up play that we saw consistently in the Championship was on show here, but it didn’t have the end product to match. Chaplin had a good opportunity to curl one into the top left corner in the 39th minute, but it fizzed just wide.
In his pre-match press conference, Town boss Kieran McKenna said that the atmosphere at Portman Road is among the best in world football when it gets going, and it was hard to disagree with that statement towards the end of the first half, where the hosts were clearly enjoying themselves and playing with a real intensity. They just lacked the cutting edge to grab their goal before the break.
The start of the second half felt much like the first. Although the chances didn’t come quite as easily, a bust-up between Vardy and O’Shea showed that tensions were high.
Ipswich were the better team, however, and the breakthrough came in the 55th minute when Hermansen kicked the ball straight out of play from a throw-in. From there, Chaplin picked out Morsy, who in turn delivered a sumptuous cross to Davis. The left-back confidently took a first-time left-footed shot, slotting the ball into the net as Portman Road erupted with noise.
Even McKenna, a man who’s known for being incredibly composed on the touchline, couldn’t help but wheel away in celebration. It felt like a big moment.
Substitutions took the sting out of the game, but it burst into life with 15 minutes to play as Chaplin was shoved inside the box during a free-kick. No penalty was given, but Phillips was seen tripping Ricardo Pereira on the edge of the box.
Having been booked just before the break for a late tackle on Buonanotte, the Manchester City loanee was subsequently sent off. For the second week in a row, Town were down to 10 men. This time, they had to hold on for just over 10 minutes.
Leicester threw bodies forward. Substitute Jordan Ayew raced through on goal, chipping Muric before Cameron Burgess made a vital block on the line to prevent an 86th-minute equaliser.
Many would’ve expected there to be an audible groan when eight minutes of added time was announced, but it was met by a loud roar from the home fans. They couldn’t avoid heartbreak at Portman Road, however, as a quick one-two between Ayew and Vardy allowed the former to slot home in the fourth minute of stoppage time, earning the visitors a 1-1 draw.
Town XI: 4-2-3-1: Muric; Johnson, O’Shea, Burgess, Davis; Morsy , Phillips; Hutchinson (Burns 80′), Chaplin (Cajuste 80′), Szmodics (J. Clarke 74′); Delap (Hirst 74′)
Leicester XI: 4-2-3-1: Hermansen; Pereira (El Khannous 80′), Faes, Vestergaard, Kristiansen (Ayew 87′); Ndidi (Soumare 71′), Wink; Fatawu, Buonanotte, Mavididi (McAteer 71′); Vardy
Attendance: 29,874 (2,991)
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