Crystal Palace extended their winning streak to four games with a 1-0 victory over Ipswich Town at Selhurst Park, courtesy of Ismaila Sarr’s late goal in a tightly contested match.
The Eagles had to adjust their attack in the absence of Jean-Philippe Mateta, who was sidelined after sustaining a deep head wound that required 25 stitches following a collision with Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts in the FA Cup.
Sarr delivered the decisive moment in the 82nd minute, weaving his way into the box before lifting the ball over Alex Palmer to secure all three points for Palace.
The match was a scrappy affair, with both sides struggling for fluidity. Palace nearly took the lead within two minutes when Adam Wharton played Eddie Nketiah through with a sublime pass, but the forward’s shot went straight into the hands of Palmer.
Ipswich responded well, creating two promising opportunities, Jaden Philogene saw his strike kept out by Dean Henderson, while Julio Enciso also tested the Palace shot-stopper.
Palace came closest again in the second half when Eberechi Eze’s deflected cross struck the post, forcing Palmer into a desperate scramble.
At the other end, Ipswich had a golden chance to break the deadlock, but Sarr came to Palace’s rescue, clearing the ball off the line while the game was still goalless.
With this result, the Eagles continue their strong run of form, suffering only one defeat in their last 13 outings.
Mateta’s absence was always going to be felt, but it provided an opportunity for Nketiah, who has struggled for consistency since making his £30m move from Arsenal in the summer.
The 25-year-old started his seventh Premier League match of the season but has yet to establish himself as the main striker.
Nketiah had been showing promise with goals in his last two outings against Aston Villa and Millwall, and he nearly continued that streak early on when he latched onto Wharton’s exquisite outside-of-the-foot pass—only to be denied by Palmer.
Despite some bright link-up play, the forward had a relatively quiet game, missing another chance when he tried to connect with Sarr’s cross.
As Palace adjust to a different attacking setup, Nketiah may soon find himself back on the bench, especially with Mateta expected to return for the FA Cup quarter-final against Fulham.
Meanwhile, Ipswich’s struggles continued, as they remain the only Premier League team yet to register a win in 2025.
McKenna’s side showed glimpses of attacking intent, particularly through Philogene and Enciso, but lacked the cutting edge needed to break Palace down.
This latest defeat leaves Ipswich in 18th place, five points adrift of safety.
One bright spot for the visitors was the performance of Liam Delap, who was a constant menace to the Palace defense.
With England manager Thomas Tuchel watching from the stands, Delap will be hoping his efforts have earned him a place in the upcoming squad announcement.
