Results| Sunday 05/01 |
| | Ipswich |
| | |
| | Man Utd |
Fulham 2-2 Ipswich Town
Raul Jimenez completed a penalty double in stoppage time to rescue a point for Fulham against Ipswich as three spot-kicks were awarded in a dramatic second half.
Despite Fulham dominating possession, Ipswich were in front at the break after Sammie Szmodics fired in the opener when wing-back Ben Johnson's header came back off the bar.
But the game really came to life in the second half, with the drama beginning as the home side levelled through a coolly taken Jimenez penalty.
Referee Darren Bond initially waved away Fulham's appeals when Harry Wilson was tripped by Ipswich skipper Sam Morsy, but he overturned that decision after being sent to the screen by his video assistant.
Bond was later accused by Fulham boss Marco Silva of performing "not at the level the Premier League demands".
A mere 21 seconds after the game restarted, Fulham defender Timothy Castagne kicked through Ipswich striker Liam Delap when attempting to clear the ball and Bond pointed to the spot again.
Delap duly struck the ball home powerfully for his eighth league goal of the campaign.
The visitors nearly made sure of the points when Jack Clarke's low drive hit the post, but Fulham went down the other end and Jimenez was felled by Leif Davis.
The Mexico striker was quickly back on his feet and another nerveless penalty, hit high into the net, ensured Fulham's unbeaten run stretched to eight league games.
Fulham stay ninth in the Premier League while Ipswich remain 18th, level on points with Wolves who sit a place above them.
Silva fumes at referee before Fulham's rescue act
Although Fulham were given two penalties at Craven Cottage, manager Silva was far from happy with referee Bond for much of the match.
Much of that frustration stemmed from a decision that came midway through the first half when Wilson burst through on goal and was taken down by Davis.
Bond judged that there was a defender close enough to cover, meaning Davis was not the last man, and much to Fulham's disbelief he showed just a yellow card.
"It's important to say discussions with the referee is normal," Silva told BBC Match of the Day.
"It's difficult to understand why it wasn't a red card. It's just emotions, just normal.
"It's my job to be as calm as I can."
Silva's mood was not helped by Szmodics putting Ipswich ahead with a shot that deflected in off Calvin Bassey following a poor clearance from the Fulham centre-back.
Substitute Emile Smith Rowe missed a golden opportunity to equalise after the break but headed wide from Alex Iwobi's cross.
Silva, who had continued his protestations with Bond at half-time, was incensed again when the referee waved away his side's claims for a penalty for a trip on Wilson.
That decision was changed after the VAR consultation, but Silva's reaction earned him a yellow card before Jimenez rolled in from 12 yards.
There was no real debate over the Ipswich penalty, but conceding it so soon after play resumed will not have helped to calm the Fulham boss.
Even the equaliser was not enough to satisfy Silva.
"We should have won the game because we did more than them," he said. "When on the front foot we should have killed them in the right way."
Ipswich rue fine margins after battling display
Just a couple of inches were the difference between one point and three for Kieran McKenna's Ipswich side, who were just minutes away from moving out of the relegation zone.
Had Clarke's effort gone in off the post rather than bouncing back, then Ipswich would in all likelihood have made it back-to-back wins and jumped to 16th in the table.
Instead, they stay behind Wolves on goal difference and a point back from Everton, both of whom have played a game fewer than the Tractor Boys.
"We put ourselves in a really good position in the second half," McKenna told Match of the Day. "The two penalties that we conceded were frustrating because they were both breakaways from our attacks.
"We had the better chances in the second half from open play. I think we have learned how to manage games. We've had a good last three performances - Arsenal, Chelsea and Fulham.
"We have been competitive most of the season. Today, maybe we have left a couple of points out there."
Despite the late disappointment, this was a performance that should encourage an Ipswich side who are beginning to look the part following their promotion.
They were relatively comfortable in keeping Fulham's threat at bay in the first half, despite the hosts bossing possession. When the chances to counter-attack did arise, Ipswich looked dangerous.
Delap was a handful as ever and the Szmodics goal was the perfect example of them getting players up in support in the right moments.
Fulham pushed more men forward in trying to get level for the first time, and Ipswich's response to being pegged back was all McKenna could have hoped for.
While there will be disappointment at failing to hold on for the win, the away point could still be a good one come May, and the display pointed to the prospect of a sustained push for a second season back among the elite.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cy7k342y4xvt
Post-Ipswich press conference
Marco Silva heaped praise on Raúl Jiménez as the striker became the highest scoring Mexican in Premier League history following his brace in Fulham's 2-2 draw with Ipswich Town.
Jiménez scored his 54th and 55th Premier League goals in the draw with the Tractor Boys, converting twice from the penalty spot to overtake Javier Hernández as the English top tier's highest-scoring Mexican player.
"It's an incredible achievement," said Silva in his post-match press conference. "I'm really pleased for him because we all know he had a really bad moment [with his head injury], not just in his career but in his life. He was really down when we signed him, but we showed trust in him and it's paying off.
"The first two or three months at the club, he was not scoring and everyone was asking why we took the decision to bring him into the football club. We kept trusting him, he kept working really hard and it's so nice to see him achieve an incredible number.
"It's an honour for him to achieve these numbers and he will be in Premier League history for many, many years. Let's hope there's much more to come from him and I'm here to help him.
"It's not just the goals today. The way he won fouls; the way he was always there to help the team. We changed his position in the second-half and he did really well. Let's hope he can get even more confidence in the future."
Jiménez's stoppage-time penalty rescued a point for Fulham as Silva's side made it eight Premier League games unbeaten.
The boss was disappointed to not take all three points at the Cottage but praised the fighting spirit of the side.
"We have to be disappointed with our performance, definitely," he said. "It was a very good first 30 minutes. We were the team in control and we had two or three clear chances to score, one with Raúl, which was a great save from the goalkeeper.
"We didn't give up many chances for them. With [Liam] Delap and [Sammie] Szmodics, they have players on the attacking line who are quick and can create moments around the box, but the reality is that before 1-0, they didn't.
"We lost control of the game when we went behind 1-0. We were too soft with the way we defended that moment. It's a mistake from us and they scored.
"The fighting spirit was there. Even in difficult circumstances with some decisions going against us, they showed the character. If somebody has to win the game, it should be ourselves. We created more chances, we were more on the front foot and we did everything apart from score more goals than Ipswich, so we have to be disappointed to not win the game."
https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2025/january/05/post-ipswich-press-conference/
Robinson named 2024 U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year
For the first time in 18 years, a defender has been named U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year.
U.S. Soccer has announced that Antonee Robinson has won the 2024 prize, with the star left back becoming the first defender to win the award since Oguchi Onyewu in 2006.
It's the first time Robinson has won the award, having previously been nominated in 2022.
"It's an incredible honor," the Fulham left back said in a U.S. Soccer release. "Representing our country isn't something you do for individual accolades. It's always about putting the team first and trying to do my best for the boys and for the country, so to be rewarded for that is an amazing feeling."
Robinson earned 55 percent of the weighted vote total, beating out fellow finalists Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, Christian Pulisic and Tim Ream. The votes come from fans, national team coaches, USMNT players who earned a cap in 2024, members of the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors, U.S. Soccer Athletes' Council, professional league head coaches and sporting directors, select media members and former players and administrators.
The 27-year-old continued to burnish his reputation for club and country in 2024. Robinson was named Fulham's 2023-24 Player of the Year, and is third in the Premier League in the current campaign with seven assists.
Amid a series of strong performances with the Cottagers, Robinson has been mentioned as a potential transfer target for some of the Premier League's biggest sides.
With the USMNT, Robinson started all 11 matches for which he was available, tallying an assist against Jamaica in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals.
https://prosoccerwire-eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/usmnt/2025/01/05/robinson-2024-u-s-soccer-male-player-of-the-year/77430851007/
Fulham 2-2 Ipswich: Raul Jimenez snatches a point for the hosts with late penalty after Liam Delap and Sammie Szmodics gave Tractor Boys the lead
Raul Jimenez scored a brace with two penalties to secure a point for Fulham
Ipswich remain in the relegation zone after blowing yet another lead late on
You know a referee has had a tough day at the office when he awards a stoppage-time penalty that earns one team a point and he still gets booed off the pitch by their fans and feels the wrath of their manager.
Poor old Darren Bond. He pointed to the spot three times in this frantic, chaotic 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage – and twice in the hosts' favour as Raul Jimenez snatched a late point for Fulham – yet he was still the one on the end of Marco Silva's frustrations.
'I'm in the same place as all the Fulham fans and probably everyone that watched the game,' said Fulham boss Silva. 'It was a really difficult afternoon for the referee and difficult to understand some decisions too.
'It's better to stop because I'm going to say things and I'm not here to be in trouble, I'm here to manage my team.
'The players fought until the end. At half-time, they did not understand the decisions from the referee. All 50-50s, they were not in our favour. Even in difficult circumstances with some decisions against us and always against us, the players fought, they showed character.'
As it happened, Silva agreed with all three penalty decisions.
The first two came in the space of just two second-half minutes. Bond waved away protests as Ipswich captain tripped Harry Wilson inside the box, only for VAR to send him to the screen and overturn his decision.
Wilson appeared to scream 'you f****** cheat' in Bond's face after he made his initial decision not to give the penalty. It will be interesting to see how dim a view the FA take of that if, or when, it appears in Bond's notes.
Jimenez buried it to level the scores and cancel out Sammie Szmodics's first-half opener.
The celebrations had barely finished when Bond pointed to the spot at the other end. Timothy Castagne on the ever-impressive Ipswich striker Liam Delap this time, harsh but not iffy enough this time for VAR to get involved.
Delap buried it in front of the travelling supporters. They thought they'd won it, they thought they had secured a second successive top-flight win for the first time since 2002 after their victory over Chelsea that would have lifted them out of the relegation zone.
But that was not to be the end. Jimenez still had one final say and so too would the referee as Ipswich's Leif Davis brought down the Fulham striker, who did the rest.
For Silva, though, his main frustration was that Davis was still on the pitch to give the penalty away after he'd tripped Harry Wilson in the first half when the Fulham forward was about to run through on goal.
Bond only showed a yellow card. Perhaps Davis's team-mate Jacob Greaves would have got there to cover but that's not how Silva saw things as he watched the replay on a screen in the dugout and then spoke his mind after the game.
'I think it's clear,' said Silva. 'When Harry Wilson touches the ball, if he's not the tackle, it's going to be 1v1 with the goalkeeper. They found a way to explain to us that one player is a bit close and can arrive to cover. I don't see it that way.'
It's often difficult to know what to make of such chaos as the dirt and dust flies around in the aftermath but, once it settles, Fulham will surely reflect on a deserved point.
For Ipswich, they will be disappointed they missed out on two more that would have lifted them out of the bottom three but also take heart from the quality and fight they showed to get into such a position.
'It's a game of mixed emotions,' said Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna.
'I'm very pleased and proud of many aspects of performance but disappointed with the two penalties we gave away.
'I thought the referee did well. It wasn't easy because the crowd were on him pretty early from kick-off.'
Unlike others in this division, McKenna's team is not one playing like one that knows and has accepted its fate.
This is a team that, until the 91st minute, had their fans dreaming.
Had substitute Jack Clarke been a few inches more accurate with his late strike that hit the post moments before Jimenez's decisive spot kick, they sure would be.
And why not dream when you can drape them over the broad shoulders of Delap and let him carry them along this tricky and unfamiliar road.
What a joy he is to watch, this 6ft 1in throwback to a golden age of English centre-forwards. Who needs false nines and a fox in the box when you have a raging bull like Delap, causing mayhem and chaos with socks halfway down his shins. Why hire a locksmith when you have a bulldozer.
It was Delap, who flattened Sasa Lukic straight from the first kick-off, who so nearly secured this victory. When he netted his penalty, he ran towards them in celebration as they sang his name.
You imagine it will not be long until it's England fans singing it too.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-14252075/Fulham-2-2-Ipswich-raul-jimenez-liam-delap.html
Fulham 2-2 Ipswich
Fulham began 2025 with a point at Craven Cottage, drawing 2-2 with Ipswich Town.
Despite a largely controlled first-half display, the Tractor Boys went into the interval with the advantage as Sammie Szmodics punished a defensive error.
The second period was a story of three penalties. Raúl Jiménez got Fulham back on level terms from 12 yards, only for Liam Delap to convert down the other end 60 seconds later. But Jiménez rescued a point for Fulham in stoppage-time to make it eight Premier League games undefeated.
Fulham nearly took the lead in extraordinary circumstances as Tom Cairney's overhit cross almost turned into a wonder goal, leaving Christian Walton panicking as the ball landed on top of his net.
Plenty of pressure followed, but Walton wasn't forced into action until the 20th minute, but it was a fine reaction save to deny Jiménez's powerful header from a curling Cairney cross.
Harry Wilson threatened to race through on goal when he was deliberately dragged down by Leif Davis outside the box, but Darren Bond opted to show the Ipswich defender just a yellow card, much to the home crowd's frustration.
Against the run of play, it was Ipswich who took the lead shortly before the interval. Ben Johnson's thunderous header at the back post bounced back off the crossbar and Calvin Bassey wasn't able to clear his lines when the ball fell at his feet. The defender was only able to kick it as far as Szmodics, who was lurking inside the box, and he rifled a shot home from eight yards.
While Fulham dominated the ball in the early stages of the second period, the Tractor Boys continued to frustrate Marco Silva's side. It took until the hour mark for our first chance of the half to arrive, but Alex Iwobi's left-footed strike from a tight angle was high and wide.
Opportunities then began to arrive with more regularity as Emile Smith Rowe couldn't quite guide his back post header into the bottom corner following a teasing cross from the right.
Despite the ball almost constantly being in the Ipswich half up to this point, Leno had to make sure he was alert to keep out Nathan Broadhead's powerful volley following smart play from Delap.
Wilson was fouled for the second time in the game in the 65th minute, left tumbling in the box from a clumsy foul from Sam Morsy. Bond didn't initially award a penalty, but after a VAR review, a spot kick was given.
Jiménez made no mistake from 12 yards, calmly slotting the ball past Walton to hand Fulham a route back into the game.
Just 60 seconds later, a penalty was awarded at the other end, with Delap adjudged to have been fouled by Timothy Castagne. Delap's penalty was emphatic, rocketing the ball into the right side of the net from the spot.
As Fulham searched for an equaliser, Jiménez watched another header whistle narrowly wide as he rose highest to meet Antonee Robinson's free-kick.
Jiménez was to have the final say in the contest though as yet another penalty was awarded with a minute of normal time to play. After being tripped by Davis, Jiménez found the back of the net from 12 yards again, sending Walton the wrong way with an unstoppable spot kick.
Fulham FC: Leno, Diop (Smith Rowe 45'), Andersen, Bassey, Castagne, Lukić (Traoré 79'), Cairney (Andreas Pereira 63'), Robinson, Wilson, Jiménez, Iwobi (Rodrigo Muniz 63')
Subs: Rodrigo Muniz, Traoré, Cuenca, Andreas Pereira, Benda, King, Sessegnon, Smith Rowe, Godo
Ipswich: Walton, Johnson (Burns 80'), O'Shea, Woolfenden, Greaves, Davis, Szmodics (Taylor 73'), Sam Morsy, Cajuste (Phillips 73'), Broadhead (Jack Clarke 80'), Delap (Ali Al-Hamadi 88')
Subs: Muric, Harry Clarke, Burns, Phillips, Taylor, Burgess, Ali Al-Hamadi, Townsend, Jack Clarke
https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2025/january/05/fulham-2-2-ipswich/
Fulham 2-2 Ipswich Stats: Three Penalties Shared as Hosts Battle Back for a Draw
Check out all the best facts and Opta data from a dramatic Premier League game at Craven Cottage with our Fulham vs Ipswich stats page.
Fulham came from behind twice to earn a point against Ipswich, with Raúl Jiménez's 91st-minute penalty denying the visitors what would have been a massive three points in the relegation battle.
The Tractor Boys came within minutes of climbing out of the Premier League relegation zone for the first time since 22 November, with a first-half strike from Sam Szmodics and a second-half penalty from Liam Delap putting them into a lead until the match's closing moments.
But Fulham fought hard for a way back into the game and ultimately deserved at least a point, having dominated possession and had more of the chances.
Their domination of territory meant they spent long periods deep in Ipswich's half, and they drew two fouls in the box to hand Jiménez two huge chances from the spot. The Mexican made no mistake on either occasion.
Kieran McKenna had once again set his team up to soak up pressure and hit their opponents on the break, and the game plan very nearly worked again. They took until the 38th minute to have their first shot of the game, but might well have come away with a win.
Instead, the spoils were shared, leaving Fulham ninth and Ipswich in the drop zone.
Our Opta match centre delivers you all the Fulham vs Ipswich stats from their Premier League meeting at Craven Cottage.
The match centre below includes team and player stats, expected goals data, passing networks, an Opta chalkboard and more. It gives you everything you need to do your own match analysis.
Underneath the match centre you can find the official Opta stats on the game as well.
Fulham vs Ipswich: Post-Match Facts
Only Fulham (19) and Brighton and Hove Albion (18) have dropped more points from leading positions in the Premier League this season than Ipswich Town (17).
Fulham 2-2 Ipswich was the first Premier League game to see three penalties taken with both teams taking at least one each since Fulham 3-2 Wolves in November 2023.
With just 2 minutes and 44 seconds between Raul Jimenez equalizing from the penalty spot for Fulham in the 69th minute and Liam Delap putting Ipswich 2-1 ahead from the spot kick in the 71st minute, it was the shortest gap on record between two penalty goals in a single half of a Premier League game on record (since 2006-07).
https://theanalyst.com/2025/01/fulham-vs-ipswich-stats-premier-league
Ipswich pay penalty as Raúl Jiménez's spot-kick double gives Fulham late draw
Imagine where Fulham would be if they could see off the strugglers. They averted a rare defeat when Raúl Jiménez converted his second penalty of the afternoon at the start of added time but never did enough to overcome a well-drilled Ipswich.
At times it was reminiscent of the draw here a fortnight ago with Southampton and, while nobody in this part of west London could cavil at a run of one defeat in 12 games, a dash more cutting edge would surely see them in fairytale territory by now.
Jiménez picked himself up to score confidently after twisting Leif Davis inside out and coaxing the Ipswich left-back into a foul next to the byline. The gut punch for Kieran McKenna's team was that, seconds previously, their substitute Jack Clarke had been a post's width from guaranteeing them the points. They could nonetheless return to Suffolk feeling consoled: the next four months will undoubtedly be rocky but they look resilient and do not carry themselves as if destined for a return to the Championship.
For Fulham there was the frustration that, for all their near three-quarter share of possession, clear chances were few and far between. Much of their annoyance was directed at the referee, Darren Bond, for his handling of some borderline calls but in truth there was little to bristle about once the dust had settled. The Ipswich goalkeeper Christian Walton was only called upon to make two significant saves and that was a bigger factor than any officiating gripes.
Fulham's main point of contention was that Davis should have been sent off shortly before the half-hour after crudely checking Harry Wilson's dart towards goal. He was booked and perhaps the fact Wilson was still 40 yards from the posts, coupled with the proximity of at least one covering defender, swayed the decision. That seemed fair enough, although Marco Silva was still in Bond's ear as the teams re-emerged after half-time.
By then Ipswich had taken the lead with their first serious opportunity. Liam Delap, outstanding once again and seemingly growing in stature by the week, held the ball up in the left channel and began a move that culminated in a Nathan Broadhead cross to the far post. It was contested by Antonee Robinson and Ben Johnson, popping off the former's head and hitting the bar. There was still ample opportunity for Calvin Bassey to clear but he fluffed his lines, teeing Sammie Szmodics up for a blast that went in via the home defender's attempt at redemption.
Silva felt Fulham had lost "emotional control" after Davis's reprieve. But they had only come close once when on a more even keel, Jiménez drawing a good parry from Walton when he should perhaps have scored. Their next clear chance did not arise until the 63rd minute when Emile Smith Rowe, introduced at the interval for the redundant third centre-half Issa Diop, connected with Alex Iwobi's clipped ball but could only skid his header wide.
From there, proceedings finally caught light. Ipswich had been managing any Fulham threat well and looked dangerous when emboldened to commit players forward. When one such occasion saw Delap cushion a long pass into Broadhead's path, Bernd Leno reacted brilliantly to tip the subsequent snap-shot wide.
Not for the last time, Ipswich were left to rue the near miss. When another sparkling Wilson run ended in a tumble under Sam Morsy's challenge, Bond kept his whistle in his pocket. The Ipswich captain bore the sheepish look of a man who sensed what was coming, though, and VAR quickly spotted he had clipped Wilson's knee. It was an unnecessary challenge and Jiménez, beating Walton coolly, emphasised the point. Silva could not prevent himself afterwards from expressing disbelief that recourse to video technology had been required.
However it had come about, this seemed a platform for Fulham. They were waved back to the halfway line by staff but, 21 seconds after the resumption, gave themselves another mountain to climb. This time Bond did not hesitate when Delap twisted inside Timothy Castagne and hit the floor; there was enough contact to merit a spot-kick and Delap, brimming with confidence after destroying Chelsea on Monday, did the rest.
Silva threw on the kitchen sink in Adama Traoré form but, had Clarke not fired low against the upright from 20 yards after good work from Davis, Fulham's endeavours would have gone out of the window. Moments later Davis felled Jiménez, who was going nowhere particularly fast, and renewed parity set the stage for a frantic closing sequence in which Walton denied Rodrigo Muniz and Wilson nearly punished a dicey Jack Taylor back-pass.
Another few minutes and Fulham, thwarted late on by Bournemouth last time out, might have completed the turnaround. But Ipswich were worth their point and the quandary for both teams centres on how to more regularly obtain all three.
https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/ipswich-pay-penalty-ra-l-161358858.html
Fulham 2-2 Ipswich: Player ratings as Jimenez penalty double rescues point
Ipswich took first-half lead thanks to Sammie Szmodics' fourth goal of the season
Fulham level after VAR intervention sees penalty awarded for foul on Harry Wilson
Ipswich score penalty of their own before third spot kick of game converted by Jimenez
A rain-soaked Craven Cottage bore witness to a thrilling 2-2 draw between Fulham and Premier League new boys Ipswich Town.
The Tractor Boys were pressed back into their own half by an energetic home side during the opening exchanges but always looked capable on the counter attack. That threat materialised into the opening goal as Calvin Bassey's horrific scuffed clearance - which followed Ben Johnson's header clanging off the crossbar - fell at the feet of Sammie Szmodics - the former Blackburn Rovers star firing past Bernd Leno from close range.
Fulham felt Leif Davis should have seen red for a foul on Harry Wilson before half-time - a decision that left Marco Silva fuming on the touchline - and the latter was the victim of Sam Morsy's trip just over 20 minutes from time.
Referee Darren Bond was advised by VAR to review his decision of non-penalty, allowing Raul Jimenez to level the scores from 12 yards. Just minutes later, Ipswich had a spot-kick of their own as Timothy Castagne felled Liam Delap, and the in-form forward smashed his effort into the corner of Leno's net.
Substitute Jack Clarke rattled the post as Ipswich pushed to put the game beyond doubt, but agonisingly conceded another penalty as Davis' trailing leg tripped Jimenez. The Mexican coolly converted once more, sending goalkeeper Christian Walton the wrong way as his effort sailed into the top corner.
Fulham stay 9th in the table, while Ipswich remain in the bottom three on goal difference.
https://www.90min.com/fulham-2-2-ipswich-player-ratings-jimenez-penalty-double-5-1-25
Premier League forced to release three statements in Fulham vs Ipswich after major controversy
Fulham drew with relegation-threatened Ipswich Town in a VAR-impacted encounter
The Premier League were forced to make three statements to clarify VAR decisions during Fulham's dramatic 2-2 with Ipswich Town.
Marco Silva's side were looking to continue their recent run, however they fell behind to Sammie Szmodics after his deflected effort handed the Tractor Boys the lead. But moments earlier, the Fulham boss was left incensed after Leif Davis avoided a red card following a challenge on Harry Wilson, as the Welsh international bore down on goal.
The Portuguese's remonstrations continued during the half-time interval as he was spotted speaking to referee Darren Bond. His calls for a spot-kick were answered midway through the first-half when Wilson was once again brought down, following an intervention from VAR.
Initially, the trip on the attacking midfielder was ignored by the official but Paul Tierney instructed that he should check the pitchside monitor. In doing so, he overturned his original decision and Raul Jimenez made no mistake from 12 yards. But minutes later, Liam Delay was caught by Timothy Castagne with Bond showing no hesitation pointing to the spot - with the relegation strugglers retaking the lead from the spot.
The Premier League Match Centre X account, which posts explanations of VAR decisions, explained that Davis avoided dismissal after 27 minutes as it was not deemed to have denied a goal-scoring opportunity. The statement read: "The referee's call of yellow card for the challenge by Davis on Wilson was checked and confirmed by VAR, who deemed that this was not denial of a goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO)."
In the second-half, they were forced to release two further explanation - firstly for the foul on Wilson. "VAR recommended an on-field review for the challenge by Morsy on Wilson, deeming that contact was sufficient for a penalty and occurred inside the area," it read. "Upon review, the referee overturned his original call of no penalty."
https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/premier-league-forced-release-three-30713222
Fulham boss Marco Silva baffled by decision not to send off Ipswich's Leif Davis
Fulham manager Marco Silva labelled referee Darren Bond's decision to not show Leif Davis a red card "hard to explain" after Sunday's 2-2 draw against Ipswich at Craven Cottage.
Raul Jimenez converted two penalties, the second in stoppage time, to earn the hosts a point after they twice went behind through Sammie Szmodics' opener and then a Liam Delap spot-kick.
Silva agreed with all three penalty decisions, but felt the Tractor Boys should have been reduced to 10 men when Harry Wilson was brought down by Davis as he ran through on goal. VAR checked the incident but deemed the yellow card sufficient.
"I'm on the same page as the Fulham fans," the Portuguese said when asked about the matter. "They (decisions) go in the same direction and it was a difficult afternoon for the ref and was hard to explain.
"I can't understand why (no red card was shown). We saw it with the red card for Tom Cairney (upgraded from yellow card after VAR check at Tottenham on December 1) and last week against Bournemouth with the Ryan Christie situation... (yellow card not upgraded after VAR check).
"It was something I can't control but I don't want to get in trouble so it's better to stop in this moment."
The result moved Ipswich level on points with 17th-placed Wolves, who have a game in hand, as they continued their survival bid.
Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna had mixed feelings on the draw, with his side having led twice, and praised 21-year-old striker Delap for another impressive display.
"It's a point gained but also two points dropped because they scored in the 90th," McKenna said.
"I'm proud of aspects of the performance but disappointed with the penalties as they were a little unnecessary. There's a lot of positives and we take the point.
"(Delap) is showing real desire, he's always making his presence known to the centre-backs, he's an excellent outlet and he rolls defenders, he's doing it well. To take the penalty in the manner he did, he did well."
Ben Godfrey was in the stands at Craven Cottage after Ipswich signed the former Everton central defender on loan from Serie A club Atalanta until the end of the season.
"We're positive about it and happy to have him," McKenna added.
"It's an area we wanted to strengthen. Axel Tuanzebe has missed a lot of time and we've missed that profile of a centre-back who can play right-back and be strong in one-on-ones.
"He has Premier League experience, is hungry and we're happy to have him in the second half of the season."
https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/fulham-boss-marco-silva-baffled-173945786.html
Fulham star Raul Jimenez breaks record set by Manchester United cult hero
Raul Jimenez became the Premier League's top-scoring Mexican, surpassing Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez with a brace against Ipswich.
The Fulham striker was part of a frantic draw at Craven Cottage, coming from behind each time to level the score.
Sammie Szmodics scored after a Calvin Bassey mistake but then drama ensued as Harry Wilson was fouled in the box.
Despite referee Darren Bond not initially blowing the whistle for a penalty he changed his decision after a VAR review.
Jimenez stepped up and slotted his record breaking shot down the middle to make it 1-1 on 69 minutes, his 54th goal in the Premier League in 179 appearances.
But then another penalty was awarded at the other end, not long after with Liam Delap slotting home to put Ipswich 2-1 up on 71 minutes.
It was the shortest gap between two penalty goals in a single half of a Premier League game since Opta began measuring the statistics in 2006/07.
It seemed that Ipswich would collect a much needed three points but Leif Davis tripped Jimenez which allowed him to convert his second penalty in the first minute of stoppage time.
His 55th goal to distance himself from the two-time Premier League winner Hernandez.
The Manchester United fan favourite joined in 2010 and scored double figures for five campaigns running.
Speaking on how hard it is taking two penalties in one game, Jimenez said: "It's the same. It's the style I have and I'm not going to change that. It's easy, I keep calm and I'm confident I'll score.."
Speaking on breaking the former Ma United player's record, Jimenez said: "I'm really happy with that record. It's hard work being in the UK for six and a half years. I've been working hard to achieve this and I got it now.
"I've had tough moments. Thank goodness I lived but I always knew I was going to be back stronger than ever and I'm really pleased that I'm doing this now, helping the team."
Jimenez first joined the Premier League as a Wolves player on loan from Benfica in 2018.
That campaign he netted 13 and was crucial to Wolves finishing seventh, their highest ever finish in the Premier League.
He was permanently signed for a fee in the region of £30m and continued to do well in the Midlands, netting 17 times in two successive seasons.
During the pandemic he sustained a life threatening head injury against Arsenal in November 2020 as he clashed with David Luiz.
He had emergency surgery for a major traumatic brain injury and skull fracture.
Jimenez returned in August 2021 and has since worn a special headband as protection.
He then swapped the midlands for London, specifically Fulham in 2023 where he has scored a total of 15 league goals in 44 appearances, eight this season.
https://talksport.com/football/2442337/fulham-manchester-united-raul-jiminez/
Raul rescues a point for flagging Fulham
Fulham were indebted to Raul Jimenez for rescuing a point against a revitalised Ipswich Town at a wet and windswept Craven Cottage this afternoon. The Tractor boys led twice but the veteran Mexican centre forward calmly converted two penalties to earn Marco Silva's side a share of the spoils. A draw was probably the right result, but both sides could point to periods in a mad match where they might easily have plundered all three points.
Ipswich were more than a match for the Cottagers at Portman Road in August, where they collected their first Premier League point in more than two decades, and Kieran McKenna's men have improved massively since then. They certainly don't have the air of a side destined for the drop – and McKenna, one of the most impressive managers in the country, will probably feel like they should have followed up an outstanding win over Chelsea with a victory at the capital's oldest professional club. Liam Delap was a handful all afternoon and, playing like this, Town should easily avoid relegation.
Silva made just one change from the side that had squandered a winning position in the dying embers of last Sunday's battle with Bournemouth as Tom Cairney replaced Andreas Pereira in central midfield. That meant Fulham matched Ipswich's recent switch to three centre halves, although the visitors had to do without the creativity of Omari Hutchinson, who injured his groin in the warm up. It was the home side who made the early running, even if Delap left a mark on Sasa Lukic – smashing straight into the Serbian's face from the kick off, but Fulham struggled to create a clear-cut chance early on against a determined collection of pink-shirted defenders.
Sammie Smozdics came within inches of sliding onto a dangerous cross from the lively Leif Davis on a rare Ipswich foray forward, but the visitors looked dangerous whenever the former Blackburn attacker, Delap or Nathan Broadhead got on the ball. Fulham probed patiently, but their first opening took more than twenty minutes to arrive as Jimenez headed too close to Christian Walton from a lofted Cairney cross. Alex Iwobi saw his snapshot bravely blocked by Jens Cajuste before Davis was fortunate to escape with only a yellow card after hacking down Harry Wilson as the Welsh winger raced through on goal following a lovely give-and-go with Jimenez. Referee Darren Bond might have reasoned that Jacob Greaves could have reached Wilson – but it was one of a number of perplexing decisions from an official who looked out of his depth.
Silva seethed on the sidelines and his mood would only grow darker ten minutes later when a comedy of errors at the back gifted Ipswich the lead. Broadhead chipped a ball to the back post where Ben Johnson rose above Antonee Robinson and headed against the bar. Calvin Bassey had plenty of time to clear his lines but panicked and picked out Smozdics, whose shot rolled off the Nigerian defender and past a ballistic Bernd Leno.
Silva introduced Emile Smith Rowe for Issa Diop at half time but the tide didn't turn as quickly as Fulham hoped. They pushed for a leveller, for sure, with Iwobi skewing a shot wide after creating a yard of space in the box and Smith Rowe somehow heading wide at the back post when it appeared easier to score, but Broadhead brought a brilliant save out of Leno when he drove Timothy Castagne's clearing header towards the top corner.
The hosts, now with Pereira on for Cairney and Rodrigo Muniz partnering Jimenez up front, hurtled down the other end. Bond inexplicably waved play on after Sam Morsy brought down Wilson in the area, but reversed his decision after being sent to the pitchside monitor by the video assistant referee. Jimenez caressed the penalty under Walton's body to become the leading Mexican scorer in Premier League history, but Fulham immediately shot themselves in the foot. Castagne caught Delap in the area – with the contact too clear for this to be second error in seconds by the official – and the Ipswich striker slammed home the spot-kick before sprinting away to celebrate with the delirious travelling fans.
Fulham had it all to do once again. Jimenez headed Robinson's free-kick fractionally wide of the far post before Silva sent on Adama Traore, but it was the former Sunderland winger Jack Clark, who almost won it for Ipswich at the other end, with his daisycutter coming back off the near post. McKenna withdrew Delap to a rapturous reception from the away contingent in the Putney End, but Jimenez had the final say after latching onto a lovely Smith Rowe ball and being tripped by Davis. He picked his spot with precision as Delap held his head in the dugout, but neither side could find a winner in seven minutes of stoppage time.
FULHAM (3-4-3): Leno; Diop (Smith Rowe 45), Andersen, Bassey; Castagne, A. Robinson, Lukic (Traore 79), Cairney (Pereira 63); Wilson, Iwobi (Muniz 63), Jimenez. Subs (not used): Benda, Cuenca, R. Sessegnon, King, Godo.
BOOKED: Pereira.
GOALS: Jimenez (pen 69, pen 90+1).
IPSWICH TOWN (3-4-2-1): Walton; O'Shea, Wolfenden, Greaves; Johnson (Burns 80), Davis, Morsy, Cajuste (Phillips 73); Smzodics (Taylor 73), Broadhead (J. Clarke 80); Delap (Al-Hamadi 88). Subs (not used): Muric, H. Clarke, Burgess, Townsend.
BOOKED: Davis, Broadhead, O'Shea, Morsy, Johnson.
GOALS: Smozdics (38), Delap (pen 71).
REFEREE: Darren Bond (Lancashire).
ATTENDANCE: 29,589.
https://hammyend.com/index.php/2025/01/raul-rescues-a-point-for-flagging-fulham/
Silva: 'Referee's performance was not at Premier League level'
Marco Silva insisted that referee Darren Bond's performance 'was not at a Premier League level' after he didn't send off Leif Davis for hacking down Harry Wilson in the first half of Fulham's 2-2 draw with Ipswich Town this afternoon.
The Portuguese head coach was baffled both that Davis only received a yellow card for fouling the Welsh winger as he burst through on goal and that Bond needed the VAR's intervention to award Fulham's first penalty – for another foul on Wilson by Sam Morsy. Speaking to the BBC after the final whistle, Silva said:
"It was a difficult game, like almost all of the Premier League. A very good first thirty minutes from us. We started the game on the front foot, created a good number of dangerous moments and we probably should have done that with more tempo, intensity and moved the ball more quickly. We were in control in the first thirty minutes, a great header from Raul, and there should have been a red card for the tackle on Harry Wilson. This is something we cannot control. The performance of the referee was not at a Premier League level. In my opinion, there were many decisions that were not correct – VAR helped with some decisions, but unfortunately for us not with the tackle that should have been a red card.
I said we had a good first thirty minutes but you cannot concede a goal in that way. The first time that they got in and around our box they scored. We know that they have quality players to do that – but we should have done better in that moment. In the last fifteen minutes of the first half, we lost a bit of emotional control and we were not at the level that we were before. Second half, we changed – we put Emile in and we put two strikers on and introduced Andreas Pereira and Adama Traore as well.
The team fought hard, we scored to make it 1-1 and unfortunately for us we made another mistake that gave them the penalty. It has been a little bit our image [lately]. Last week, we gave the ball away and Bournemouth scored to make it 2-2. If you keep doing this, it is more difficult to win football matches. The team fought hard and we should have won the game. When you are on the front foot, you should kill them, you should punish them with goals. We didn't and we made mistakes that gave them the hope that they could get something from the game."
The Fulham boss also heaped praise on Raul Jimenez, whose two perfect penalties eventually rescued a point for the Whites. The veteran striker became the Premier League's leading Mexican goalscorer – moving ahead of Javier Hernandez with his timely brace and Silva was keen to highlight more than just his goals.
"It's an incredible achievement. I'm really pleased for him because we all know he had a really bad moment [the serious head injury sustained when Jimenez was at Wolves], not just in his career but in his life. He was really down when we signed him, but we showed trust in him and it's paying off.
The first two or three months at the club, he was not scoring and everyone was asking why we took the decision to bring him into the football club. We kept trusting him, he kept working really hard and it's so nice to see him achieve an incredible number. It's an honour for him to achieve these numbers and he will be in Premier League history for many, many years. Let's hope there's much more to come from him and I'm here to help him.
It's not just the goals today. The way he won fouls; the way he was always there to help the team. We changed his position in the second-half and he did really well. Let's hope he can get even more confidence in the future."
https://hammyend.com/index.php/2025/01/silva-referees-performance-was-not-at-premier-league-level/
Robinson wins USMNT player of the year award
Fulham full back Antonee Robinson has been voted the US Soccer Male player of the year after enjoying an outstanding 2024.
The left back won 55% of the weighted voting total from the votes of fans, fellow USMNT players, coaches, soccer writers, administrators and officials finishing comfortably ahead of Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun and former Fulham favourite Tim Ream. Robinson, who was surprised by former USA goalkeeper Tim Howard with the award on a specially-convened Zoom call, said:
"It's an incredible honour. Representing our country isn't something you do for individual accolades. It's always about putting the team first and trying to do my best for the boys and for the country, so to be rewarded for that is an amazing feeling."
He becomes the first defender to win the award since Oguchi Onyewu in 2007 and the first Fulham player since Clint Dempsey in 2011.
https://hammyend.com/index.php/2025/01/robinson-wins-usmnt-player-of-the-year-award/
'Not at Premier League level': Fulham's Silva blasts referee after Ipswich draw
A frustrated Marco Silva, the Fulham manager, described the performance of Darren Bond, the referee, as "not at Premier League level" after he opted not to dismiss the Ipswich defender Leif Davis during the sides' 2-2 draw.
Fulham had to settle for a fifth draw in six games against dogged opponents who had led twice through Sammie Szmodics and a Liam Delap spot-kick. But Silva and his players felt Davis should have been sent off in the 28th minute after illegally halting Harry Wilson's run towards goal, Bond issuing a yellow card and presumably feeling Ipswich's Dara O'Shea was well placed to cover.
"It's a clear red card," Silva said. "We cannot control it. The performance from the referee was not at the level the Premier League demands, in my opinion. When [Wilson] touched the ball he was going one on one with the goalkeeper. It's difficult to understand.
"A really difficult afternoon for the referee, and really difficult to explain some decisions. I cannot explain some of them to you."
Silva felt all three of the game's penalties, two of which were converted by Raúl Jiménez, were fairly awarded but noted the fact the video assistant referee had to intervene before the Mexican's first spot-kick was awarded. Bond had initially waved play on. "We can agree it was a clear penalty," he said. "The referee was in a top position to decide and VAR had to give the penalty."
Ultimately, Silva admitted Fulham had to be "disappointed" with their display and lamented the back line errors that lay behind Ipswich's goals. "We are too soft, the way we are defending at the moment," he said.
His counterpart, Kieran McKenna, described "mixed emotions" after a point that builds on his 18th placed side's win over Chelsea. Ipswich had chances to put the game beyond Fulham but he took encouragement from a disciplined display.
"Very pleased and proud of many aspects of the performance, disappointed with the two penalties we gave away," he said.
Ben Godfrey watched from the stands after completing his loan move to Ipswich from the Serie A title chasers Atalanta. McKenna said the former Everton player, capped twice by England, will be a valuable addition at right-back or in central defence. "We're positive about it, we're happy to have him," he said. "It's an area of the team we wanted to strengthen."
https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/not-premier-league-level-fulham-181445674.html
Fulham extend unwanted home run in "El Spot-kicko" to make it historic day for Brentford
Fulham 2-2 Ipswich Town
Goals: Jimenez 2x penalties (F),
Szmodics, Delap penalty (IT)
Three penalties, four goals, no winners.
Fulham and Ipswich couldn't be separated in a 2-2 draw with Raùl Jimenez rescuing his side thanks to a 91st-minute spot-kick to make it FOUR home draws in a row.
But if before kick-off nobody around Craven Cottage would have signed up for a point, with hindsight this is a golden one.
Because had Jack Clarke's 89th minute effort gone in instead of hitting the lower side of the post with the Tractor Boys 2-1 up, the game would have been well and truly up. That was the second time the visitors could have doubled their lead as German Bernd Leno wonderfully clawed away a Nathan Broadhead effort on the hour-mark.
But the stars spectacularly aligned for Marco Silva's men to snatch a late point after the Mexican centre-forward stuck his penalty in the top corner one minute into injury-time. That was his second of the encounter after already erasing Sammie Szmodics' first-half opener.
It took Liam Delap only two minutes to restore Kieran McKenna's boys' lead when he put the ball where no keeper in the world would have got to on 71 minutes.
Fulham's hopes of spoiling the day for bitter rivals Brentford, the only London side to win on match-day 20 were dashed when Rodrigo Muniz's last-gasp effort was routinely kept out by Christian Walton.
Depending on how you assess it, it's neither a point won nor two dropped.
For a club aiming to match their highest-ever 7th-place finish from 2007 this is too little.
But sitting in ninth position and only six points behind a Champions League spot after losing their best players in back-to-back summer transfer windows should by no means be sniffed at. And there's no guarantee the Cottagers would have been any higher with Mitrovic and Palhinha
FULHAM FC
1 Leno- 3 Bassey- 5 Andersen- 7 Jimenez- 8 Wilson- 10 Cairney- 17 Iwobi- 20 Lukic- 21 Castaneda- 31 Diop- 33 Robinson
IPSWICH TOWN
28 Walton- 3 Davis- 5 Morsy- 6 Woolfenden- 12 Cajuste- 18 Johnson- 19 Delap- 23 Szmodics- 24 Greaves- 26 O'Shea- 33 Broadhead
https://www.capitalfootball.co.uk/single-post/fulham-extend-unwanted-home-run-in-el-spot-kicko-to-make-it-historic-day-for-brentford
Jimenez: Draw is 'a really bad result'
Raul Jimenez couldn't hide his disappointment at Fulham's failure to beat Ipswich Town this afternoon – despite his two penalties rescuing a point for the Whites at Craven Cottage.
The former Wolves striker became the leading Mexican goalscorer in Premier League history, but was downcast when interviewed on the pitch following the final whistle by Sky Sports.
Jimenez said:
"A point is really bad for us. We did everything to win the game. We showed again that we can play well after going behind, but we need to score first and not leave it late to score. I'm really happy to score and help the team but we need to keep more clean sheets to win games."
https://hammyend.com/index.php/2025/01/jimenez-draw-is-a-really-bad-result/
Silva insists Ipswich's Davis should have been sent off
Fulham boss Marco Silva was dismayed by the decision not to send off Ipswich's Leif Davis during the 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage.
Raul Jimenez's penalty – one of two spot-kicks scored by the Mexican – rescued a point for the Whites.
They trailed twice, to Sammie Szmodics' opener and then a Liam Delap penalty, but secured a draw.
Silva agreed with all three penalty decisions but insisted Davis should have been red-carded after bringing down Harry Wilson, who would have been through on goal. Even after a VAR check, Davis escaped with a yellow card.
"I can't understand why," Silva said.
The Portuguese recalled the recent red card for Fulham captain Tom Cairney at Tottenham, which was upgraded from a yellow card after a VAR check, as well as Bournemouth's Ryan Christie escaping with a yellow card after a VAR check during his team's game against Fulham.
"We saw it with the red card for Tom Cairney and last week against Bournemouth with the Ryan Christie situation," Silva said.
"They (decisions) go in the same direction and it was a difficult afternoon for the ref and it was hard to explain."
https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/silva-insists-ipswichs-davis-should-have-been-sent-off
Marco Silva questions VAR decision in Fulham draw with Ipswich
Cottagers boss unhappy after 2-2 draw with Tractor Boys
Fulham manager Marco Silva labelled referee Darren Bond's decision to not show Leif Davis a red card "hard to explain" after Sunday's 2-2 draw against Ipswich at Craven Cottage.
Raul Jimenez converted two penalties, the second in stoppage time, to earn the hosts a point after they twice went behind through Sammie Szmodics' opener and then a Liam Delap spot-kick.
Silva agreed with all three penalty decisions, but felt the Tractor Boys should have been reduced to 10 men when Harry Wilson was brought down by Davis as he ran through on goal. VAR checked the incident but deemed the yellow card sufficient.
"I'm on the same page as the Fulham fans," the Portuguese said when asked about the matter. "They (decisions) go in the same direction and it was a difficult afternoon for the ref and was hard to explain.
"I can't understand why (no red card was shown). We saw it with the red card for Tom Cairney (upgraded from yellow card after VAR check at Tottenham on December 1) and last week against Bournemouth with the Ryan Christie situation... (yellow card not upgraded after VAR check).
"It was something I can't control but I don't want to get in trouble so it's better to stop in this moment."
https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/silva-var-fulham-fc-premier-league-2025-b1203076.html