McKenna could unleash Ipswich’s answer to Evanilson in “incredible” star
In a fairly close match, the visiting Crystal Palace took all three points on Tuesday night, extending Ipswich Town’s difficult Premier League comeback.
It would be accurate to characterise Kieran McKenna’s recently promoted team as rather unpredictable thus far, even though they would always struggle in the top division.
The Tractor Boys welcome Bournemouth this afternoon in a match that might help them turn things around, so there’s no time to dwell about the previous game.
Evanilson, the Cherries’ new striker, will make the hosts nervous, but McKenna shouldn’t worry too much because he has a player who can be even more destructive.
Ipswich’s form this season
So, Ipswich have now played 14 Premier League games this season, and it’s still practically impossible to predict if they’ll stay up or not.
| Ipswich’s PL record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Match | Opponent | Result |
| 1 | Liverpool (H) | 2-0 Loss |
| 2 | Manchester City (A) | 4-1 Loss |
| 3 | Fulham (H) | 1-1 Draw |
| 4 | Brighton & Hove Albion (A) | 0-0 Draw |
| 5 | Southampton (A) | 1-1 Draw |
| 6 | Aston Villa (H) | 2-2 Draw |
| 7 | West Ham United (A) | 4-1 Loss |
| 8 | Everton (H) | 2-0 Loss |
| 9 | Brentford (A) | 4-3 Loss |
| 10 | Leicester City (H) | 1-1 Draw |
| 11 | Tottenham Hotspur (A) | 2-1 Win |
| 12 | Manchester United (H) | 1-1 Draw |
| 13 | Nottingham Forest (A) | 1-0 Loss |
| 14 | Crystal Palace (H) | 1-0 Loss |
| All Stats via the Premier League | ||
We say this because, while losing seven games and drawing with Leicester City and Southampton, two teams that are also in danger of relegation, they have also defeated Tottenham Hotspur and gained points against Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Fulham.
Additionally, they appeared to be headed for three points in the games against Brentford and Leicester before being sent off due to red cards. With five more points, the Tractor Boys would be tied with Everton in 15th position.
However, ifs, buts and maybes won’t keep McKenna’s side in the league, so he has to try and eke out more from them against Bournemouth tonight, which is possible if his answer to Evanilson is playing at his best.
Ipswich’s answer to Evanilson
So, it should come as no surprise that the player in question is, of course, striker extraordinaire Liam Delap.
Although there was considerable enthusiasm surrounding the move, no one could have imagined how successfully the young Englishman has adjusted to life as a main striker in the Premier League. He joined Ipswich from Manchester City for about £20 million in the summer.
For instance, the “incredible” forward, as Pep Guardiola famously referred to him, has scored six goals and supplied one assist in 14 league games. This equates to a goal involvement every other game, and they haven’t been pointless either.
Prior to the international break, the 21-year-old scored and helped lead the team to victory over Spurs, scored in the tie with Fulham, and scored twice in the draw with Aston Villa.
However, it’s more than just his goalscoring that makes the 6 foot 1 marksman a brilliant player; it’s also his ability to bring others into play, serve as a focal point and generally terrify opposing defenders.
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