Fulham denied by Ipswich in injury time
Ipswich Town 1 Fulham 1
An injury-time equaliser denied Fulham the win that would have guaranteed their Championship survival.
Moussa Dembele’s 15th league goal of the season, midway through the second half, put the Whites deservedly ahead.
Ipswich had offered little threat until that point, but a spell of late pressure paid off when Fulham keeper Marcus Bettinelli – after two good saves – was beaten by Jonas Knudsen late on.
Having been thrashed 5-0 at Brighton on Friday night, the Whites responded with a resilient display which probably merited a win.
The visitors had the only two chances of an uneventful first half, Dembele shooting wide and Ryan Tunnicliffe’s poked effort turned behind by Ipswich keeper Bartosz Bialkowski.
They continued to carry the greater threat after the break, with Bialkowski equal to Shaun Hutchinson’s header from a corner.
They finally broke through when Lasse Vigen Christensen’s sweeping pass found the run of Scott Parker, and he squared for Dembele to slot home from 15 yards.
Ipswich took 74 minutes to test Bettinelli for the first time, palming behind Brett Pitman’s shot.
Bettinelli also got a touch to David McGoldrick’s drive from the edge of the box, but he was left helpless when Knudsen lashed in after Freddie Sears cut the ball across the box.
MK Dons’ 0-0 draw at Sheffield Wednesday means it is still mathematically possible for Fulham to be relegated on goal difference, with a 16-goal swing.
Fulham: Bettinelli; Stearman, Hutchinson, Burn, Ream; Tunnicliffe, Parker (Baird 88), Ince, Christensen (Fredericks 69); McCormack (Cairney 85), Dembele.
Subs not used: Lonergan, Garbutt, Woodrow, Smith.
