Fulham suffer opening-day loss at Ipswich

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Ipswich Town 2 Fulham 1

Fulham’s first taste of the Championship ended in defeat as eight debutants featured at Portman Road.

The relegated Whites, playing in the second tier for the first time in 13 years, went behind to Daryl Murphy’s first-half goal and David McGoldrick added a second for Ipswich just after the hour mark.

Tim Hoogland, one of Fulham’s new boys, scored with a deflected effort four minutes from time but Felix Magath’s side were unable to find an equaliser.

With keeper Maarten Stekelenburg having left to join Monaco on a season-long loan, Jesse Joronen, 21, was in goal for Fulham and produced a fine early save to tip over Christophe Berra’s header.

But the young Finn was unable to rescue his team when Luke Hyam set up Murphy, who got the better of Shaun Hutchinson and finished well.

Fulham enjoyed a bright spell in the second half, with Moussa Dembele and Kostas Stafylidis both going close.

But their task was made even more difficult when Ipswich went further ahead.

Hutchinson was muscled off the ball by Murphy and the forward’s cross was cleared only as far as McGoldrick, who fired home from 20 yards.

After pulling one back, Fulham pressed for another goal and substitute Patrick Roberts almost got it, his low shot flashing just wide.

Fulham (4-1-2-1-2): Joronen; Hoogland, Hutchinson (Roberts 74), Bodurov, Stafylidis; Burgess; Hyndman, Parker; David (Eisfeld 45); McCormack (Woodrow 57), Dembele.
Subs not used: Fotheringham, Burn, Bettinelli, Rodallega.

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