A Liam Delap goal helped Ipswich Town overcome a red card for Axel Tuanzebe as they grabbed a 1-1 Premier League draw away to Aston Villa on Saturday (Feb 15), with Ollie Watkins netting a 69th-minute equaliser for the home side. With keeper Alex Palmer putting in a brilliant performance between the posts, the point leaves Ipswich still in the relegation zone in 18th place on 17 points, two behind Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Villa slip to ninth on 38 points. Villa manager Unai Emery was disappointed that his side did not get the win, especially after the visitors were down to 10 men.
Struggling Ipswich Town delivered a battling performance to hold Aston Villa to a Premier League draw at Villa Park, despite playing nearly an hour with 10 men.
A largely uneventful first half was brought to life when Ipswich's Axel Tuanzebe brought down Jacob Ramsey on the edge of the penalty area, earning the former Villa defender a second yellow card.
The visitors had defended well up to that point and had to survive heavy pressure early in the second half, but they stunned Villa Park when Liam Delap beat Axel Disasi to Omari Hutchinson's low cross and steered the ball into the far corner.
Amid growing exasperation among the Villa supporters, Ollie Watkins equalised from close range after half-time substitute Marcus Rashford had rattled the crossbar from a free-kick.
Fellow February arrival Marco Asensio blazed over the bar from an excellent position before forcing Ipswich goalkeeper Alex Palmer into a superb one-handed save as Villa pushed for a winner.
Palmer produced another magnificent stop deep into added time after a Rashford cross was deflected towards goal by Conor Townsend, but the visitors held on to claim a share of the spoils.
The point lifts Ipswich above 19th-placed Leicester on goal difference, while Villa climb to ninth.
