Ipswich Town ended an almost 23-year wait to win a Premier League match at Portman Road with a 2-0 victory over Chelsea on Monday.
Not since April 2002, and a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough, have Ipswich celebrated home success in the top flight but on Monday hauled themselves one place up the standings to 18th with a tenacious triumph and handed Chelsea’s title hopes another blow.
Liam Delap and Omari Hutchinson scored either side of the break to secure the victory for Ipswich.
Delap’s 12th-minute penalty and a fine finish in the 53rd minute from former Chelsea product Hutchinson made for the perfect finish to an exciting year for the club, who were promoted at the end of last season.
Joao Felix had the ball in the back of the net after coming in at the back post with a 24th-minute effort that was ruled offside after a lengthy VAR check.
Defeat for Chelsea left them with one point from their last three outings and down to fourth spot, 10 points behind Liverpool and having played one game more than the leaders.
Newcastle United also defeated Manchester United 2-0 in the Premier League on Monday thanks to early headed goals from Alexander Isak and Joelinton at Old Trafford.
With five losses in their last six league games, United languish 14th in the standings on 19 points, their worst placing to end a calendar year since they were 15th in 1989. Newcastle are fifth on 32 points.
Tariq Lamptey’s late equaliser also salvaged a 2-2 draw for Brighton against Aston Villa on Monday night.
Villa striker Ollie Watkins celebrated his birthday with a goal and an assist for Morgan Rogers, putting his side ahead after Simon Adingra’s early opener for Brighton.
But Emery’s men allowed Lamptey to level with just nine minutes left at Villa Park.
Villa’s hopes of finishing in the top four for a second consecutive season are in danger of being extinguished well before the spring after the latest erratic display in an inconsistent season.
Ninth-placed Villa are six points adrift of the top four, while 10th-placed Brighton’s winless run has reached seven games.
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