Ipswich2 - 0Chelsea

The Blues went into Monday's Premier League fixture at Portman Road with high hopes of getting back on track after collecting just one point from games versus Everton and Fulham.

However, a Chelsea XI which featured five changes found themselves two goals down come the early knocking of the second half courtesy of a Liam Delap penalty and a cool Omari Hutchinson finish.

Although Chelsea twice hit the woodwork and had a goal disallowed for a tight offside decision, they were deservedly beaten by the Tractor Boys, leaving them in fourth position in the Premier League table.

"It was a strange game"

Speaking to reporters after the game, Maresca suggested that he felt that his side were unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet in East Anglia.

Nevertheless, the Italian was also quick to praise the performance of Ipswich, admitting that his players had failed to adapt to their direct approach at the starts of both halves.

He said, as quoted by football.london: "A bit of a strange game. We created so many chances in the first-half and in the first five or 10 minutes of the second half, we had two clear chances; the header from Joao [Felix] and another shot.

"Then I think the second goal killed the game a little bit. Sometimes when you create so many chances, the post, the VAR, the keeper saves or the defenders that block the shot, sometimes it has to go in that way.

"It's a shame because it was another chance for us but congratulations to them because probably when you save so many shots on the line, the goalkeeper, the body, the desire from them was very high."

He added: "I think first half we conceded a penalty and then we conceded one or two more chances in the same way; long ball for Liam [Delap], try to defend the ball and shoot.

"In the second half, it was copy and paste. Again, we conceded the goal because we unfortunately made a mistake. Then they had some more moments, exactly the same; a longer ball for Liam and he fights against everyone and shoots."

What next for Chelsea?

Maresca must now ponder whether to make any changes to his backline for Saturday's London derby at Crystal Palace.

Axel Disasi appears likely to drop out of the backline after his mistake for the second goal, with Malo Gusto likely viewed as a straight replacement.

Although Reece James was back on the substitutes' bench after a hamstring injury, the club captain may not be risked from the start until the FA Cup third-round tie with Morecambe on January 11.

Written by

Darren Plant