FootyChatter.com

By JOE BERNSTEIN Published: 01: 58 AEST, 4 May 2025 | Updated: 02: 57 AEST, 4 May 2025 17 View comments Ipswich showed there will be life after Liam Delap as they battled back from 2-0 down with a late equaliser from substitute George Hirst. On the final Saturday fixture at Goodison Park, things looked favourable for Everton who received a ticker-tape welcome and proceeded to score excellent goals inside the first 35 minutes from Beto and Dwight Mc Neil. But relegated Ipswich threw themselves a lifeline through Julio Enciso’s 30-yard cracker and, after star man Delap had been taken off, his replacement Hirst nodded in at the far post with only 11 minutes left. With Delap expected to be sold this summer after impressing bigger clubs this campaign, it will be to the likes of Hirst that Ipswich manager Kieran Mc Kenna turn in order to bounce back immediately as Burnley have done. ‘I’m delighted for George, ’ said Mc Kenna. ‘We missed him this season when he’s been unavailable (to injury).   'He’s deserved to play more but Liam’s form has been so good. Ipswich fought back from 2-0 down to earn a draw against Everton at Goodison Park George Hirst replaced Liam Delap and completed the comeback with 11 minutes left Beto’s excellent header had broken the deadlock after 26 minutes of Saturday's clash ‘George has a great chance of going on. He was gangly as a younger player.   'At 26 he’s doing it in the Premier League and will keep developing. ’ After making an early impression to secure Everton’s Premier League status, David Moyes has seen his side win only once in their last 10 games and once the final home farewell against Southampton takes place, all eyes will be on a team rebuild at their new stadium. ‘I thought we controlled most of the game, ’ said Moyes.   ‘Beto has been doing really well and I think there are positives in how we are playing. We just made some terrible decisions for their second goal. ’ Beto seemed particularly fired up by the atmosphere and had three good attempts before opening the scoring after 26 minutes. Carlos Alcaraz whipped in a brilliant cross from the left and as Ipswich defenders Luke Woolfenden and Cameron Burgess left it to each other, the striker got between them to power a header. Delap became public enemy No1 after a shoving match with Joey O’Brien earned both men a booking and he then flattened Jarrad Branthwaite with what referee Lewis Smith deemed a natural coming together. Dwight Mc Neil struck with the outside of his left boot in his first start of 2025 Julio Enciso rifled a shot into the top corner from well outside the box for his third Ipswich goal After a bright start under David Moyes, Everton have won just one in their last 10 Everton (4-2-3-1): Pickford 6; Patterson 6 (Young 82), O’Brien 6, Branthwaite 6. 5, Mykolenko 6; Gueye 5. 5 (Iroegbunam 90), Garner 6; Ndiaye 6. 5, Alcaraz 7 (Chermiti 90), Mc Neil 7 (Harrison 78); Beto 8 (Calvert-Lewin 78) Subs unused: Virginia (Gk), Keane, Broja, Coleman Goals: Beto 26, Enciso 35 Booked: O’Brien, Mykolenko, Alcaraz Manager: David Moyes 6. 5 Ipswich (3-4-3): Palmer 5. 5; O’Shea 6, Woolfenden 5. 5, Burgess 5. 5; Hutchinson 6. 5, Morsy 6 (Phillips 68 6. 5), Taylor 6 (Cajuste 82), Greaves 6; Chaplin 6 (Clarke 68 6), Delap 6 (Hirst 68 7), Enciso 7 (Tuanzebe 90) Subs unused: Walton (Gk), Luongo, Godfrey, Boniface Goal: Enciso 41, Hirst 79Booked: Delap, Morsy, Hirst, Chaplin Manager: Kieran Mc Kenna 7 Referee: Sam Lewis 6. 5 Attendance: 39, 905 Mc Neil, starting his first match of 2025 following a knee injury, extended the lead with a brilliant shot from 20 yards with the outside of his left boot that left goalkeeper Alex Palmer rooted to the spot. However, the half-time team talks were altered when Enciso, on loan from Brighton, cut inside Idrissa Gueye and rifled into the top corner to get Ipswich in the scoreboard. Mc Kenna made a triple change midway through the second half while Moyes sent on Dominic Calvert-Lewin after his latest lay-off. It was the visitor’s who benefitted. Omari Hutchinson was allowed to burst down the right and when his cross deflected up off Gueye’s outstretched boot it fell nicely for Hirst to nod in.  

Share what you think

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of Mail Online.

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your Mail Online comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to Mail Online as usual.   Do you want to automatically post your Mail Online comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to Mail Online as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on Mail Online. To do this we will link your Mail Online account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy. Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group