Crystal Palace 2 Ipswich 3: Zian Flemming’s last-gasp winner seals consecutive wins for newly-promoted Tractor Boys

ZIAN FLEMMING delivered a three-point harvest for Ipswich in South London as they beat Crystal Palace 3-2

Jorgen Strand Larsen looked to have saved Axel Disasi from disaster after his strike put Palace level following the Frenchman’s first-half sending off.

But there was to be no valiant comeback story for Palace as they fell to a defeat against Ipswich at Selhurst Park for the first time since 2010.

With identical records in the league it was no surprise there was nothing to separate these two sides in the opening half an hour, with goals from Anan Khalaili and Emersonn cancelling each other out.

But Disasi’s needless studs up challenge on Jack Clarke in the Ipswich half saw Palace surrender the lead and a chance at successive wins in the Premier League, something they have not done since last December.

Leif Davis had been the provider for the Tractor Boys opener before he turned goalscorer for the goal that put Gary O’Neil’s side on course for their first win in the league since the opening day,

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The South Londoners were also without their famous Holmesdale Fanatics ultras, the Ipswich clash being the second league game without the group after they effectively disbanded.

But they could have desperately used their voices in support after Disasi’s silly red card – and perhaps an even more damning assessment when the away end started chanting “you’re support is f***ing s***.”

The balance of the clash had been on a knife-edge in the opening quarter of an hour, with neither team able to force a breakthrough.

That was until Yeremy Pino cut through the Ipswich defence like butter to play in Daichi Kamada, who in turn passed the ball to flying right wing-back Khalail who thundered home his first goal for the Eagles.

Palace threatened to grab a second when Jorgen Strand Larsen, fresh off the back of his brace against Middlesbrough midweek, lashed the ball at goal after a great ball in behind by Khalaili.

But his effort went straight at Kjell Scherpen, who parried it away with firm hands.

Ipswich got themselves level pegging again after Emersonn was left unchallenged by the Palace backline, who fell asleep waiting for an offside flag that never arrived.

Emersonn notched his second goal of the season as he headed a wonderful Davis cross past the hapless Benitez 10 minutes after the opener.

Another 10 minutes later, Disasi inexplicably decided he simply had to challenge Clarke – making his first start of the season for the visitors – for a loose ball.

But the 28-year-old was late to the challenge, and was promptly given his marching orders by Chris Kavanagh before VAR Craig Pawson confirmed the decision – with the former Chelsea man standing by the corner flag in front of the players tunnel while he bizarrely waited for confirmation on the stonewall red card.

Sage opted for the conservative approach and switched out Pino for Takehiro Tomiyasu.

And the signs of a goal were there to see when only a poor touch stopped Clarke from shooting from close range, with the ball cleared by Chris Richards.

The breakthrough would come a minute later, with Abdul Fatawu slipping a pass down the side of the Eagles defence for Dara O’Shea, who delivered a ball into Emersonn whose failed attempt at a shot then found Davis in acres of space at the far post.

Ipswich seemed to play with their food for much of the second half, with one occasion seeing Julio Enciso speed in behind Richards to lay a pass to Fatawu who then tried to turn in the area instead of shooting before Palace got back in numbers to defend.

Benitez then produced a smart save to deny Clarke, but it wasn’t until the 68th minute when winds of change in the game started to open the door for a Palace equaliser.

Palace continued to threaten as attack after attack swooped towards the Ipswich box, before Strand Larsen sunk his talons into the goal with his vicious shot across goal.