Leicester City extended Ipswich Town’s wait to win their first Premier League game of the season after the Foxes’ late equaliser.
The 10 men of Ipswich thought they had finally earned their first three points of the 2024/25 campaign following Leif Davis’ wonder strike but were left heartbroken after Jordan Ayew’s 94th-minute goal.
Ayew combined with Boubakary Soumare, who also excelled off the bench, and Jamie Vardy to prod home and spare Steve Cooper’s blushes.
Ipswich fans were heard booing at full time with most of the frustrations directed towards Tim Robinson and in his post-match interview, Town boss Kieran McKenna cut an angry figure.
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Kieran McKenna questions red card decision moments after penalty shout
With the hosts in control, the momentum turned on its head after Kalvin Phillips was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Ricardo Pereira.
Phillips’ dismissal came just seconds after referee Tim Robinson had waved away shouts for a penalty from the home side when they claimed that Conor Chaplin had been fouled in the box by Abdul Fatawu.
Speaking to the media after the game, McKenna claimed that not even the most passionate of Leicester fans could argue that the decisions were incorrect.
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“I think it was the decisive moment in the match again,” he said. “I think it’s clear we were the better team at 11 v 11. We deserved to be 1-0 up and we should go 2-0 up. I think it’s a clear penalty. I don’t know how it’s not given at the time.
“Then to compound that, a few seconds later in the most emotional bit of the game, when a ball’s bouncing on the edge of the box where both players have a right to go for the ball, and Kalvin’s tried to pull out of the challenge… I don’t think anybody would even look for a second yellow at that point.”
Steve Cooper addresses Ipswich red card incident
Cooper watched on from the press box due to serving a touchline ban and although he admitted to not seeing the penalty shout, felt the decision to send Phillips was the right one and that he should’ve even seen red earlier.
The Leicester boss said: “They scored a goal of great quality, no doubt about that, that can happen in this league, but we settled, responded well in showing composure, forced the red card, which I’m told could have come a little bit earlier, but okay, no problem, and we were becoming the dominant team again.
“Obviously, that was always going to be the case against 10 men and Ipswich protecting a 1-0.
“A draw is what it is, we have to accept it. A point away from home in the Premier League, even though we’re disappointed given the intention was to come here and win, we have to accept is not the end of the world. Out of the two teams it’s a better result for us.”