Ipswich come from behind to beat Fulham as Arbeloa rues loss of control

Ipswich came from behind to beat Fulham 2-1 at Portman Road, scoring twice in the closing stages of their Premier League match. The comeback was especially frustrating for Alvaro Arbeloa because Fulham had taken the lead after controlling long spells and limiting Ipswich’s attacking threat. The visitors appeared poised for a valuable win, but the hosts refused to accept defeat.

After the match, Arbeloa admitted the result was difficult to take, particularly after his team had played well for an hour. “It is difficult to accept this defeat, but it is what it is. We will try to correct what we did wrong today,” he said. He felt Fulham had lost control after scoring, as Ipswich pressed higher and his side resorted to a more direct approach.

“We were playing very well for 60 minutes. After our goal, they pressed a little higher and maybe we played too directly. We did not need to change our game plan when we were winning,” he said. For Arbeloa, the recurring issue is less about conceding after taking the lead than about how his team responds once it has scored. He called on his players to keep the same mentality whatever the score and to stick to their game plan.

The defeat leaves Fulham still searching for their first Premier League win and adds to the pressure on the team. Ipswich, meanwhile, were rewarded for their persistence with a dramatic victory.