By Paul Green at Stamford Bridge
CHELSEA boss Enzo Maresca admitted his side let their heads dip after conceding a shock opener to Ipswich Town on Sunday.
The Blues appeared to be in complete control early on and created several chances against their relegation-threatened opponents.
However, Stamford Bridge was stunned when Julio Encisco put the Tractor Boys ahead on nineteen minutes before things went from bad to worse just after the half hour as Ben Johnson added a second.
Having been booed off at the break, Chelsea produced an instant response by forcing Axel Tuanzebe to put the ball into his own net within thirteen seconds of the restart.
And although substitute Jadon Sancho’s sublime 79th-minute finish secured a point, Maresca accepted the early setbacks had proved costly.
Maresca said: “I think we start quite well and make chances. Then when they score the first goal it really changed the dynamic of the game.
“I think for 20, 25 minutes of the first half we were not good enough, especially defensively because the two goals we conceded were both from our mistakes.
“And then in the second half we just came back in the game.
“It is tough because even in the first 20 minutes at this stage of the season against these kind of teams, if you are able to score the first one the game completely changes on your side.
“Unfortunately we missed chances and then we concede. The team was not good enough in different things and this is where we need to analyse and react in the right way.
“We lost a little bit of confidence because we concede, probably because of the environment (atmosphere) and this is the moment you have to continue doing the right things and don’t change plan.”
Only the woodwork prevented Nicolas Jackson firing Chelsea ahead, before the visitors broke the deadlock.
A quick counter-attack saw Johnson burst clear on the right and his low pass was swept home by Encisco to stun the home supporters.
Jens Cajuste fired inches wide from outside of the box, but that was only a brief reprieve because Ipswich doubled their advantage moments later as Encisco turned provider for Johnson to head past Robert Sanchez.
Maresca sent his side out early for the second half and there was an instant response from as the unfortunate Tuanzebe put the ball into his own net from Noni Madueke’s cross.
George Hirst squandered two good chances in close succession to restore Ipswich’s two-goal cushion.
But parity was restored by substitute Sancho’s curling shot from inside the box to rescue a point.
Alex Palmer did well to somehow keep out Trevoh Chalobah’s header and again in stoppage-time to deny his namesake Cole.
Jack Taylor hit the side-netting and there was still time for Alex Palmer to shine again with another fine stop from Enzo Fernandez.
But there was to be no late winner and Chelsea will still consider this two points dropped in their bid for Champions League qualification.
