Liam Delap netted twice, and Ollie Watkins maintained his excellent form with a goal and an assist as Ipswich Town and Aston Villa played out a thrilling draw at Portman Road.
Both sides preserved their unbeaten runs, which stretch back to August, in this high-energy Premier League contest.
Delap, who joined Ipswich from Manchester City for an initial £15 million during the summer transfer window, wasted no time making his mark.
The forward opened the scoring in just the eighth minute with a composed finish. However, Villa responded swiftly, as Morgan Rogers equalized following a slick exchange with Watkins, who continues to be one of the Premier League’s most creative players.
Watkins now has 15 assists since the start of last season, a tally matched only by Chelsea’s rising star, Cole Palmer.
Watkins himself got on the scoresheet in theq 32nd minute, heading in Leon Bailey’s pinpoint cross to claim his first away goal of the season and give Villa the lead.
But Delap was far from finished. The 20-year-old produced a brilliant solo effort, racing from inside his own half down the left flank before blasting the ball past Villa’s Emiliano Martinez with a stunning strike into the far corner in the 72nd minute, securing Ipswich a hard-fought point.
Ipswich’s fourth successive draw keeps them in 15th place, just a point above the relegation zone, with Crystal Palace breathing down their necks.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa, despite the draw, remain in the top five, sitting two points behind league leaders Liverpool.
