Fulham 4-1 Ipswich: Hosts come from behind to run riot as Ryan Sessegnon shines after Jordan Spence sees red
- Fulham moved into play-off contention after a comfortable victory over Ipswich
- But Slavisa Jokanovic's men had to come from behind after Joe Garner's opener
- Youngster Ryan Sessegnon shined in the rout by scoring twice from left back
- Aboubakar Kamara also netted a brace as Fulham took all three points at home
Ryan Sessegnon is being linked with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur this transfer window. Fulham, however, will hope to keep the precocious 17-year-old around for one more play-off push.
Despite playing left back, Fulham's top scorer popped up to score twice as Fulham came from behind to win emphatically, scoring four goals in seven second-half minutes. Aboubakar Kamara netted the other two.
Ipswich were left to rue Jordan Spence's red card, given when they were leading 1-0 through Joe Garner's header.
Ryan Sessegnon starred as Fulham came from behind to thrash Ipswich 4-1 at Craven Cottage
The young defender scored twice as did forward Aboubakar Kamara in the convincing victory
Striker Joe Garner celebrated after giving Ipswich the lead right on the stroke of half-time
Ipswich defender Jordan Spence holds his hands on his face after receiving a red card
On paper, the game was the epitome of a mid-table clash - both sides came to Craven Cottage seven points off the play-offs. It was twelfth against eleventh in the Championship.
However Fulham, going for their fourth straight home win, were easily the better side in the first half, dominating the play in monsoon conditions.
From the second minute the rain started falling, and the swirling wind started catching all the long, aerial balls, of which Ipswich produced plenty.
Fulham looked to be making light work of the wintry weather, but in the final minute of the first half, Ipswich landed a sucker punch. Martyn Waghorn finally got a dead ball right, his in-swinging free kick flicked in by Garner.
Then, on 55 minutes, the flash point. Kamara barged Freddie Sears to the floor, for what looked like a foul. However Spence took the law into his own hands, hurling himself into the striker with a full body check. Keith Stroud consulted his assistant; immediately after doing so, he produced a deserved red card.
Ipswich held on for quarter of an hour, yet when Sessegnon made his first intervention, they crumbled.
Sessegnon headed in after Neeskens Kebano contrived to miss an open goal, the winger slicing the ball backwards from a cross when three yards out. The Fulham No 3 showed the positional awareness of a No 9, and was perfectly placed to score.
Kamara slotted in from eight yards to put the hosts ahead, before Sessegnon poked home from close range to seal three points. He was stood at the far post as Tom Cairney slalomed into the box from the right – when the ball broke, the teenager could not miss.
Kamara completed the rout with a deflected effort from 20 yards, but there was no denying who the star of the show was. Sessegnon was replaced with five minutes to go, and got a standing ovation. The Fulham fans are enjoying him while they can.
Stefan Johansen times his sliding challenge perfectly to dispossess Dominic Iorfa
Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy looks frustrated with his players at the final whistle
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