> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Ouattara and O’Shea turn Fulham fixture on its head in dramatic finale - URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/ouattara-and-oshea-turn-fulham-fixture-on-its-head-in-dramatic-finale/ - Published: 2026-10-12T07:59:37.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-12T07:59:37.000Z - Description: Ipswich Town were a goal down with two minutes left to play on Saturday, 10 October, but Abdoul Ouattara’s stunning equaliser and Dara O’Shea’s stoppage-time header sealed a 2-1 win over Fulham. - Author: Barbara Norrey - Tags: Opinion, Ipswich Town FC ## Pre-match preamble Fulham, our opponents today, are nicknamed “The Cottagers” because their historic ground is called Craven Cottage. Founded there in 1879, they are London’s oldest professional football club. Currently they are sitting at 19th in the table, though in the past their trajectory has been a little up and down, much like Ipswich. Last time we played them was at Craven Cottage in 2025, when they scored a stoppage-time equaliser to secure a 2-2 draw. As they have not won a game so far, they will be keen to take three points from us in this match to get their season underway. It will not be an easy game: many, including Gary O’Neil, have said that their results so far have not been representative of their standard of play. We need to roar them off the park. Purportedly, Iwobi, King and Robinson are the Fulham men to watch, but I would add Oscar Bobb (love that name!) to the mix as well, and do not forget that Leno is pretty solid in goal. Surprisingly, Chris Sutton (our favourite ex-Canary pundit) has predicted a 1-1 draw for us this weekend and has said, in contrast to his normally heinous comments, that he hopes Ipswich stay up. He hides it well! I thought the train was fairly empty, especially as we were playing a London club, but I expect some went earlier to the ground – so glad to be back. I chatted to Claire and Colin from Wivenhoe and we agreed that this international break had seemed endless. A number of Town players were involved in the various international competitions, namely: Issa Diop; Abdul Fatawu; Anis Mehmeti (first international goal); Exequiel Palacios (assist); Daizen Maeda (scored in penalty shoot-out); Marcelino Nunez; Dara O’Shea; Chieo Ogbene (on loan at Lincoln); Saša Lukić (late sub); Sindre Walle Egeli (hat-trick, U21s); Chris Atherton (U19s) and goalkeeper Alex Noonan (unused sub, U21s). I spent the break watching Sascha Zverev (which is not at all a chore) and talking about football with other fans who were missing club games too. So here is a shout-out to some of them. - To a Norwich fan on the train to London – a really nice man, with only the requisite number of fingers! We discussed the inimitable Marcelino Nunez and our results so far. - To Andy, a tractor boy who likes to live dangerously – teaching my granddaughter Chloe to drive! - To a masonic Spurs fan – we discussed the latest media spotlight linking them with Kieran McKenna. \[This rumour has incidentally been dispelled in the last few days, first by the media itself, followed by Kieran’s own announcement regarding his new post as a “technical observer”. This involves flying all over Europe to analyse games for UEFA. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was recently rumoured as a possible new manager for us, is also undertaking this role for the 2026/2027 season.\] I am happy with our gaffer – Gary O’Neil. Meanwhile, my son was at NEC Birmingham this week demonstrating his Life Library app for care homes. When he mentioned ITFC, Cassie Parratt, who works with the care sector in Suffolk, said that if he had said Norwich she would have walked away, hah! My respect to you, Cassie, for the career you have chosen and the team you support! I am so pleased you are a tractor girl, and thank you for reading our Newsfeed. ## The game This was not to be a “game of two halves”, but one of a shifting ascendance. I thought Town were dominant for much of the first spell, but Fulham defended well, sometimes by fair means or foul. This saw few chances presented or taken. Town’s first real chance came as Ouattara picked up a loose ball and Maeda pushed it to Enciso in the middle: he fired just wide of the post from the edge of the box. There followed a couple of good in-swinging passes that were just out of Emersonn’s reach. This spell seemed to galvanise Fulham and they began a fightback – a free kick on the edge of the box for the visitors was worrying, but it was blocked efficiently by the wall. There soon followed another three attempts by Fulham, but Christian Walton was up to the challenge. One of them was palmed out, and another was an impressive save at the right-hand corner. Garcia shot wide as the first half played out. The score reflected not only missed opportunities from both sides but spells of good defending and goalkeeping too. **Half-time: Ipswich 0-0** After the break it was game on; Fulham came on with purpose. Ouattara blocked a shot from Garcia on the line, but a few minutes later Fulham took the lead after a clutch of corners. The ball was cleared out and everyone started to head up the pitch, when Sessegnon, against the flow and through a wall of bodies, smashed the ball through and found the bottom corner. Walton was unsighted but made an amazing last-ditch dive. Sadly, not even his 6ft 5in (1.96m) plus extended arms could reach it. After an amazing run down the wing, Daizen Maeda was denied a penalty when he was tripped just inside the box. VAR decided the challenge had started outside the box. Like McEnroe, I wanted to wail “it was on the line!” But hey ho. I notice they did not show that one on any of the highlight videos. Just before the hour, Enciso worked the ball into space and crossed it perfectly to find Emersonn’s head six yards (5.5m) out. Unfortunately, the equaliser was not to be, as his shot met the woodwork, not the net. This was followed at the other end by a lucky escape as Oscar Bobb fired over the bar from a dangerous position. The five changes by Town showed their attacking intent: Egeli, Clarke, Akpom, Flemming and Palacios added fresh legs to the task and the momentum changed again in our favour. Straight away, a deflected strike by Egeli led to an attempted shot by Chuba Akpom, which was blocked, but the renewed offensive was underway. In the 88th minute it was Abdoul Ouattara who got the equaliser. Catching a ball outside the box from a clearance, he quickly switched it from his right foot to his left and let fly with a superb full-force shot into the left-hand corner of the net. The crowd went crazy – not only was it a goal, it was a stunning one! The opposition looked suitably stunned too. Stoppage time was ticking by and, just when we had all taken a deep breath and were thinking a draw was an acceptable result – all some of us had hoped for – our captain O’Shea popped up and headed a pinpoint Jack Clarke free kick into the back of the net. The crowd went wild … no – completely loopy describes it better! The drama, however, was not yet over: a breakaway by Fulham took the Brazilian K Santos Lopes de Macedo – aka Kevin (honest!) – into a perfect goalscoring position, but his shot was cleverly blocked by Christian Walton’s left boot. Phew – having a few minutes before thought a draw would “do” – it was now the last thing we wanted. Thankfully, that was no longer on the table, as the whistle was blown. **Full-time: Ipswich 2-1 Fulham** ## The players In no particular order: Daizen Maeda was a workhorse, finding space down the right, but his passes sometimes fell on barren ground centrally. Jack Clarke again injected pace, energy and trickiness into the game; he was the catalyst for the first goal and assisted the second. Issa Diop played well against his old club. Jaden Philogene, Leif Davis and Emersonn were a little quieter than normal, but they were well marked. Christian Walton was excellent in goal and made several crucial saves to keep us in the game. The only one he let in was totally unsavable. O’Shea looked more comfortable in his position and proved it by solid defending today. You do not always notice him, but he is always there or thereabouts. And he was very definitely “there” when he headed in the wonderful stoppage-time winning goal. Lukic, Palacios, Enciso and Florentino all played their part too – they are definitely melding into a team of which to be proud. ## Man of the match Abdoul Ouattara’s positioning all match was solid and his goal was inspired! Almost a carbon copy of Matusiwa’s worldie last season. Loved his backflip. Deservedly awarded man of the match by the sponsors, and he has to be my choice too. ## Post-match pondering Town fans were rightly buzzing walking away from the stadium. Winning this match was all down to persistence, heart, guts and belief. The Town team did not at any time give up. Even when they drew level and there were only minutes left on the clock, they went on pushing for the winner. And our subs were like an injection of adrenaline in tired legs. Jack Clarke was too hot to handle – or, to quote a Cottager, “We couldn’t \*\*\*\*\*\*\* manage Clarke at all”. ## On the train I was surrounded by Fulham fans, which made for interesting listening. Arbeloa’s substitutes were defensively focused, which would seem slightly understandable as they went ahead, but Fulham fans on the train were strongly criticising this choice after the game. I am guessing he cannot do much right at the moment, judging from other comments overheard and six games without a win. I rarely look at the table and, at six games in, it is of course preposterous. But ninth in the table, one place behind Chelsea, feels just that way too. I will enjoy it while I can, with Manchester City at the Etihad up next! It is good to be back.