Liam Delap’s homecoming to Ipswich didn’t exactly go to plan.
The Nottingham Forest striker returned to Portman Road hoping to haunt his former club, but instead left with a frustrating 1-1 draw — and a couple of missed chances he probably won’t want to watch back anytime soon.
Forest started brightly and deservedly took the lead after just 13 minutes, with Neco Williams finishing off a slick move to put the visitors in front.
And Forest kept coming.
The problem? They couldn’t find the second goal.
Instead, Ipswich were handed a rather generous invitation back into the game when Nikola Milenkovic’s underhit back-pass was pounced upon by Julio Enciso, who calmly finished to make it 1-1 before half-time.
Delap misses his big moment
Delap had the perfect opportunity to write himself into the headlines on his return.
Unfortunately for Forest, his header flew over the bar with the goal begging.
He later fired a long-range effort narrowly wide as Forest continued to search for a winner, but the former Ipswich man simply couldn’t find his shooting boots.
Forest finished with 17 shots compared with Ipswich’s seven and created plenty of opportunities, but once again their finishing let them down.
There was also plenty of drama surrounding Issa Diop, who escaped with a yellow card following a VAR review for a challenge on James McAtee that Forest felt should have resulted in a red.
Another frustrating night for Forest
For Oliver Glasner, the draw will feel like two points thrown away.
Forest have now managed just one league victory from their opening eight games, despite producing enough chances to have collected considerably more points.
Ipswich, meanwhile, will probably be the happier of the two sides after surviving a second-half onslaught.
Forest had the chances.
Forest had the pressure.
Forest had the shots.
But they didn’t have the goals.
And in football, unfortunately, you can’t cash in your xG at the final whistle.
Final score: Ipswich 1-1 Nottingham Forest.
