Wolverhampton Wanderers took a significant step towards Premier League survival with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Saturday afternoon. The win, driven by a second-half comeback orchestrated by substitute Pablo Sarabia, leaves Ipswich teetering on the brink of relegation, now 12 points adrift of safety with just seven games remaining.
The match, a pivotal clash between two sides scrapping to avoid the drop, began with Ipswich asserting early dominance. Liam Delap, the Tractor Boys’ leading scorer with 12 goals this season, struck in the 16th minute to give the hosts a deserved lead. The 21-year-old forward capitalized on a precise nod-down from Dara O’Shea, nipping ahead of Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa to poke the ball home and ignite the Portman Road faithful. For a side desperate to end a run of five consecutive home defeats, it was the perfect start.
However, Wolves, under the stewardship of Vitor Pereira, showed resilience after a lackluster first half. The visitors struggled to find rhythm early on, with Ipswich’s scrappy play disrupting their flow. A halftime adjustment sparked a turnaround, and it was the introduction of Sarabia in the 65th minute that proved decisive. Just seven minutes after coming off the bench, the Spaniard leveled the score, firing a clinical shot from just inside the box to mark his first Premier League goal since November.
With momentum shifting, Wolves pressed their advantage. In the 84th minute, Sarabia turned provider, delivering a low ball across the box that Jorgen Strand Larsen converted for his fourth goal in three games. The Norwegian striker’s late strike silenced the home crowd and underscored Wolves’ growing confidence under Pereira, who has now overseen 13 points from seven league matches since February.
Ipswich, despite their early promise, couldn’t muster a response. Manager Kieran McKenna, who had spoken of the match’s importance without labeling it a “must-win,” cut a frustrated figure on the sidelines as his side’s slim survival hopes faded further. The Tractor Boys have now lost 10 of their 15 home league games this season, a stark contrast to their spirited 2-1 win over Wolves at Molineux in December. With daunting fixtures against Chelsea, Arsenal, and Newcastle looming, relegation to the Championship feels increasingly inevitable.
For Wolves, the victory moves them to 29 points, nine clear of the relegation zone, and bolsters their case for another season in the top flight. Pereira praised his side’s character post-match, saying, “We showed quality and fight. This is a big step, but we must keep pushing.” The win also sets up an intriguing run-in, with Wolves closing the gap to Tottenham Hotspur to two points ahead of a Europa League quarter-final clash with Eintracht Frankfurt.