Ipswich Town face a tough Premier League survival battle with back-to-back fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United on the horizon. However, Kieran McKenna’s side won’t be short on confidence, having previously pulled off a stunning away win over Spurs and secured a valuable point against United during Ruben Amorim’s first match as Red Devils manager.
Coming off a resilient draw with Aston Villa, Ipswich will rely heavily on the form of Liam Delap. The £20m summer signing from Manchester City has transformed into a clinical Premier League striker, leading the club’s scoring charts with 10 league goals.
A lovely finish from Liam at Villa Park.
Our no.19 now has 🔟 #PremierLeague goals for the season. ⚽️#AVLIPS pic.twitter.com/uMwUjE6Kkc
— Ipswich Town (@IpswichTown) February 15, 2025
His opener against Villa was a testament to his growing importance, with Sammie Szmodics trailing far behind with just four goals. If Ipswich are relegated, Delap’s performances will likely attract interest from bigger clubs.
However, another former Ipswich player has surprisingly outscored Delap this season—Armando Dobra, now plying his trade in League Two. Dobra struggled during his time at Ipswich, managing just two goals and four assists in 30 appearances before being released to Chesterfield in 2022. McKenna decided to move on from the Albanian attacker, and Dobra has since revitalized his career in the lower leagues.
Armando Dobra with something special! 😮💨🎯#EFL | #SkyBetLeagueTwo pic.twitter.com/z6Us1UmPiO
— Sky Bet League Two (@SkyBetLeagueTwo) January 28, 2025
Dobra’s final Ipswich start came in a 2-1 loss to Burton Albion in August 2021, where he lined up alongside key future contributors Vaclav Hladky and Luke Woolfenden. After leaving for Chesterfield, Dobra has impressed with 11 goals and two assists this season—surpassing Delap’s tally. He has amassed 32 goals and 15 assists from 116 games for the Spireites, playing a crucial role for Paul Cook’s side.
With Chesterfield chasing a League Two playoff spot and Ipswich fighting for Premier League survival, Dobra’s rejuvenation and Delap’s key role will remain storylines to watch. For Ipswich, their survival hopes may hinge on Delap’s continued goal-scoring heroics.
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