Fulham suffer stoppage-time collapse as Arbeloa’s side remain rooted to bottom

Fulham’s difficult start under Alvaro Arbeloa continued as two late goals condemned them to a 2-1 defeat by Ipswich Town in the sixth round of the Premier League.

Ryan Sessegnon put Fulham ahead in the 55th minute, but Ipswich produced a dramatic turnaround in the closing stages. Abdoul Ouattara equalised in the 88th minute before Dara O’Shea completed the comeback in the second minute of added time.

The result lifted Ipswich Town to ninth place with nine points, while Fulham remained at the foot of the table on two points. Arbeloa’s team are still waiting for their first Premier League victory.

According to AS, Fulham appeared on course for a first win under their manager and had done enough to deserve it for around three-quarters of the match. However, they surrendered their advantage during a brief but decisive spell at the end.

Ouattara levelled with an outstanding finish that overturned the momentum of the game, before O’Shea struck again to erase the impact of Sessegnon’s fine goal. AS described the defeat as “a huge tragedy for Arbeloa and Fulham”, who remain unable to win in the Premier League and continue to struggle near the relegation places.

Sessegnon’s goal, scored from outside the penalty area, reflected Fulham’s clear superiority for much of the contest. Ipswich had found it difficult to challenge the London side for possession, as Fulham controlled the match through better positioning, more effective use of space and a clearer understanding of how to expose their opponents.

Bassey, Iwobi, King and Bob formed the foundation of Fulham’s performance, helping Arbeloa’s side dictate play and maintain control across long periods. The team repeatedly created opportunities but failed to take them, until Sessegnon finally broke the deadlock shortly after half-time.

Ipswich’s response came only in the final minutes, when they appeared to sense that the match was slipping away. They pushed Fulham back inside their own half and maintained the pressure, although their attacks initially lacked structure.

That sustained pressure eventually broke through the fragile defensive barrier assembled by Arbeloa. Ouattara’s goal wiped out much of the good work Fulham had produced, while O’Shea’s late winner completed a collapse that highlighted the side’s inability to turn superior performances into victories.

No player had missed more chances than Gonzalo Garcia, the only Spanish player to have started for Arbeloa so far. The former Real Madrid striker remains short of goals, having scored only once in the Premier League against Chelsea on the opening matchday.

Gonzalo Garcia has attempted to offset that lack of finishing with hard work, pressing and movement that creates space for his team-mates. That contribution, however, could not prevent Fulham from leaving Ipswich empty-handed after conceding twice in the final minutes.