Ipswich Town snatched a much-needed lifeline in their fight against relegation with a surprise 2-1 win over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium, but the odds remain stacked against them. Goals from Nathan Broadhead and Liam Delap delivered Ipswich's first league victory of the year, injecting belief into a side that still sits nine points adrift of safety with just eight matches to play.

The visitors looked sharper from the outset, snapping into tackles and exploiting space on the counter. Their efforts were rewarded in the 34th minute when Julio Enciso sparked a swift break and released Broadhead, who calmly slotted home his first Premier League goal. It was a clinical finish and a rare moment of attacking composure from a side that has struggled all season.

Buoyed by the lead, Ipswich pushed for a second and found it just after the hour mark. Conor Townsend floated a precise cross into the box, and Delap rose to meet it with a thumping header for his 11th goal of the campaign. It was a striker’s finish timed to perfection and buried with confidence.

Bournemouth, stunned by the visitors’ intensity, responded through Evanilson in the 67th minute. The Brazilian pounced on a loose ball after a free-kick and pulled one back, setting up a tense finale. But Ipswich stood firm, defending deep and with discipline to protect their precious lead.

The result lifts Ipswich to 19th, still marooned in the drop zone but now showing signs of fight. Manager Kieran McKenna praised his team’s resilience and the attacking edge they showed after weeks of disappointment. “It’s a huge win for the group. We know the mountain ahead is steep, but today we proved we’re still climbing,” he said post-match.

For Bournemouth, the defeat extends a frustrating winless run to five games and deals a blow to their hopes of sneaking into European contention. Defensive lapses and a lack of urgency cost them, and manager Andoni Iraola will be demanding a strong response when they face West Ham next week.

Ipswich, meanwhile, head into their clash with Wolves knowing every match is now a final. The road to survival remains narrow and fraught with peril, but Delap’s winner at the Vitality may yet be remembered as the moment the fight truly began.