Ipswich vs West Ham Report

Scorers: Broadhead 52’; Ward-Prowse 43’, Bowen 55’, Kudus 87’

West Ham United closed out their Premier League season with a 3-1 victory over relegated Ipswich Town, thanks to a goal and assist from Jarrod Bowen. The win ensures the Hammers have now lost just once in their last 18 top-flight meetings with the Tractor Boys, while also offering a positive end to what has otherwise been a disappointing campaign.

First Half – Ward-Prowse Punishes Defensive Error

With nothing on the line but pride, Ipswich were hoping to end their short-lived Premier League return with a flourish. However, it was the visitors who began the brighter. On his 50th PL appearance, Axel Tuanzebe nearly gifted the Hammers an opener by deflecting a dangerous ball towards his own net, but goalkeeper Christian Walton reacted sharply to prevent the mishap.

Ipswich responded with attacking intent, Omari Hutchinson drawing a fine save from Łukasz Fabiański, who was making his final appearance for the Hammers. The 39-year-old was called into action again soon after, doing well to parry away Nathan Broadhead’s fierce drive from outside the box.

Despite the hosts’ improved spell, it was West Ham who struck first just before half-time. A loose pass from Ipswich captain Sam Morsy proved costly, as Bowen pounced and fed James Ward-Prowse. The midfielder made no mistake from the edge of the box, firing past Walton to hand West Ham the lead at the interval.

Second Half – Bowen and Kudus Seal Victory

Ipswich came out positively after the break and were rewarded within seven minutes. Broadhead made amends for his earlier miss by bursting past Jean-Clair Todibo and unleashing a thunderous shot that beat Fabiański at his near post, despite the Pole getting a hand to it.

However, the parity lasted barely three minutes. Bowen – already provider of the first – turned scorer with a clinical finish from just inside the area, lashing the ball into the net to restore West Ham’s lead in emphatic fashion.

Morsy tried to make up for his earlier error with a driven half-volley just before the hour mark, but Fabiański was well-positioned to gather. Kieran McKenna introduced Liam Delap in search of a spark, but it was Graham Potter’s substitution that proved decisive.

Mohammed Kudus, brought on late in the second half, added the gloss to the result in the 87th minute. The Ghanaian bent a superb shot into the corner from the edge of the box, sealing all three points for the Hammers.

Conclusion – Hammers Finish on a High, Ipswich Bow Out

West Ham’s win was just their second in the final 11 games of a frustrating season that sees them finish 14th. Despite mid-season optimism, a lack of consistency saw the Hammers fail to challenge in the top half. However, Bowen’s performance provided a reminder of the attacking quality within the squad.

For Ipswich, the result sums up a difficult return to the top flight. With just one win in their last 18 league outings and key players likely to depart, Kieran McKenna faces a tough rebuilding job ahead of next season in the Championship.

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Ipswich v West Ham, 2024/25 | Premier League