Everton Held By Ipswich In Goodison's Penultimate Game

Everton let slip a two-goal advantage to draw 2-2 with Ipswich Town in the penultimate game at Goodison Park.

On a day that celebrated the Club's supporters, Beto's expertly-guided header and Dwight McNeil's long-range effort put the Blues in a commanding position inside 35 minutes.

But Julio Enciso's stunning strike pulled one back for Kieran McKenna's side prior to the interval, before George Hirst headed in an equaliser late on to snatch an unlikely point for the visitors.

FIRST HALF

Dwight McNeil was named in the starting line-up for the first time since 4 December - after being sidelined with a knee injury – while Charly Alcaraz was also given the nod from the start, as boss David Moyes made two changes from the side that began the 1-0 defeat at Chelsea seven days previously.

Abdoulaye Doucoure missed out on the matchday squad due a personal issue, while Jack Harrison was named on the bench.

Goodison Park was a sight to behold ahead of kick-off, The 1878s fan group having organised their biggest – and last-ever – display, which involved countless flags and tifos across the sun-drenched Gwladys Street and Bullens Road, a 'Goodison Park' mosaic across the Park End and ticker tape being thrown from the upper tiers of all four sides of the stadium.

As the action got under way, the sold-out home crowd continued to boom out the final verse and chorus of Forever Everton. It was a theme that continued into the opening stages as the Evertonians in attendance continued to go through the songbook, celebrating the Club and various players past and present.

On the pitch, the Blues started brightly and, seven minutes in, Beto's close-range header forced Ipswich goalkeeper Alex Palmer into his first save of the afternoon after McNeil's deep corner had been headed back across the face of goal by Jarrad Branthwaite.

Beto was threatening again moments later from another McNeil corner when, after the visitors failed to clear their lines from the initial delivery, Everton's No.14 attempted an audacious bicycle kick from the edge of the penalty area that flashed over the crossbar.

Ipswich fired their first real warning shot as the clock struck 20 minutes – Omari Hutchinson firing a 20-yard shot that was blocked by Branthwaite, before Enciso curled harmlessly over the crossbar on the rebound. 

Everton continued to look the more likely to break the deadlock, though, and a flowing move between Iliman Ndiaye, Beto and Alcaraz looked promising, only for Nathan Patterson's cross-turned-shot to be pounced on by Palmer.

The opener finally came on 26 minutes, Beto steering home a header from a beautifully-weighted Alcaraz cross from the left flank for his ninth goal of the campaign.

The already-relegated Tractor Boys were, perhaps, fortunate not to be reduced to 10 men moments later, with Liam Delap shown a yellow card after an off-the-ball clash with Jake O'Brien, before narrowly escaping a second caution for a foul on Branthwaite seconds later.

The Toffees doubled their lead 10 minutes before the interval, McNeil celebrating his first start in almost five months with a trademark left-footed strike from 25 yards which completely wrong-footed Palmer and nestled into the bottom corner of the Park End net.

Goodison Park was jubilant and there was nearly a third goal to celebrate straight from the resulting restart but Ndiaye's clipped centre was inches out of reach for Alcaraz, who could not quite connect with a flying header from a couple of yards out.

Enciso threatened again on a rare attack for the visitors, cutting in field from the left wing before dragging his low shot wide of Pickford's right-hand post.

It would turn out to be a case of third time lucky for Enciso moments later, as the winger – on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion – received the ball with his back to goal before skipping past a challenge and firing a 25-yard thunderbolt past Pickford and into the back of the net via the underside of the crossbar to halve the deficit.

SECOND HALF

The opening 10 minutes of the second period felt like a stop-start affair before the Blues went close to restoring their two-goal cushion when McNeil's in-swinging cross from the right evaded the on-rushing Ndiaye at the far post by a matter of inches.

McNeil was at it again four minutes later with a similarly-inviting centre but this time Palmer clawed his cross away from danger with both Beto and Ndiaye ready to pounce had he not intervened.

Moyes had spoken in recent weeks about evolving his side's playing style to enjoy more possession in attacking areas and that was on show as the game reached its hour point, with James Garner and Alcaraz influential figures in trying to unlock Ipswich's defence again.

The Blues boss shuffled his pack with 13 minutes remaining Dominic Calvert-Lewin handed his first minutes since recovering from a hamstring issue suffered in January and Jack Harrison introduced.

Then, from nowhere, Ipswich were level.

It looked as though Patterson was fouled while chasing a ball in the right channel but referee Lewis Smith waved play on as the Everton full-back remained on the ground holding his face.

Ipswich countered and Hutchinson's cross from the right byline took an unfortunate deflection off Idrissa Gana Gueye and was headed in at the far post by substitute George Hirst.

Everton pushed for what would have been a deserved winner late on but were kept out by a stubborn Ipswich backline.

The Toffees next travel to Fulham next weekend, before hosting Southampton at Goodison Park in the Grand Old Lady's final farewell on Sunday 18 May (12pm BST).