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Premier League 2026/27 — Matchweek 1
Ipswich Town badge
Ipswich Town
1
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2
FT
Sunderland badge
Sunderland
Saturday 22 August 2026 · 14:00 GMT · 📍 Portman Road, Ipswich
Full Time

Sunderland came from behind to beat Ipswich Town 2-1 at Portman Road. Delap put Ipswich ahead early on, but Isidor levelled just past the hour before Le Fée settled it from the penalty spot with ten minutes to go. It was a tough way for Ipswich to lose a game they'd led for over half an hour. That's a winning start for Sunderland back in the top flight, while Ipswich will have to shake off an opening-day defeat on home turf.

Pre-match Talking Points

Match talking points will appear here before kick-off.

Team Talking Points

Ipswich Town badge
Premier League 2026/27
  • 1
    Ipswich lost 2-1 at home to Bournemouth on Sunday, so they go into the break 14th and without a league win in five games. Bournemouth are flying, with eight straight wins, so it's not exactly a shameful defeat. Still, a five-game winless run is the kind of stat Ipswich fans are counting.
  • 2
    The opener came after just five minutes, when Evanilson dispossessed keeper Christian Walton and finished with a no-look effort. It made him the first Bournemouth player ever to score in five Premier League games in a row. Unfortunately for Ipswich, they became a footnote in someone else's record.
  • 3
    The second goal was cruel. Ryan Christie's shot deflected in off Leif Davis for an own goal. Jack Clarke pulled one back from the penalty spot, but Ipswich couldn't find an equaliser.
  • 4
    Gary O'Neil is the man in charge now, after spells at Bournemouth and Wolves. Under him Ipswich have a stubborn streak: they have the best record in the league for winning back points from losing positions. Mention that and you'll sound like you've done your homework.
  • 5
    Before Bournemouth came a 2-2 draw at fellow promoted side Hull, a properly chaotic end-to-end game. Ipswich are safely clear of the bottom three for now. The aim this time is to avoid going straight back down, which is what happened after their last Premier League visit in 2024-25.
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Top thing to say down the pub Ipswich never know when they're beaten, which is great, but they could do with not going behind quite so often.
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Avoid saying "Ipswich are just here for one season again" — they've heard it every week since promotion, they're sitting comfortably mid-table, and they'd quite like you to look at the actual league table.
Sunderland badge
Premier League 2026/27
  • 1
    Sunderland beat Chelsea 1-0 at the Stadium of Light on Sunday, and it was a big one. It ended a winless run, lifted them off the bottom of the table, and pushed Chelsea out of the top four. Not a bad afternoon's work.
  • 2
    The goal was an Enzo Le Fée penalty in the 36th minute, after striker Brian Brobbey was brought down by Levi Colwill. Chelsea moaned that Brobbey had pulled Colwill first. Sunderland fans will tell you, cheerfully, that the decision stood.
  • 3
    Chelsea had about 69% of the ball, but Sunderland created the better chances. One stats site had Sunderland's expected goals at 2.55 against Chelsea's 0.53. Translation for the non-fan: the scoreline flattered Chelsea, not Sunderland.
  • 4
    Manager Régis Le Bris had been under real pressure going in, so this one mattered. He called it 'crucial', but admitted that the target is still 40 points and there's 'a long way to go'. Sunderland are 19th on eight points, so he's right.
  • 5
    First up after the break is Aston Villa away on Saturday 21 November. Then there's the small matter of the Tyne–Wear derby at Newcastle on 5 December. Feel free to ask a Sunderland fan whether they've started thinking about it. They have.
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Top thing to say down the pub Chelsea had seventy per cent of the ball and Sunderland had all three points. Funny how that works.
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Avoid saying "Sunderland? I thought they were still in League One." They did spend years down there, and Netflix made a whole documentary about how painful it was. Bringing it up now, with Chelsea freshly beaten, is a quick way to get a stony stare.

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