Enzo Maresca's side had dominated the opening 19 minutes of the contest before being hit by a sucker punch when Julio Enciso was able to guide home a cross from Ben Johnson. The Ipswich full-back then went from provider to goalscorer as he headed home just after the half-hour mark.

The Blues produced the necessary response after the break, and we reduced the deficit 18 seconds into the second period when pressure from Marc Cucurella forced Axel Tuanzebe to turn the ball into his own net.

Chances came and went, and it wasn't until the 79th minute that we drew level when Jadon Sancho whipped an excellent shot into the top corner. We pushed hard for a winner in the time remaining, with Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez going close, but we ultimately had to settle for a point instead of all three.

Maresca made nine changes to the starting XI that began our Conference League win over Legia Warsaw on Thursday evening.

Out went Filip Jorgensen, Josh Acheampong, Benoit Badiashile, Malo Gusto, Reece James, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Sancho, Tyrique George, and Christopher Nkunku. In came Robert Sanchez, Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Cowill, Cucurella, Moises Caicedo, Fernandez, Noni Madueke, Pedro Neto, and Nicolas Jackson.

A strong start

That rotation brought a freshness to the Blues side, and we controlled the opening 15 minutes of the game. Chances were fashioned at a rapid rate, the first of which saw Jackson drive a shot against the near post after a clever pass into the 18-yard box by Fernandez.

The Argentine then had an opportunity of his own after a well-worked short corner, but his attempt was poor and the ball flew high over the crossbar.

Madueke, who netted twice off the bench against Legia, caused the Tractor Boys' backline problems in the opening exchanges and twice had attempts denied. The winger then teed up Chalobah for a low drive, only for Alex Palmer in the Ipswich goal to save.

The pressure was building and Palmer was forced into another good save to deny Colwill, who powered a header at goal from close range after another excellent Madueke cross. Chelsea kept the ball alive and the move ended with Cucurella powering a shot over the crossbar.

The sucker punch

For almost 20 minutes, the game had been played entirely in Ipswich's half. Yet football matches can change in an instant, and the visitors opened the scoring with their first genuine attack. The ball was fed to Johnson after a surge forward by the right wing-back, he crossed low and Enciso was on hand to poke a shot beyond Sanchez.

The Blues attempted to mount a response, but Ipswich tightened up defensively after their opener – and they almost grabbed their second when Jens Cajuste broke forward and curled a shot narrowly past Sanchez's left-hand post.

A second goal of the game did arrive just after the half-hour mark. Unfortunately, it went to he hosts as a flowing attack ended with Enciso crossing to the back post, where Johnson was on hand to guide a header across goal and beyond Sanchez.

In the time that remained in the first half, we applied pressure and Madueke drove a shot over the crossbar, Caicedo bobbled an attempt from distance wide, and Jackson fired over from 25 yards after a long pass over the Ipswich defence.

Better was needed in the second period.

The reaction

Maresca made a change at the break, with Gusto introduced for Tosin and Chalobah moving into centre-back. An early response felt vital if the Blues were to launch a comeback; it took just 18 seconds for it to arrive.

From kick off, the ball was played back to Sanchez, who launched it upfield. Possession ended at the feet of Madueke, who skipped beyond Leif Davis and drilled the ball into the six-yard box, where Cucurella's presence forced Axel Tuanzebe to turn the ball into his own net.

The mood around the Bridge changed in an instant; the crowd now pushing the Blues on as we searched for an equaliser. Cole Palmer had a shot blocked before Neto forced the Ipswich goalkeeper into a low save with an attempt from 20 yards. Again, the pressure appeared to be building.

Yet that is when Ipswich produced two reminders of the threat they posed. George Hirst had both opportunities, the first a shot from distance that whistled beyond Sanchez's post and the second a header from close range which he guided wide.

Those chances checked the Blues' momentum, and on 67 minutes, Maresca opted to make his second change as Sancho was introduced for Madueke. It saw Neto swap flanks to play on the right and Sancho went out to the left.

It proved effective as we threatened the Ipswich goal twice in quick succession. Palmer's attempt came first, which was deflected wide for a corner, from which the ball was cleared to Neto, who drilled a half-volley narrowly over.

Fernandez was then inches away from converting a low cross from Sancho, but Ipswich substitute Conor Townsend did superbly on the cover and clear from inside his six-yard box. The Argentine then forced Palmer in the Ipswich goal into a low save following a quick break forward from the Blues.

Once more, the pressure was building on the Ipswich goal. On this occasion, it paid off as with 11 minutes to play, we drew level. A corner was taken short to Sancho, who was given time to move the ball out of his feet and whip a shot high toward the far corner. It flew beyond Palmer and nestled in the net. It was an unstoppable strike.

A late charge

There was still ample time for the Blues to fashion a winner. We came inches away when Chalobah managed to meet a deep free-kick in the goalmouth, but the foot of Palmer managed to divert the ball behind.

Cole Palmer then drove a powerful shot from distance that flew over the crossbar. The Blues were pushing hard –and Maresca made his final alteration as Nkunku was brought on for Jackson with four minutes of normal time remaining.

Ipswich, mostly from set-pieces, maintained a threat, and former Academy youngster Jack Taylor did have a sight of goal for the visitors that he sliced over the crossbar.

Six minutes were added. Still, the chances came. Palmer had the first of them as Nkunku laid the ball off to the England international and his curled shot, which was destined for the corner, was pushed behind by the fingertips of his namesake in the Ipswich goal.

Then the Tractor Boys' stopper went one better as, in the dying seconds, a Caicedo cross was collected by Fernandez, who rasped a shot toward goal from 12 yards. Palmer threw up a strong right hand and managed to divert the ball behind.

The final whistle was blown moments later. The Blues had rescued a point but not all three.

What it means...

The Blues sit fifth in the Premier League table following today's draw – and ahead of Newcastle United's clash against Manchester United.

What comes next...

It's back to UEFA Conference League action for the Blues on Thursday evening as we play the second leg of our quarter-final tie against Legia Warsaw. We hold a 3-0 advntage heading into the game.

The teams

Chelsea: Sanchez; Chalobah, Tosin (Gusto 45), Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez (c); Madueke (Sancho 67), Palmer, Neto; Jackson (Nkunku 86)
Chelsea substitutes: Jorgensen, James, Acheampong, Badiashile, Dewsbury-Hall, George
Scorers: Tuanzebe OG 46, Sancho 79
Booked: C.Palmer 67

Ipswich: Palmer; Johnson, Tuanzebe, O'Shea, Burgess, Davis (Townsend 61); Morsy, Cajuste; Enciso (Taylor 75), Clarke (Philogene 71, Broadhead 75), Hirst (Delap 71)
Ipswich substitutes: Walton, Woolfenden, Luongo, Chaplin
Scorers: Enciso 19, Johnson 31
Booked: A.Palmer 31, Morsy 5

Referee: Stuart Attwell

Attendance: 39,805