Brentford 4-3 Ipswich: Bryan Mbeumo’s 96th minute strike earns Bees dramatic win after Tractor Boys’ blew a two-goal lead

There is a reason why Kieran McKenna is revered among Ipswich fans and up there among the greatest managers in the club’s history, Sir Alf Ramsey and Sir Bobby Robson.

The Northern Irishman has taken the Tractor Boys to unimaginable heights, guiding them from mid-table in League One back to the Premier League after a 22-year absence in a period that included a number of remarkable late rescues.

Down to 10 men and 3-2 down to Brentford after throwing away a 2-0 lead, Ipswich looked to have completed one of their best yet when Liam Delap tapped in Leif Davis’ cross.

But as the clock ticked down to 96 minutes, Bryan Mbeumo’s cross caused panic in the Ipswich defense before going all the way in, leaving McKenna to curse as his side finished on the wrong side in one of the most remarkable games in the history of the Premier League.

For forty-four minutes everything went so perfectly for Ipswich. The Tractor Boys were on course for a first Premier League win of the season – and first since 2002 – back to a time when Tony Blair was Prime Minister and Oasis’ The Hindu Times topped the charts.

Bryan Mbeumo scored a brace to extend the Tractor Boy’s winless start to the season

Ipswich had taken the lead within 28 minutes through Sammie Szmodics’ finish

George Hirst doubled the visitors’ lead by lifting the ball over Bees goalkeeper Mark Flokken

They had played their best football yet and brilliant goals from Sammie Szmodics and George Hirst kept the away game bouncing.

Firstly, Szmodics, who once said he ‘always wanted to beat Ipswich’ during 17 years at arch-rivals Colchester United, put them ahead when he scored with a sublime curling finish after good work from Kalvin Phillips and George Hirst.

In no time Brentford had caught their breath and were 2-0 down. Hirst scored on his full Premier League debut with a clever dink as the Bees’ defense was left all over the place, with Ipswich full of attacking verve that saw them score 92 goals last season.

Brentford looked all out to sea and Mark Fleks prevented an already angry crowd from erupting when he saved brilliantly in the penalty area from Szmodics.

But seven minutes later and a years-long collapse had undone all that good work as Brentford showed all the resilience and quality they have developed under Manchester United goalkeeper Thomas Frank to turn this match on its head.

Yoane Wissa scored his comeback goal after good work from Keane Lewis-Potter, before the striker’s second effort was helped over the line by Clarke, leaving the visitors deluding themselves into needing a rest.

Ipswich’s collapse was completed six minutes into the second half when Clarke brought down Lewis-Potter. Referee Lewis Smith initially awarded a free-kick, before VAR recommended Peter Bankes award a penalty instead, infuriating McKenna as Mbeumo made no mistake.

Yoane Wissa (right) halved the deficit before Harry Clarke’s own goal (bottom left).

Liam Delap came off the bench to level the match at 3–3 for his fourth goal of the season

Mbeumo’s cross caused panic in the Ipswich defense before going all the way home

Ipswich’s day appeared to be made worse when Clarke, a boyhood Blue, was subsequently sent off on his full Premier League debut having already conceded a penalty and scored an own goal.

They seemed understandably demoralized, but you can never write off McKenna’s men, and when Davis’ cross found Delap, they all seemed ready to pull off another one of those remarkable escapes to which they have become accustomed.

But football is ruthless, and when Mbeumo’s cross had everyone in the Ipswich defense looking at each other, it capped off one of the most remarkable games in Premier League history, although not before Delap hit the crossbar with the final kick from the competition.