Jack Clarke came off the bench to strike an 89th-minute winner against his old club as Ipswich Town began their Premier League return with a 2-1 win over Sunderland at Portman Road. It was Gary O'Neil's first competitive match in charge since replacing Kieran McKenna in the summer, with six full debutants involved after a heavy rebuild at the club.
Sunderland almost struck early, Brian Brobbey inches from finishing after four minutes before Leif Davis blocked, and debutant goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen survived a shaky start. Ipswich led through Emersonn, whose first Premier League goal arrived in the 23rd minute after Julio Enciso intercepted a stray Luke O'Nien pass, drove past Dan Ballard and squared for Emersonn to finish. Sunderland levelled through Nilson Angulo, whose free kick, won by Granit Xhaka on the edge of the area, swept in off the crossbar in the 38th minute.
Ipswich pushed for a winner after the break, Abdul Fatawu twice picking out dangerous crosses that went unconverted, before Clarke, sent on to replace man-of-the-match Enciso in the 71st minute, made the breakthrough. Sunderland substitute Omar Alderete gave the ball away deep in his own half, Sasa Lukic found Clarke, and the winger cut inside to finish beyond Robin Roefs.
Sunderland had the better of the underlying numbers, with 61% possession to Ipswich's 39% and ten shots to eight, but could not turn territory into points. "We've thrown Emersonn in," O'Neil said afterwards. "There are still some bits he has to tidy up on. He gave Ballard a tough time, fought him physically." Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris was measured in defeat: "They made a good start, which is important, but the consistency throughout the season is a big challenge."