As it happened: Plange bags hat-trick as Palace trump Ipswich 4-2

Summary

• Palace look confident from the off, and soon take a clear lead through a Luke Plange brace inside 12 minutes
• Ipswich look bright for a spell in the middle of the second-half, but can’t capitalise on some half-chance
• Christian Benteke, who earned a pair of assists for Plange, gets a goal of his own shortly before half-time
• Half-time: Crystal Palace 3-0 Ipswich Town
• The second-half starts slowly, but Wilfried Zaha injects it with some energy with an excellent chipped assist for Plange to claim his hat-trick
• At 4-0 up Palace still look hungry for more, but Ipswich react after a quadruple home sub and pull one back through Dominic Ball
• The visitors add a second when Sone Aluko strikes in from 20 yards
• Full-time: Crystal Palace 4-2 Ipswich Town

Crystal Palace looked confident as they hosted Ipswich Town at the Academy on Saturday morning, and their assurance only grew with every goal scored in a 4-2 win.

Luke Plange and Christian Benteke were razor sharp in the first-half and guided Palace to an early lead.

The pair combined to bag mirror-image goals: Benteke feeding Plange selflessly on both occasions for the young attacker to strike into a near-empty goal.

Throughout the opening exchanges Benteke looked for his teammates, but managed to claim a goal of his own shortly before half-time, striking impressively on the end of an excellent ball over the top.

At half-time Palace would have felt glad to be three-up in intense heat. Assistant manager Osian Roberts changed every member of the team at some point, but the second-half understandably started slowly.

Wilfried Zaha wasn’t switched off, however, and produced a sublime no-look chip to feed Plange in the box. Collecting the ball on his chest and spinning, Plange managed to lob goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky by thwacking his shot off the ground.

A four-goal cushion seemed to guarantee Palace victory, and though the home side still looked keen for more, Ipswich eventually broke through to claim two consolation goals: Dominic Ball heading in and Sone Aluko netting a strong 20-yard strike.

These efforts from the Suffolk side may have kept the pressure on Palace’s by-now-young XI, but the hosts had done enough to ensure a win, and the Eagles held firm for the final few minutes to record another entertaining home victory.

Find out all the reaction and key moments below.

From Palace TV

15:10

Hear in full what Osian Roberts and Luke Plange had to say about the Ipswich win.

And, don't forget, Palace TV+ subscribers, Season Ticket+ holders and selected Members watched this game live. Find out how to enjoy the next one here.

Plange: I love scoring goals

14:50

More from Plange: “Everyone has made me feel at home – it’s all good, all the players, all the staff. It’s gone well so far… I want to keep improving and improving throughout pre-season for the season ahead.”

14:30

Here's how Luke Plange reacted to his hat-trick: “That’s the game: I love scoring goals and it’s what I love to do for the team. I think I’ll keep doing what I can and keep improving throughout pre-season.”

Roberts: Plange is working hard

14:20

Assistant manager Osian Roberts said Luke Plange has worked hard since starting life in south London.

Speaking with Palace TV, he said: "Luke is settling in really well. He got a few goals today and is a real threat. His movement is really good and from his first day here we’ve been really pleased with how he adapted, but at the same time [how he] is progressing and taking information on board while working really hard."

Find out what else Roberts had to say here.

Full-time: Crystal Palace 4-2 Ipswich Town

It's all over in Beckenham: another hugely entertaining home win. Stay tuned for post-match reaction shortly.

More home changes:

88 mins

On: Mooney, Vigor

Off: Eze, Zaha

GOAL - Aluko does well: Palace 4-2 Ipswich

79 mins

Ipswich ensure they keep pressure on Palace as Aluko strikes hard into the net from 20 yards out. It's a solid effort, giving Whitworth little chance in goal.

Palace subs

77 mins

On: Riedewald, Addae

Off: Schlupp, Boateng

Zaha takes the armband.

Looking for more

74 mins

Zaha looks as determined as ever as he surges into the box from the left-wing before conceding a foul as he seeks to restore an attack.

GOAL - Ball pulls one back: Palace 4-1 Ipswich

70 mins

Recent Ipswich signing Ball pulls one back for his team by heading in from a dead ball moments after Palace's quadruple sub.

Shuffling the pack

More subs for Palace, with four Academy lads taking to the field. Ipswich have also introduced fresh legs.

Palace

On: Gordon, Bartley, Wells-Morrison, Cadogan

Off: Benteke, Watson, Guéhi, Plange

Ipswich

On: Chirewa, Buabo

Off: Humphreys, Jackson

Sublime link-up

Enjoy Palace's fourth below.

Miss it live? There's still time to tune in here!

GOAL! Plange bags his hat-trick: Palace 4-0 Ipswich

57 mins

Luke Plange claims his hat-trick in some style.

Zaha collects the ball 25 yards out and produces a superb no-look chip into the box, which Plange brings down on his chest before lobbing Hladky by striking the ball off the ground.

It's an excellent goal.

55 mins

It's been a quiet second-half so far, with both sides creating some limited chances.

Sheridan: What you need to know

Substitute Joe Sheridan is a towering centre-back in the Academy.

He signed his first professional contract this summer after captaining the Under-18s at times in 21/22 and making 26 appearances.

What's new?

Palace have made changes at the break. Here they are:

On: Whitworth, Sheridan, Hughes

Off: Goodman, Ferguson, Doucouré

Ipswich remain as they were.

Back underway

The lads are back for the second-half.

Tune in live here!

A confident finish

With the second-half just minutes away, watch Benteke's well-taken goal below.

Half-time

Goodman makes a solid save to deny Ipswich's recent signing Dominic Ball and at the other end Hladky blocks Benteke to enter half-time with the score at 3-0.

Palace have looked dominant going forward, with Benteke playing a central role in all three goals.

Ipswich enjoyed a bright spell midway through the half, but haven't been able to capitalise on a number of half-chances.

GOAL! Benteke gets one for himself: Palace 3-0 Ipswich Town

42 mins

There's no woodwork or flag this time as Benteke claims a goal for himself.

The Belgian forward latched on to an often-attempted and successful ball over the top before assuredly striking past Vaclav Hladky.

Benteke is enjoying this game so far.

CLOSE!

41 mins

Eze leaves Rekeem Harper behind him with a twisting jink towards goal before slipping the ball to Jeffrey Schlupp.

The Ghanaian hits the post, however, and is then flagged for offside.

37 mins

Another chance for the visitors: Cameron Humphreys produces a silky run into the centre of the box but puts his effort wide of the left post.

Kayden Jackson then strikes over with a curling 20-yard effort.

This certainly feels like Ipswich's brightest spell so far, but Palace have restricted them to half-chances with the break approaching soon.

30 mins

Ipswich earn a free-kick 25 yards out on the right flank: a dangerous spot for a cross.

Instead, Sone Aluko opts to shoot and puts the ball narrowly wide, with Goodman covering his goal well.

Holding fire in the heat

While the players take a much-needed drinks break, recap the first 25 minutes below.

• Palace are leading Ipswich Town 2-0 thanks to a Luke Plange brace.
• The young attacker bagged almost identical goals after 12 minutes on the end of two smart, selfless passes from Christian Benteke.
• Ipswich have started to push back somewhat, but haven't troubled Academy goalkeeper Owen Goodman.

Make sure to tune in and watch live here!

Pushing back

22 mins

Ipswich are starting to apply better pressure and come close through a pair of corners; George Edmundson's header is flashed wide of goal, however.

Spot the difference

Here's a look at those mirror-image goals.

Benteke the provider

15 mins

Big Chris is in a generous mood, looking up and towards his offensive teammates whenever he receives the ball.

A smart pass from Eze is forced out of play just as the Belgian was about to square into the box.

It's a pair of assists so far.

GOAL! Plange at the double: Palace 2-0 Ipswich Town

12 mins

Palace have doubled their lead with a mirror image of their first goal just two minutes later.

Benteke selflessly squared the ball to Plange, leaving the young attacker with a near-empty goal to strike into.

The hosts look confident.

GOAL! Palace lead: Palace 1-0 Ipswich Town

9 mins

Luke Plange has given Palace an early lead, comfortably slotting home after a smooth pass from Christian Benteke.

Plange has looked energetic so far, pressing well and offering the south Londoners' clearest threat in the opening exchanges.

6 mins

It's been a steady start for both teams, with a few fouls going Palace's way. The hosts look brightest along the right so far, pressing well through Luke Plange and Eberechi Eze.

Wilfried Zaha strove with purpose from the left, but was forced off the ball as he entered the box.

We're off!

11:03am

Palace v Ipswich is underway, with the visitors getting us started in the glaring south London sunshine.

Make sure you're tuned in live!

15 minutes to go

10:45am

Reminder: you can watch today's game live via Palace TV+.

Click here for more details.

Today's visitors

10:36am

Ipswich's lineup is in, with the Blues fielding an XI for today's friendly that includes Wales international Wes Burns and recent signing Dominic Ball.

Ipswich: Hladky, Donacien, Penney, Ball, Edmundson, Burns, Ndaba, Harper, Jackson, Humphreys, Aluko

Subs: Hayes, Buabo, Chirewa, Alexander.

Last time out

10:25am

Palace's last clash in south London saw them beat Millwall in a nine-goal thriller.

Goals came from Eze, Jordan Ayew, Jake O'Brien, Benteke and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi to show that, even in friendlies, south London is ours.

Recap: Cheick moves to SE25

10:20am

Doucouré followed the arrivals of winger Malcolm Ebiowei and goalkeeper Sam Johnstone this summer.

He played 34 times in Ligue 1 last season, guiding Lens to seventh place as a stalwart in the centre of midfield. His efforts capped a successful spell at the French side, having joined them in the second tier in 2018 and been a key part of their promotion-winning campaign.

He started his career at AS Real Bamako in Mali and represents the country at international level, receiving his first call-up in November, 2018.

Team news: Doucouré starts

10am

Cheick Doucouré will make his first start in Crystal Palace colours today, kicking-off in midfield alongside Jeffrey Schlupp and Eberechi Eze.

Also on the pitch will be Wilfried Zaha, Christian Benteke and Nathan Ferguson, with three Academy players also named: Owen Goodman, Noah Watson and David Boateng.

Watch live

9:45am

Today’s clash is the fourth pre-season game shown live via Palace TV+.

You can watch every minute of the action to possibly see Malcolm Ebiowei settling in to club colours. Click here for more details.

Matchday

9:30am

Palace's pre-season has been a mixed bag of results so far, with one win (5-4 v Millwall), one draw (1-1 v Accrington Stanley) and one defeat (0-2 v Liverpool).

A mixed squad of first-team players who are not travelling to Singapore and Australia will feature in this match alongside Academy players.

Ipswich will field an XI, with another team facing Wimbledon later today.

Find out how to watch the match live with Palace TV+!