Ipswich Town managed to secure a late draw against promotion contenders Leicester City on Monday night, holding them to a 1-1 result. The visit to the Championship leaders aimed to help Ipswich Town reclaim their spot in the top two, as Southampton had climbed to 2nd place by extending their unbeaten streak to 21 games with a victory over Swansea City.
Initially, it seemed that Kieran McKenna’s team would stay in 3rd place on the Championship table. A first-half own-goal from Leif Davis gave Leicester City a 1-0 lead, and it appeared they were set to secure three crucial points.
However, in the closing moments of the game, Mads Hermansen could only deflect Massimo Luongo’s shot into the path of Jeremy Sarmiento, who calmly scored, earning Ipswich Town a significant point.
Sarmiento, who joined on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion earlier in the month and has made three substitute appearances, had a notable impact off the bench. Now, reporter Alex Jones has advocated for him to be included in the starting lineup.
In his player ratings for the East Anglian Daily Times, Jones commended Sarmiento for his impactful performance as a substitute, giving him a rating of 7/10 and stating that it’s now “time for him to start.”
“Had a big impact off the bench. Smooth and silky off the ball, sending defenders all over the place. He almost scuffed his equaliser but was there in the right place at the right time. Great cameo, now it’s time for him to start.”
Pushing for a start
Following an impressive performance as a substitute and his inaugural goal for Ipswich Town, Sarmiento seems to be edging closer to securing a spot in the starting lineup. While manager McKenna has shown a willingness to rotate players, Nathan Broadhead and Wes Burns have proven challenging to displace, and Conor Chaplin has been a consistent presence in the attacking midfield role.
This means that Sarmiento faces a tough competition for a spot in the Town XI, but his notable display on Monday night strengthens his case. The upcoming weekend presents an opportune moment to give him his first start. Ipswich Town is set to host Maidenhead United in the fourth round of the FA Cup, providing McKenna with a chance to grant some players rare starts while fielding a strong enough team to overcome George Elokobi’s side.
Sarmiento is likely to be a compelling candidate for a starting position, although the final decision will depend on McKenna and his team.
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