(Credit: Sky Sports and Getty Images)

Toby Wilding

Sat 5 April 2025 21:30, UK

Ipswich Town star Alex Palmer should have been sent off during his side’s defeat to Wolves, Jamie O’Hara has claimed.

The former Tottenham midfielder has hit out at the law that came into play after the goalkeeper saved himself from conceding a bizarre own goal due to his own error.

Ipswich saw their hopes of avoiding relegation from the Premier League dealt a major blow on Saturday (5 April) as they were beaten 2-1 by Wolves at Portman Road.

One major talking from that game though surrounded a mix-up between Palmer and his teammate Dara O’Shea that very nearly proved costly for his side.

Jamie O’Hara hits out after Alex Palmer avoids sending off vs Wolves

After rumoured Newcastle United transfer target Liam Delap had given the hosts the lead, a major error nearly gifted Wolves an equaliser.

As O’Shea played a back-pass to Palmer, the Ipswich goalkeeper mis-controlled the ball, allowing it to run under his foot.

That then left the 28-year-old rushing back to claw the ball off the line with his hand to prevent a goal being conceded.

Clinton Morrison was stunned by that incident while reporting on Ipswich vs Wolves for Sky Sports, which concluded with Palmer being booked and the visitors being awarded an indirect free kick inside the area.

Kieran McKenna‘s side were able to clear that chance, and O’Hara now feels that the goalkeeper did not receive sufficient punishment for what happened.

Speaking about what happened on talkSPORT, the pundit said: “He can’t touch it, it’s handball if he does. He dives, on the line, claws it out with his hand, he doesn’t get sent off, no goal, no penalty and they get an indirect free kick.

“Now for me I’ve got a massive problem with this rule, I’ve got a massive problem with it, and look they’ll get away with it because Wolves won the game.

“But for me, where’s the advantage there? The ‘keeper’s made a massive freak [error], it’s going in the net, it’s handball. Anyone else on the pitch you get sent off, he’s gone.

“But because he’s the keeper, but in that moment he’s not the ‘keeper, because he can’t touch the ball with his hand, because it’s a backpass, so he’s a player. But he handballs it on the line.

“They [Wolves] get an indirect [free kick] six yards out, they [Ipswich] put ten men behind the ball and they manage to keep it out the net. Now for me that rule, I can’t believe there’s not something in the game: the keeper should get sent off.”

After Jason Cundy noted that the law was applied correctly but that it needs to be looked at as Wolves gained no advantage from the offence from the Ipswich ‘keeper, O’Hara added: “It’s not an advantage when you get an indirect free kick six yards out, when the ball’s rolling in the net, and you put ten men behind the ball, there’s just a law on the line.

“The law needs to change, I think that’s ridiculous because basically the goalkeeper gets away with it, massively.”

Ipswich Town man lucky but not relieved

Football Insider Verdict

O’Hara‘s point is certainly valid in that Palmer has deliberately handballed the ball on the line, and so he is fortunate not to be sent off.

Ultimately, with Ipswich still going on to lose the game, they are 12 points from safety with just seven games to go.

It therefore feels that with the form they are in, they are facing an almost impossible task if they are to avoid relegation this season, and they may now have concerns about another option between the posts.

Palmer had been brought to Portman Road in January after a string of errors by Ipswich goalkeeper Aro Muric in the first half of this season.

But after a moment such as this that have now put him under this level of scrutiny, the 28-year-old may now be feeling even more pressure to avoid a repeat of moments such as this in the future.

That can sometimes lead to even more mistakes which given the incredibly perilous position they are now in, is something Ipswich simply cannot afford.