Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna acknowledged that it’s now “more than likely” that his team will be playing Championship football next season after their 2-1 home defeat to Wolves. The Old Gold’s win means they are 12 points ahead of the Blues with just seven games left, and their superior goal difference makes their lead almost insurmountable.
McKenna’s team had taken the lead through Liam Delap’s goal, but Wolves dominated the second half and scored twice through Pablo Sarabia and Jorgen Strand Larsen. McKenna attributed the turnaround to his team’s inability to maintain their energy levels after a physically demanding midweek game.
“We were competitive in the first half, but we couldn’t keep up the pace,” McKenna said. “Wolves put pressure on us, and we didn’t have the energy to respond. We had some opportunities, but we couldn’t capitalize on them.”
McKenna also addressed his decision to name an unchanged team despite the short turnaround between games. “We considered the fatigue, but the players were keen to go again, and we thought it was the right decision,” he said.
When asked about his quadruple substitution at 1-1, McKenna explained that it was necessary due to an injury to Conor Townsend. He denied that it was a reckless decision, saying that the team’s shape and approach remained the same.
Looking ahead to the rest of the season, McKenna acknowledged that the likelihood of Ipswich Town staying in the Premier League is slim. “We have some tough games coming up, including Chelsea, Arsenal, and Newcastle,” he said. “We’ll try to finish the season as well as we can, but it’s going to be a challenge.”
The Blues’ home form has been a concern this season, with only one win coming at Portman Road. McKenna attributed this to various factors, including the team’s inability to break down opponents and their lack of clinical finishing. “We’re talking about small sample sizes, and tiny margins can make a big difference,” he said. “We’ll try to learn from our experiences and improve for next season.”
