Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna described his side’s dramatic 2-2 draw away at Southampton as one of the finest performances of his tenure, despite the result delaying their confirmed return to the Premier League.
The Blues came within touching distance of securing promotion at St Mary’s, but will now have to wait until their next fixture against QPR at Portman Road, where victory will guarantee their place back in the top flight regardless of other results.
Ipswich looked on course for a crucial away win after Wes Burns broke the deadlock early in the second half. However, Southampton responded quickly, with Ryan Manning levelling the score through a deflected free-kick shortly after.
The momentum shifted again late on when Cyle Larin put the hosts ahead in the closing stages, leaving Ipswich staring at defeat. But Jack Clarke struck in the final minutes to rescue a point, ensuring a tense but valuable result for McKenna’s side.
The visitors still had chances to win it in the dying moments, narrowly missing out on what could have been a promotion-sealing victory on the night.
Despite that, McKenna was full of praise for his team’s display, calling it one of the standout matches since he arrived at the club and possibly one of the best Championship performances during his reign.
He highlighted the quality of Ipswich’s overall play, while also acknowledging Southampton’s strength and contribution to an entertaining contest.
According to McKenna, the performance reflected significant progress over the course of the season, especially given the demanding schedule and the context of the campaign’s final stages. He noted the physical and mental challenge of producing such a display in their third away match in under a week and deep into a 45-game season.
While disappointed not to secure promotion on the night, he stressed that the result still left the squad in a strong mindset heading into the final fixture of the season. The draw, he suggested, should be viewed in the context of performance level rather than just the outcome.
Ipswich now turn their attention to a decisive home fixture, where a win will confirm their long-awaited return to the Premier League. McKenna emphasised the need for focus and collective effort, acknowledging the challenge ahead but expressing confidence in his squad’s ability to finish the job.
