Blackburn replay 'only possible decision' - McKenna

Kieran McKenna has been in charge of Ipswich Town since December 2021

Replaying Ipswich's game at Blackburn Rovers after it was abandoned because of rain was the "only possible outcome", according to Town boss Kieran McKenna.

Blackburn were leading the 10-man Tractor Boys 1-0 with 10 minutes to go when the match officials decided conditions made it impossible to continue.

Rovers boss Valerien Ismael called for his side to be awarded a 1-0 win, but on Thursday the English Football League ruled the match must be replayed in full.

Ismael subsequently called the decision a "disgrace" but McKenna said Town had never expected anything else.

"I understand on the other side of it (that) you'd be disappointed because they were in a stronger position in the game but football over the course of a long history has been 90 minutes plus extra time," he told BBC Radio Suffolk.

"If you're going to say that it's impossible to score late goals, or impossible to score with 10 men, then we'll have to rip up a lot of history books and the story of the game would be very different.

"We've already this season scored two goals deep into injury time, Blackburn have had three home games, in one of them they conceded two goals in injury time against Birmingham.

"There's an awful lot of other things you could say about the context of the game but I don't think there's anything to gain from it.

"You'd be frustrated if the shoe was on the other foot, but there was no other possible outcome and we'll focus on the next game and know we'll be going back up there in the next few months."

Defeat at Ewood Park would have left Ipswich without a victory since the opening day of the season.

"I'm surprised how long it took to get the decision but I understand there's a process to follow," McKenna added.

"I don't think there was any other decision to make from the moment the game was cancelled.

"It's going to be a challenge to fit in another midweek game and go up there again but it was the only possible decision."