Ipswich Town

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We asked for you what one thing - good or bad - that nobody is talking about at Ipswich but should be.

Here are some of your comments:

Raymond: We have to give McKenna time to adjust to the heights of the Premier League. It's still a work in progress and, as most of the team were playing in League One two seasons ago, I am sure he can turn things around by the end of the season.

Gavin: It ties in a bit with the fan's unity after the Manchester City game, but despite being in the relegation picture all season, we're one of the few teams that haven't been demanding the firing of our manager. While there are sometimes questions about correct tactics/subs, I think the Ipswich fans have a real love and respect for McKenna and his team, and would rather let him play the season out the way he wants to rather than the club panic and throw in the towel.

Steve: No-one is talking abut the lack of a decisive selection at the back or in wide midfield at Ipswich. It still feels like Kieran McKenna doesn't know his preferred starters. It's fair to say he does change formation depending on the opposition and whether we are home or away, but other than Leif Davis at left-back, the centre-backs and right-back seem to be constantly shuffled as does the rest of the team ahead of them. Continuity is key at this level and Ipswich just don't appear to have that at all.

Andrew: Ipswich need to be working on their goal threat. We are not scoring enough currently. We have spent a lot on forward players this season and recently we have looked toothless. To stay up we need to score goals!

Andy: Plain and simple. We aren't scoring enough goals. Score more, and we stay up.

Fans and players remained united at full-time against Manchester City despite the heavy defeat on Sunday.

Naturally, all the talk is about how Ipswich can survive in the Premier League but you know your club best.

So tell us, what's the one thing at Ipswich no-one seems to be talking about, but really should be?

Let us know here

Richard Woodward
Fan writer

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Ouch. That one stung a bit.

Ipswich Town appear to have played Manchester City at the wrong time on both occasions we've faced them this season. Sunday's thrashing at Portman Road felt like Pep's side unloading weeks of frustration all in one go, and Kieran McKenna's side were in the firing line.

While no-one likes being beaten in this manner, and it can't be used as an excuse every week, the scoreline does simply underline the gaping chasm that exists between clubs like mine and the Premier League elite. Just look at our company in the current bottom three. It hardly sends a positive message to the rest of the footballing pyramid does it?

It's vital this defeat is now consigned to history and disregarded by all concerned at IP1. Losing games to Manchester City is an occupational hazard for most top flight teams over the last decade. While I would hope for learning and improvement from how the goals were conceded, the overall relevance for our season is minimal in my opinion. There are much more significant fixtures remaining to decide which side of the 'dotted line' we'll finish.

And one positive from Sunday is the unwavering support of the Blue Army. The scenes at full-time demonstrated that most Town fans 'get it' – that they understand the challenging circumstances McKenna's side face having "climbed the mountain really, really, quickly" as he put it at full-time.

But some weeks things will come together for Town, as has been proven in enough fixtures both home and away. Taking each game 'as it comes' (as the cliché goes) and in isolation from what goes before or after is the best way to prepare.

So, to quote Ted Lasso, it's time to "be a goldfish". Be a goldfish and travel to Anfield on Saturday (eek!).

Find more from Richard Woodward at the Blue Monday Podcast, external

Tottenham are considering a move for Ipswich striker Liam Delap this month but could face competition from Chelsea. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Ipswich Town and Manchester City.

Here are some of your comments:

Ipswich fans:

Matt: I expected us to lose, of course, but there is losing and there is total humiliation - which this was. We are simply nowhere near good enough. No team should ever lose by six at home. Why didn't we just defend second half? Total embarrassment. Bet Philogene is already regretting signing…

James: City have the potential to do that to any team. It always felt like a damage limitation exercise from the moment they got the first goal. However, we need to keep positive and hope Town can pull through. It showed the gulf in class between the top and bottom.

Joseph: Can't say anything because I am speechless - though I am concerned for our future goal difference, which may be crucial in May. We just need to do better than Wolves for the rest of the season!

Man City fans:

John: City (the lion) have woken and the beast is starting is starting to roar! All you naysayers who stated we were finished be prepared to eat your words!

Kieran: City's win looks really good on the surface but there is still a lot to improve. By City's own standards they are still short but it looks like they are slowly unlocking it again.

Stephen: Let's not get too to carried away - remember who we were playing. Very good performance but still along way to go.

Highlights and analysis from Sunday's four Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.

Listen back to the weekend's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Brentford 0-2 Liverpool

• Aston Villa 2-2 Arsenal

• Everton 3-2 Tottenham

• Man Utd 1-3 Brighton

• Ipswich 0-6 Man City

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Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna, speaking to BBC Match of the Day after today's defeat: "Painful game for us. Beaten by a world-class side and they were too good for us. Positives the early parts of the game, but after the first goal they hit top form and top confidence - we weren't able to find a response.

"They were outstanding and when that's the case the gulf between us was too much on the day. Once they got the first goal they played really well, our confidence did drop and they caused us a lot of promise individually.

"The players showed some good character in the last 25 minutes. In a difficult moment in the last 20 minutes they regrouped well. We had to take our medicine and work hard to stop Man City."

On the Ipswich fans: "The supporters were fantastic as well. They were outstanding, and we are so grateful for the reception at the end - they know how hard we are working.

"The payers are working hard and they know we have climbed a mountain really quickly. There is going to be some difficult days are we don't use that as an excuse.

"We are grateful for the way they stuck with us. On Monday we get the group in, and we need to analyse the things we need to do better and then it is on to Liverpool.

"Liverpool away is as good as what's out there."

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Ipswich Town centre-back Dara O'Shea has been speaking to Sky Sports after today's defeat: "We are devastated with the result we have had. Tough one to take. We didn't compete enough at times in the game, and they have scored goals. It is always tough when you concede early on to a team like this.

"We didn't execute our gameplan how we wanted to."

On Man City: "You can never write them off. It was always going to be tough, and we wanted to give a good account of ourselves - we probably didn't do that.

"We need to regroup, look back on our mistakes and go again. The main thing is to learn from it, and we cannot get too down on it. There is massive belief in this group and the club.

"Next week [away at Liverpool] is a big game for ourselves and the fans come out here at Portman Road and show us big backing - we have got to repay them."

Gary Rose
BBC Sport journalist

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There was plenty of focus on Liam Delap in the build up to this game as the Ipswich striker faced his former side.

Delap has got eight Premier League goals this season to keep the Tractor Boys in the fight for survival but he, like his team-mates, could simply not handle a Manchester City who looked back to their best.

City's passing and movement was as crisp as it ever was during their recent title-winning campaigns and they consistently opened up the Ipswich defence.

But this is a result that will not define Ipswich's season. While the impact on their goal difference is damaging a point will currently move them out of the bottom three.

Next up is another tough test against leaders Liverpool but after that Ipswich can put all their energy into getting the results needed to ensure survival.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Ipswich's performance

What did you make of Man City's display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

There are four Premier League fixtures on Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you all the action.

• Everton v Tottenham

• Man Utd v Brighton - Listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Nottingham Forest v Southampton

• Ipswich v Manchester City (16:30) - Listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

All kick-off times 14:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

After a couple of encouraging games, Ipswich's home defeat by Brighton on Thursday was a disappointing result and performance.

Manchester City did not get the win they wanted either, slipping up late on at Brentford just when people were thinking they were back in a bit of form.

Still, Erling Haaland's new contract is great news for City and will give their fans a bit of a lift in what has been a difficult season. I would not be surprised if he celebrates it with a goal or two.

Ipswich can make it difficult for them - especially Liam Delap, who is facing his old club. I think Delap will score, but City will win.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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Ipswich have the belief to do something that "nobody will think we can do" against Manchester City, says boss Kieran McKenna.

When the two side first met in August, the newly promoted Tractor Boys took a surprise early lead, before Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne turned it around for a 4-1 home win.

"One of biggest takeaways from [the defeat] was that we weren't able to handle negative momentum away from home," McKenna said.

"Their first goal came from our mistake really - they took the game away from us really quickly and we weren't able to deal with that. We have improved in that aspect of the game, particularly in tough games away from home.

"We have learned to manage negative momentum better than that day."

McKenna's side are facing a different City team to that match, with Guardiola's side sitting sixth in the table having seen their form plummet in November and December.

Despite the defending Premier League champions' inconsistency, McKenna does not feel his team need to change their approach.

"We need to go in with humility, respect the opponent, have belief in ourselves to go and do something nobody will think we can do. We want to make it a really competitive game and to get a result.

"We respect the opponent, everything they have done the past few seasons. They are still a top, top team. We will prepare for that as best as possible but need to find a way of competing and make it as difficult a game for them as possible.

"We have Liverpool and Manchester City in the next two games, we have to enjoy that challenge, we have to go into it with a positive mindset."

The Ipswich boss also confirmed that new signing Jaden Philogene will be in the squad, but they will have to "wait and see" how many minutes he can play.

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Kieran McKenna says Ipswich remain open in the January transfer market for any players that "can add quality to the starting eleven or can help from the bench" as they continue to fight for Premier League survival.

Ipswich completed the signing of long-time target Jaden Philogene from Aston Villa on Tuesday, their 15th signing of the season, but there could be more reinforcements on their way.

"We'll try to, if we can find quality that can improve us," said McKenna. "I think our depth is pretty good now.

"If we can get everybody back fit, our depth is fine.

"But if we can add quality that can help the starting eleven, or quality that can help from the bench, then we'll certainly aim to try and do so - but only if the right players are available that can really push us on."

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We asked for your thoughts after Thursday's Premier League game between Ipswich and Brighton.

Here are some of your comments:

Ipswich fans

Matt: Yet again when we have a chance to pull away from the bottom three we put in a rubbish performance like this. Many of the League One/Championship players are simply nowhere near good enough at this level. Hope Jaden Philogene can do well. This was a rare chance to get three points and leapfrog Everton but we blew it. I am starting to feel that we can't do it when we need to.

Paul: Outclassed and never looked like scoring tonight. With Manchester City and Liverpool up next, then it's likely we are heading deep into relegation territory. The gulf in class is startling.

Robert: Not at the races - too many sloppy passes and kept losing the ball. We need to improve fast and start our run up the table before we start running out of games.

Tim: Poor in possession and lightweight up front. Why Cameron Burgess is not playing defeats me. Perhaps the truth is we are just not up to it. Plus, why put on strikers with only 10 mins left?

Brighton fans

Steve: Great win as we finally dispatched a team in the bottom half of the table. A much better second half and FabianHurzeler seems to be getting to grips with those at his disposal now. Onwards and upwards from here.

Tim: The sort of thoroughly dominant performance from Brighton that we've got used to seeing but usually we glean one measly point from. A well-deserved three points, while at the same time bossing the game, snuffing out what little Ipswich offered, and actually making them look pretty ordinary which, barring a couple of players, they are.

Anthony: We have lost only four league games so far this season, a record beaten only by Liverpool and Arsenal. With all our injuries, this is a tremendous comment on the strength of our team and the way in which it is set up.

Maurice: Relief. Hopefully we have turned a corner but there are many twists and turns ahead. I trust Kaoru Mitoma is returning to goalscoring form

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

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After a home victory against Chelsea in their last Premier League game at Portman Road, Ipswich fans would have been confident of beating a Brighton side that had not won in eight league matches.

And Kieran McKenna's side should have taken the lead, only for Bart Verbruggen to make three fine saves to keep out efforts from Nathan Broadhead, Liam Delap and Omari Hutchinson.

Those stops, and Wes Burns' failure to hit the target from 12 yards out when well placed early in the second half, proved costly.

Poor defending allowed an unmarked Kaoru Mitoma to put Brighton ahead, but Ipswich never looked like getting back in the game, before substitute Georginio Rutter was allowed time and space to shoot from deep inside the penalty area to make it 2-0.

In the end, this game was another tame loss, similar to those against Everton and Crystal Palace earlier in the season, in a home match they would have targeted as must-win.

Worryingly for Ipswich fans, McKenna said his side "didn't find the belief and conviction that the game was still there for us" after conceding the first goal and he challenged his team to show more fight in their next matches.

It will not be an easy task with reigning champions Manchester City at Portman Road on Sunday before a trip to Anfield to face league leaders Liverpool the following Saturday.

Ipswich have shocked Tottenham and Chelsea this season and will need more surprise results if they are to haul themselves back out of the relegation zone.

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Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna, speaking to Match of the Day: "It was a really even game until the first goal.

"In the first 60 minutes we were the more threatening side, we had the better opportunities and got into the better areas but it was a poor first goal and then the game went away from us.

"We lost belief in ourselves on the pitch, they brought on better subs and pushed on and they were the better side in the last 30 minutes.

"We didn't defend well enough to stop the goal and we have to find a better response, but we didn't manage to do that today."

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Ipswich have lost four of their last five league games at Portman Road (W1).

Only Southampton (8) and Wolves (7) have lost more home Premier League games this season than the Tractor Boys (6).