Ipswich Town

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Reuters

Ipswich Town finally secured their first league win of 2025, with boss Kieran McKenna rightly delighted with a fantastic team performance that saw them grind out a 2-1 victory at Bournemouth.

Town had thrown away a 1-0 lead against the Cherries at Portman Road in December and at 2-1 with half an hour to go and Bournemouth pushing for an equaliser, Ipswich fans would have been fearing another late collapse.

But it did not happen as Ipswich, led by Dara O'Shea and superbly assisted by Cameron Burgess and Axel Tuanzebe, defended superbly to hold on to the three points.

"We have been waiting a while for a win and in this league that's what can happen," said McKenna. "There's still belief, a lot of togetherness and you can see that as a team so it was a good night for us.

"We're coming into the last quarter of the season and we want to finish off the season well and make it our best quarter and get as many points as we can and where that leaves us, let's see."

"I'm really proud and there is a little bit of relief after the last 10 minutes. Really proud of the performance in terms of how hard we worked, the two goals we scored, the result and what we showed defensively."

Ipswich are nine points adrift of 17th-placed Wolves, who they entertain on Saturday, with the Town supporters having just a tiny bit of hope of a miraculous recovery.

Image source, Getty Images

Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna, speaking to Sky Sports: "I'm really proud and there is a little bit of relief after the last 10 minutes.

"Really proud of the performance in terms of how hard we worked, the two goals we scored, the result and what we showed defensively.

"We have been waiting a while for a win and in this league that's what can happen. There's still belief, a lot of togetherness and you can see that as a team so it was a good night for us.

"We're coming into the last quarter of the season and we want to finish off the season well and make it our best quarter and get as many points as we can and where that leaves us, let's see.

"The second goal was a fantastic move and for me the best goal anyone has scored here this year as they are really hard to play through."

On Saturday's home match against Wolves: "It's a big game, no doubt about it. It's a big game to look forward to, a big game, a pressure game so let's attack it. We try to enjoy every game at Portman Road."

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Liam Delap has scored 11 top-flight goals for Ipswich this season with only Marcus Stewart (19 in 2000-01) netting more in a single Premier League campaign for the Tractor Boys.

Delap has also scored 36.7% of Ipswich's league goals this season (11/30), with only Alexander Isak (41%), Mohamed Salah (39%) and Erling Haaland (36.8%) netting a higher share of their side's goals this term.

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Six matches make up Wednesday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Bournemouth v Ipswich

• Brighton v Aston Villa

• Man City v Leicester City

• Newcastle v Brentford - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Southampton v Crystal Palace

• Liverpool v Everton (20:00) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

All kick-off times 19:45 BST unless stated

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Ipswich captain Sam Morsy has said the international break proved a valuable moment to "refresh and take stock" before aiming to achieve survival in the final few games of the Premier League season.

"There was a time in the season where we were really, really competitive and won a couple of games, every game was a tight one, getting draws and some slight losses, we need to get back to that," said the midfielder.

Ipswich have a big week ahead with two games in the space of four days, travelling to Bournemouth on Wednesday before hosting relegation rivals Wolves to Portman Road on Saturday.

Morsy added: "If you aren't positive then you haven't got a chance, if you are then you might have half a chance.

"I've got loads of friends and family who support Wolves and throughout the season we've had ongoing dialogue. It's going to be a great game.

"It was an amazing game at their place and it's a game we have to win."

Bournemouth have lost a bit of form of late, going out of the FA Cup and taking only one point from their past four league games.

They really need a positive result to get back on track, so who better to face than an Ipswich team who are struggling badly?

I thought Bournemouth played well in the first half against Manchester City on Sunday and carried a goal threat - but the mindset of the Ipswich players is likely to be a bigger factor in what happens in this game.

The bottom three are doing so badly that we maybe should have relegated them over the international break - it feels like all three of them need a miracle if they are going to survive from here.

As I've said many times, I actually like the Ipswich model and how they play, and I am a fan of Kieran McKenna as a manager.

I have felt for them this season and, out of the bottom three sides, they have given it the best go at staying up, but it is quite a damning statistic that they are the only side in the top five tiers of English football yet to win a league game in 2025.

Maybe the international break will have done them good but this feels like an open goal for Bournemouth, who are still right in the race for Champions League football next season.

The Cherries needed two late goals to win at Portman Road before Christmas but I am not sure McKenna's side will put up the same fight this time.

It is starting to feel like they are resigned to their fate, and they might have to think about how they will bounce back next season - if they can keep their squad together then I'd be confident that will happen.

There will be suitors for Liam Delap, of course, but if he wanted to move somewhere nice he could just come and live in Norwich - it is quite a long drive to Ipswich though.

Sutton's prediction: 3-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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Following their 2-1 win at Portman Road in the reverse fixture, Bournemouth are looking to complete their first league double over Ipswich since 1949-50 in the Third Division South.

Ipswich have only won one of their 16 away league games against Bournemouth, beating them 3-2 in September 1953. This is their first visit since a 2-2 draw in the Championship in November 2014.

Manchester United have stepped up their interest in Ipswich's 22-year-old English striker Liam Delap, who is rated at £40m. (Mail - subscription required), external

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

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Seb Brown
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Nine games for Ipswich Town to try to survive in the Premier League. Nine games to show some character, passion and fight to either achieve the required points to avoid relegation or build some momentum for a Championship promotion campaign.

Even the most optimistic of Ipswich fans will appreciate that a second season of Premier League football is unlikely. Ipswich play Wolves at Portman Road on Saturday and if the gap between the two stretches to more than the current nine points - effectively 10 accounting for the goal difference - then realistically Ipswich will be preparing for a return to English football's second tier.

Ipswich remain the only side in the 92 clubs without a league win in 2025. There will be opportunities for points in the run-in. April looks difficult with games against Bournemouth, Chelsea, Arsenal and Newcastle. May looks more favourable with Leicester, West Ham and Brentford to come, some of whom may well have nothing left to play for.

Despite the disappointment of this season, however, the future is still incredibly bright. Ipswich are two to three years ahead of schedule in their "project" and the parachute payments will give the club a huge financial advantage over most Championship sides.

The transfer planning has been clear in its strategy of developing young British talent and, aside from Liam Delap, it is not out of the question that the majority of the squad will remain next season. This year of Premier League football will have been a valuable learning experience.

In Jack Clarke, Sammie Szmodics, Omari Hutchinson and Jaden Philogene, Ipswich have signed the best attacking talent from the 2023-24 Championship campaign. This is before players such as Conor Chaplin and Nathan Broadhead are factored in, the joint-top scorers in Town's 96-point promotion-winning season.

Ipswich may well fall short in their battle to beat the drop but these nine games will be crucial come August, regardless of what league Town are in.

Find more from Seb Brown at the Blue Monday Podcast, external

Ciara Fleming
BBC Sport journalist

Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Premier League game against Bournemouth (kick-off 19:45 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• McKenna says the Cherries have attacked transitions "better than anyone else in the league this season" and Ipswich will have to "find the right balance" between imposing their game and managing Bournemouth's strengths.

• On Andoni Iraola: "He has done very well. It seems like a really good fit. They have done very well as a club over the past couple of seasons, and recruitment has been excellent. They have a clear identity and have got players that fit the profile of how they want to play."

• McKenna says that during the international break players and staff have "used the time well" to reflect and recover ahead of the final stretch of the season.

• McKenna confirmed that forward Conor Chaplin has trained with the rest of the squad and is "not too far away" from a return, while Axel Tuanzebe and Kalvin Phillips are among a group of players whose fitness will be determined by a late "judgement call".

• When asked whether winger Jadon Philogene will be used more on the left, McKenna said it is "not impossible" that he plays more minutes on the left as the season progresses, but the "biggest area of need" is for him to play on the right.

• When asked if he will be keeping an eye on 17th-placed Wolves' match against West Ham, McKenna said he will be "saving my mental energy" for the things he can control.

• On whether Ipswich still believe they can survive the drop: "There are 27 points to play for, nearly a quarter of the season left, so we know from that perspective we are still in the fight. We know things can change quickly this week with one or two positive results so there is absolutely that belief that we can compete until the end of the season."

Follow all of Monday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news on the BBC Sport website

Ipswich Town chairman Mark Ashton refused to reveal if striker Liam Delap has a release clause in his contract but said the club are "well protected" when it comes to the 22-year-old England Under-21 attacker's deal. (East Anglian Daily Times), external

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

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Besiktas, managed by former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, are interested in signing Ipswich Town winger Jaden Philogene, 23, on loan. (Fotomac - in Turkish), external

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

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Premier League clubs have agreed the dates for the summer transfer window.

The window will open early, between Sunday 1 June and Tuesday 10 June, due to an exceptional registration period relating to the Fifa Club World Cup.

It will then reopen on Monday 16 June and close on Monday 1 September.

Graeme McLoughlin
BBC Radio Suffolk sports editor

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Over the course of Wednesday, we have been putting your questions to BBC Radio Suffolk sports editor Graeme McLoughlin. In this second part, we look at the future of boss Kieran McKenna.

Wasim asked: Do you expect McKenna to stay once relegation is confirmed?

Graeme: I do at this moment in time but that is not to say I am not keeping a close eye on what is happening at Tottenham, which some would argue would be a perfect fit for McKenna should there be any change at the top there.

McKenna will still have his suitors and be the subject of plenty of speculation throughout the summer, but I will do my very best to steer clear of the clickbait and wait for any official club announcement, which right now I cannot see coming.

Robert asked: Assuming we go down, if we do not get promoted next year do you think McKenna will be sacked?

Graeme: As we know, things can change very quickly in football, and while McKenna is adored by the majority of Ipswich supporters and has the full backing of the club's hierarchy, relegation followed by a poor season in the Championship could trigger what feels like the unthinkable right now.

It would have to be a disastrous campaign, however, whereby Town have an almighty dip and do not look capable of a top-half finish in the second tier. It is something I just cannot envisage.

• Not an Ipswich fan? Find and follow your team here

And a different future to finish off the Q&A...

Richie asked: Something totally different, will there be a return of the Tractor Social podcast?

Graeme: That is up to people at the BBC with a little bit more power than me. When I was asked to produce a podcast about Ipswich Town, I initially questioned the need for one, given there were so many good and established ones out there already, driven by passionate supporters.

Anyway, together with Connor Bennett, we ended up recording on a weekly basis and really enjoyed it (episode nine and Connor's Hermione Granger impersonation being the pinnacle). What a time to be doing one as well, given all of Town's success during that period.

However, we were told a couple of months before the end of last season that the podcast was to end, and so it did. We have recorded one or two reunions since then, but for radio only. I would not rule any more out, but whatever happens, there are 88 episodes still sitting somewhere on BBC Sounds that follow Town's rise from League One to the Premier League, so if you are feeling nostalgic, by all means give them another listen!

Graeme McLoughlin
BBC Radio Suffolk sports editor

Image source, Getty Images

More of your questions to BBC Radio Suffolk's Graeme McLoughlin - these look at how Ipswich's squad is shaping up for the summer.

Sonny asked: If Ipswich do go down, who do you think will move on to a Premier League club, and who will continue the project here?

Graeme: An interesting one, Sonny, that is no doubt being debated on a regular basis among supporters.

There seems to be a general consensus that Liam Delap would be off and it is hard to argue against that being the case given the season he has had and the interest he is attracting as a result. The club would not let him go cheaply, though.

Would fellow England Under-21 star and prize asset Omari Hutchinson follow suit? I am not so sure. Would there be bids for Axel Tuanzebe and Leif Davis from other Premier League clubs? Quite possibly. Dara O'Shea, Jacob Greaves, Jaden Philogene, Sam Szmodics? My feeling is they would all want to play essential roles for Town in a Championship promotion push next season, should the club be relegated in May.

I also think it is far more likely that stalwarts Cameron Burgess, Sam Morsy, Wes Burns and Conor Chaplin would remain at Portman Road should Ipswich be lining up in the second tier come August.

Mark asked: My impression is that the players who have come all the way up with Kieran McKenna have performed better, with more conviction and more according to his game plans. Does your reading of the games support that impression?

Graeme: In my last Q&A, I touched on the fact a few members of the League One contingent have had to be more patient this season with regards to game time, given the host of new arrivals last summer.

When they have had their chance to shine, they have often taken it. For example, I've not seen a huge amount of difference at centre-half between Dara O'Shea and Jacob Greaves, when compared with Luke Woolfenden and Cameron Burgess. Similarly, it is almost the toss of a coin as to who would start out of summer signing Jack Clarke and double- promotion winner Nathan Broadhead.

I also feel Conor Chaplin was underused earlier on in the season and sadly injury has put paid to any hopes of him establishing himself as the number 10 in recent months. A fully fit Wes Burns would also start for me, at this moment in time, over Jaden Philogene, although I do think the latter has the potential to become an important player.

It works the other way as well.

Jens Cajuste and Liam Delap have been two of Town's best performers, adapting to McKenna's game plans very well. I've also been very impressed with the conviction shown by Conor Townsend, who – like Chaplin – has been unfortunate when it comes to game time.

Graeme McLoughlin
BBC Radio Suffolk sports editor

Image source, Getty Images

Over the course of Wednesday, we are putting your questions to BBC Radio Suffolk sports editor Graeme McLoughlin. In the first part, we ponder the level of Kieran McKenna's achievements this season.

Andy asked: What is your view on Kieran McKenna's tactics throughout the season, which do not seem to have altered?

Graeme: It is quite hard for me to question the tactics of a manager who has won two promotions with the club and also masterminded wins this season over Chelsea and Tottenham (on both occasions using half a dozen players who featured in League One just two years ago).

However, I will give it a go, Andy! I think there have been too many occasions this season where the line-up has featured one too many changes (although Ipswich's appalling luck with injuries has not helped McKenna on that front). There have been less impactful substitutions as well. There was super-sub Jack Taylor's heroics at Wolves, but there were many more moments like that last term.

I am sure the manager would say otherwise given what he sees day to day in training, but it feels as if Town have taken a step or two backwards from where they were at the turn of the year. There was so much optimism after the Chelsea win, but just two points from the 10 league games since might prove fatal.

While they kicked on after the January signings in both 2023 and 2024 bedded in, there has not been the same growth this time around. That is ultimately down to the level they are playing at. Championship to Premier League is a bigger step up than ever before.

• Find and follow your team on BBC Sport

Julian asked: Do you think McKenna has underachieved this season considering the £120m spend?

Graeme: I do not feel he has underachieved, but I do feel he has learned a great deal more about the Premier League and how much stronger it is across the board compared with when he was last in the top flight working as an assistant to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United.

Every side, not just the regular trophy winners, is so much more competitive. It feels odd saying it, but was a £120m spend enough? Was it the ownership that underachieved by not breaking the bank further, especially given so little was spent the previous summer when Ipswich made the jump from League One to Championship?

Well, the owners certainly could not do much more than what they did or else they would have run the risk of breaking financial rules. For me, there was more than a decade of underachievement at this football club not so long ago, but not right now.

Graeme McLoughlin
BBC Radio Suffolk sports editor

Image source, Getty Images

More of your questions to BBC Radio Suffolk sports editor Graeme McLoughlin. In this section, he looks at what hope there is left in Ipswich's season.

Glyn asked: After last weekend, "they think it's all over, it is now" sums up our chances. Convince me otherwise, please?

Graeme: It is going to be very difficult to convince you, Glyn. My last Q&A followed the Southampton defeat in February. At the time, I said I felt Town could still double their points tally for the season and should they do that, they might just have a chance of finishing above Wolves. Town were on 16 points at that stage, but in the five Premier League games since then they have added just one, while Wolves have taken seven. Not good.

If the great escape is to be achieved, surely Ipswich have to win at Bournemouth next week before seeing off Wolves a few days later? If they do not, then I am with you and Kenneth Wolstenholme.

Steve asked: Can we come back up next year?

Graeme: Should what is looking like the inevitable happen, Ipswich would be well placed to make a speedy return to the top flight.

While there will be a few departures and some new arrivals, the club will also be keeping hold of plenty of talent well proven at Championship level. There are no guarantees, of course, but Town are backed by ambitious owners intent on enjoying more than just a brief fling with the Premier League.

Richard Woodward
Fan writer

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Like a few of Ipswich's summer recruits, winger Jack Clarke has found the level up somewhat challenging to showcase his evident quality.

However, there is much he offers Kieran McKenna both in the short term - as Town seek to survive in the Premier League - and in the longer term (including a level down should the worst happen).

Clarke, who joined Ipswich from Sunderland in the summer, has struggled to make a consistent impact when called upon by McKenna in a left-wing role. Despite this, he has four assists in 16 appearances - the same amount he accumulated for Sunderland last season in nearly double the number of games.

Consequently, Clarke could make the biggest impact in Town's remaining fixtures by finding the net in the Premier League. His 15 goals for the Mackems last season have been followed up this campaign by just four - all in the FA Cup.

What might have been had Clarke scored late on at Fulham? Instead, his effort cannoned off the post and Fulham broke away and won a penalty to square the match (potentially the most significant of all the marginal moments to go against Town this season).

Infrequent starts will not have been helping the 24-year-old build familiarity with his role at Ipswich - and, of course, starts lead to confidence and confidence leads to goals.

Clarke seems to struggle with second guessing whether to shoot or pass at the key moment. The confident Jack Clarke who terrorised Championship defences (including Town's) last season would not hesitate to pull the trigger when presented with a sight of goal.

While McKenna's style of play favours take-ons into the opposition box, surely the Town boss can find a place to allow Clarke to express himself, not least when Town are struggling to impose themselves in front of goal?

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