Ipswich Town

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

Here are some of your comments:

Tottenham fans

Dan: Useless. Stubborn. Naive. Useless performance by a bunch of millionaires. Stubborn Ange is still thinking his one-dimensional play will reap rewards, when it was found out weeks ago. Diversity in gameplay keeps the opposition on their toes. It is naive to think that it's OK to sub in the last quarter of the game when 2-0 down. Losing at home to Ipswich? Embarrassing.

Silvia: To take the positives, I thought we played well and lost. We were poor in defence and we can't just give the ball away cheaply, but we did create chances and deserved a draw. Ipswich played very well and caused us problems. But we were our own worst enemy at times. Need to dust ourselves off and move forward.

Roy: I’ve had enough. Enough of the dreadful performances against bottom sides, lame excuses, not enough energy, will or drive. Bad, bad defending. Embarrassing at set pieces. Cristian Romero looks like he’d rather be anywhere but on the pitch. The ridiculous apologies afterwards from players and manager. Ange has had a long time and it ain’t working.

Ipswich fans

Chris: Finally, our performance has been rewarded with three points. Much better management of the game in injury time and Omari Hutchinson was outstanding. Hopefully this is the confidence booster needed to kickstart our campaign!

Jon: Fantastic result away from home, well done lads. Defended well as a team, ensuring Spurs had few clear cut chances in the second half. I think we still need to show a little more composure on the ball but overall a very satisfying result that will hopefully give the lads confidence going into the Christmas period.

Greg: I'm having a new roof on my house and the roofers had to work this weekend. Listened to the game in a hotel in Keswick where I'm staying for two nights to get away from the noise. If that's what it takes to get us a win, then it's going to be an expensive season!

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Ipswich fan Rich Woodward from the Blue Monday Podcast, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live about Sunday's win at Tottenham:

"We had to hang on. I'm not going to pretend it was an enjoyable second half with Son running at us and the rest of the quality they have.

"But we've been building a bit of momentum, maybe not got the results we've deserved, and on Sunday there was absolute relief and joy at full-time.

"We're learning all the time and that's the great thing about Kieran McKenna - if we suffer a bit of hardship, there's always a sense that he's figuring out a strategy.

"Having previously lost late goals against Brentford and Leicester, on Sunday we were masters of the dark arts. That didn't please Ange Postecoglou or the Spurs fans, but it got us three points.

"That's the kind of strategy that maybe we will start deploying, which we wouldn't have in the previous years of his reign."

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Former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast about Ipswich's first Premier League win of the season at Tottenham:

"It's more about Ipswich than it is about Spurs. I thought it was probably their performance of the season.

"And it's nice to see Szmodics and Delap get the goals - two players who have been great for Ipswich so far this season.

"It was a well-deserved win and I hope it can be the momentum shift they need for the rest of the season, because this type of win against a Tottenham side that has been inconsistent as always, but still with the run of results they've had, this really can shift Ipswich to really believe that they can get more wins.

"It's just that first win you need to get confidence in the dressing room and kick on."

Ex-Brighton striker Glenn Murray added: "It's probably the one bus journey you wish would have been a little bit longer.

"I've been in that position many times. Stepping up from the Championship into the Premier League - you can get beaten three, four or five times [in a row] and it's difficult to comprehend that after you've had a season of constantly winning. It's a complete mentality shift.

"One lad I think has been an outstanding signing and has got a huge future is Delap. I love him."

Listen to more analysis on BBC Sounds

Watch 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:

• Man Utd 3-0 Leicester

• Nottingham Forest 1-3 Newcastle

• Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal

Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, 31, is in high demand as the Japan international continues to struggle for game time at Anfield, with Ipswich, Fulham, Wolves and Ac Milan all interested. (Caught Offside, external)

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

Ben Collins
BBC Sport journalist

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Ipswich Town's long wait for a Premier League win is finally over.

Since ending their 22-year absence from England's top flight, the Tractor Boys had relinquished the lead in five previous games, dropping 12 points from winning positions.

But they managed to hold on at Tottenham to claim their first victory of the season and their first in the Premier League since winning 1-0 at home to Middlesbrough in April 2002.

They fully deserved it too, after an excellent all-round performance produced first-half goals by Sammie Szmodics and Liam Delap, followed by a relatively comfortable second half as Spurs only briefly threatened a fightback.

Ed Sheeran joined the players in the changing room to celebrate but manager Kieran McKenna knows that, having climbed out of the relegation zone, Ipswich need to produce many more performances like this if they are to achieve their ultimate objective - Premier League survival.

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Kieran McKenna spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Ipswich beat Tottenham: "So proud. It's been a long time for the club, 22 years since the supporters saw a win in the Premier League. The journey to get to here has been a big one. It feels a bit special today. We believe we’ve been improving. We’ve picked up five out of 10 results but were waiting for the first win to validate the work and improvements. It’s a massive moment, one to cherish.

"The first half it was everything [you'd want] for a team in our context against Tottenham. A good balance. Moments where we played a a good tempo and moments where we slowed it down.

"A top half away from home. In the second half we showed good resilience. We didn’t give away too many chances. We defended well and were a threat on the break. A top performance.

"It was really important [to hang on]. If we’d conceded at the end it would have been a big blow. To get one over the line like that we’ve deserved for quite a few weeks. A big boost for everyone.

"The players are delighted. They know it’s a win to cherish."

On Ed Sheeran: "He popped into the dressing room which is nice. We’re wearing the third kit he had a part in designing."

Image source, Getty Images

Today’s victory was Ipswich Town’s first in the Premier League since a 1-0 win vs Middlesborough in April 2002, as well as their first away win in the competition since beating Everton at Goodison Park in February 2002, ending a run of 12 away games in the competition without a win (D3 L9).

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

Four matches make up Sunday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

• Man Utd v Leicester (listen on BBC Radio 5 Live)

• Nottingham Forest v Newcastle (listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra)

• Tottenham v Ipswich (listen on BBC Sport website and app)

• Chelsea v Arsenal - 16:30 (listen on BBC Radio 5 Live)

Kick-off times 14:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.

For week 11 he takes on Mylee and Tate from CBBC football drama Jamie Johnson FC (JJFC), which is set in the world of an elite academy at fictional Premier League club Hawx United.

Sutton's prediction: 3-1

I got a lot of stick for saying I supported Nottingham Forest last week - as well as a few of the clubs that I played for; Norwich, Blackburn and Celtic - and regular BBC Radio 5 live listeners will know that I have been accused of having Tottenham as another one of my teams.

They aren't, but I make no apologies for being a fan of Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou and his style of expansive football. At times it is crazy, with the risks they take, but I love watching it.

My Canaries connection means no-one is going to ever mistake me for an Ipswich fan, so this may shock a few people, but I felt sorry for them last week.

They have briefly come out of Norwich's shadow to reach the Premier League and are desperate for their first win of the season, but they were on the wrong end of a couple of shocking late decisions in their draw with Leicester.

They have the advantage of not having European football this week - they have not had to worry about that for more than 20 years - while Tottenham played Galatasaray in Turkey on Thursday.

I still think Spurs will win, though, and Ipswich will be back in the Championship with Norwich next season.

Mylee's prediction: I don’t think Ipswich will keep Tottenham out. 3-1.

Tate's prediction: As an Arsenal fan, I know what I want to happen! I didn’t want to put Tottenham winning, so I have gone for a draw. 0-0.

Read the rest of their predictions and have your own say here

Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Tottenham (kick-off 14:00).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• There are "no new injury concerns" for the game with defenders Axel Tuanzebe and Jacob Greaves set to be available for selection after the November international break, as well as midfielder Jack Taylor. Defender Dara O'Shea is set to play again despite an ongoing back problem.

• McKenna feels Ipswich have been "competitive" in most matches even though they are still looking for their first win since returning to the Premier League: "I don't think you can always set an exact expectation or definition of performances because every game is different. One of our first goals is to be competitive in every match and we're not too far away from that. Across the 10 games we have certainly been in the large majority of games. We would have liked to have won a couple by now but, also, we've only lost five out of 10 with what we have been through and the challenges we have faced over the early part of the season."

• He added: "To pick up five results - certainly could have been one or two more - and to be as competitive as we have been, I think there are a lot of positives in there. We know there is another step to take to win games consistently in the Premier League that we haven't taken yet. We're showing good signs of progress and the group is growing."

• McKenna came through the Spurs academy and began his coaching career with the club: "It has had a massive bearing on me as a person. It's a great club and one that I, of course, have a fondness for. From a football perspective, as a player, it was my opportunity and access to the professional game in England. Definitely from a coaching point of view, I was very blessed to be there at the time I was as a coach because from an academy level, the club were country-wide leaders at that time in terms of developing players."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Ipswich have won their past three Premier League games against Spurs, completing the double over them the last time they met in 2001-02. They have never won four consecutive league games against them.

However, Ipswich remain winless in their 10 Premier League games this season (drawn five and lost five), their longest run without a win from the start of a top-flight season.

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Former Ipswich defender Mick Mills spoke to BBC Radio Suffolk about the club's next two Premier League matches - an away match against Tottenham and a home game against Manchester United after the international break.

Mills said: "Apart from when Sir Alex Ferguson managed Manchester United, I've always put them and Tottenham in the same bracket; they can either be absolutely scintillating or a gross disappointment. That is the thing that we've got to cling to.

"We've seen it [with Tottenham] this season. I saw 45 minutes at Brighton where they were absolutely superb and another 45 minutes that was absolute rubbish. When you play teams who are up and down like that, you have to go in with a bit of confidence. You might just land correctly on the right day and be able to take them.

"There is going to be a mad scrum of people [at Portman Road] for the Manchester United game because it's [Ruben Amorim's] first game. It's a big occasion for him, but I'm quite confident about it. Let's hope that they wilt under the pressure of the good atmosphere we have here.

"I'm not too worried about these two games, not like I would be for the top-four teams who are ultra consistent."

George King
BBC News, Suffolk

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Crunch talks held between Ipswich Town and refereeing body PGMOL following a controversial VAR decision will remain "confidential", the club said.

The Tractor Boys’ chief executive Mark Ashton said Premier League football was "worse off" following the introduction of video assistant referees (VAR).

He spoke about the new refereeing tool in an interview on BBC Suffolk's The Blue Hour after Town was denied a penalty in the team’s 1-1 draw against Leicester City after Abdul Fatawu appeared to push Conor Chaplin.

Ashton has since welcomed PGMOL chief Howard Webb to Portman Road to discuss what the Ipswich boss believed has been a lack of consistency around VAR decisions.

Ashton and Webb agreed to meet after the pair had an "interesting conversation" in the hours after the team's home draw against the Foxes.

"All I look for is consistency," Ashton said. "Right now, I am confused.

The BBC asked the club if a resolution had been reached between Ashton and Webb but was told the conversation would "remain confidential".

The PGMOL also confirmed a meeting had taken place but the details would remain private.

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Ipswich Town chairman and chief executive Mark Ashton has told fans to "ignore the noise" surrounding the club and manager Kieran McKenna, as the Tractor Boys continue to try to find their feet in the Premier League after back-to-back promotions.

Speaking in an exclusive interview on BBC Radio Suffolk's The Blue Hour, Ashton said: "We have got a very talented manager, who we worked very hard to re-contract in the summer. I think he made the right choice and the best choice to stay with us.

"He is a friend, a colleague and a top manager who will go and take this football club further.

"My job wasn't really to persuade Kieran to stay - it was to point out the logic as to why we were the best fit for him. It was about focusing on right now and where this football club can be.

"Some will say we are behind the other clubs in this league, but we are only behind them in time.

"Rome wasn't built in a day. We haven't come on a journey - we have built a rocket ship. We still have so much further to go and there are going to be blips in the road. This isn't going to be smooth, we are in the biggest and best league in the world.

"Let's just remember where we were two years ago, when we were kicking off against Morecambe in League One at home with a half-empty stadium.

"We must not forget where we have come from."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

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Ipswich Town's chairman and chief executive says he would love to increase the club's stadium capacity to 40,000.

Mark Ashton also revealed the club was considering an extension to the West Stand at Portman Road, with the Blues having already agreed to buy a large parcel of land to potentially expand the Cobbold Stand on the opposite site of the ground.

"It is on the to-do list but it is not top of the to-do list, I must be honest with you," he said.

"Why? Because I'm certainly not going to take a stand down in the midst of a Premier League season. That is just not the right thing to do."

If the existing Cobbold Stand is demolished, 750 season ticket holders and 3,000 away fans would temporarily be without a seat - but the club has a potential solution.

Ashton continued: "The next development there is the West Stand, which sees an increase in capacity of surprise, surprise, circa 4,000 people.

"So, when you take down the Cobbold Stand down, people don't lose their season tickets and they could move across."

Portman Road currently has a capacity of about 30,000.

Ashton insisted there is no timescale on extending either stand, partly because rebuilding the club's training ground is top priority.

Read the full news story here

Mark Ashton says he is "thoroughly enjoying" his new role as Ipswich Town chairman, after stepping into the position following Mike O'Leary's retirement this summer.

He joined the club as chief executive in July 2021, just after owners ORG completed their takeover of Portman Road, and went on to appoint Kieran McKenna as manager in December 2021.

Speaking about his new role on BBC Radio Suffolk's The Blue Hour, Ashton said: "It's not that much difference, to be honest with you. I could still do with a few more hours in the day, a few more days in the week.

"I'm thoroughly enjoying it. This place has become a real home-from-home for me. I love the town, the county, the people and most importantly this amazing football club."

Ashton was asked whether the plan is for him to become chairman of the club long-term or whether the club are searching for someone externally, adding: "No, it is long-term. It is an executive management team that run the football club.

"Things haven't really changed that much since I took over. I worked with Mike O'Leary for many years, he is a first-class guy but it was just a natural progression in the workload that I was doing and the way we were operating and running the club.

"Those who know me know that I care passionately about this football club. I will give my last breath defending this football club."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds