Ipswich Town

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

After defeats over the weekend, Southampton and Ipswich have become the 30th and 31st teams in Premier League history to be winless after the first eight games.

But it is not all doom and gloom for the two newly promoted sides.

Of the previous 29 teams to not taste victory in their opening eight fixtures, a third have still gone on to avoid relegation.

Newcastle in 2021-22 did not get their first win until their 15th game – a 1-0 win against Burnley in December – and ended the season in 11th!

Saints have even been in this position before in 1998-99. They had just one point and a worse goal difference of -18 after eight games and stayed up on the final day of the season.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Ipswich defender Mick Mills spoke to BBC Radio Suffolk about what the Tractor Boys need to change as they seek their first Premier League victory of the season:

"When we go away from home, we've got to give the division a bit more respect. I'm not sure we are good enough to play with four attackers. I think it lightens us too much.

"Rather than have a 10, we should have a three-man midfield away from home. Say it was [Jens] Cujuste, [Sam] Morsy in the middle and Phillips on the left. They work as a team, they work up, down and across the pitch. It could work with [Jack] Taylor as well.

"There's not going to be a number 10, but they protect the back four and would give us a real solid look across the middle. It backs the front players up. I think that would make us stronger and tougher to break down.

"I don't think it will affect us too much in the attacking area. We have enough threat in the wide areas and with Liam [Delap] in the middle. It would be stronger and more capable of winning points away from home."

Do you agree with Mick's ideas, Ipswich fans? Or does your ideal midfield look different?

Let us know your thoughts here, external

Gary Lineker brings highlights and analysis from Saturday's Seven Premier League fixtures.

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

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Man Utd 2-1 Brentford

• Bournemouth 2-0 Arsenal

John Bennett
BBC Sport Final Score at Portman Road

Image source, Getty Images

The frustrating wait goes on for that first Ipswich Premier League win for 22 years and on Saturday their manager Kieran McKenna told me that this is going to be a really important week for his squad.

It’s eight games in but he admits that the players are “still settling into the rhythm of the season.” Mckenna says adapting to the new division and integrating the many new players has been a challenge that hasn’t been helped by the two international breaks. So a full week now on the training ground for McKenna and the Ipswich players going into what feels like two huge games now as they try to get that opening victory. Brentford away and then Leicester at home could be defining matches.

Mckenna told me it’s a “great group” who are “trying their best” but there’s a feeling that the big moments in games are going against them at the moment. Against Everton it was the overturned penalty which McKenna felt should’ve been given because in his view it wasn’t a “clear and obvious” mistake.

So a vital seven days now for Mckenna because to be honest it felt very flat at Portman Road. The delay to kick-off due to a turnstile issue maybe didn’t help but the performance from Ipswich against Everton lacked a spark. They had moments of pressure but you never felt as though they were going to get back into the game in the second half.

McKenna’s challenge now over this important week is to give the Ipswich players - old and new - the belief that they can be competitive in this division.

Tom Mallows
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Ipswich showed weaknesses at both ends of the pitch in the home defeat against Everton that suggests a winter of struggle lies ahead.

The Tractor Boys gave away cheap goals in a 4-1 loss against West Ham last time out and were equally sloppy here, failing to deal with crosses into the box that led to both Everton goals.

They also lacked the quality at the other end to truly trouble Everton, who could and perhaps should have extended their lead.

It means they set an unwanted club record by making it eight games without a win to start a top-flight season.

They remain out of the relegation zone though and will point to a run of four straight draws in August and September as evidence they can compete in this division.

The home crowd grew frustrated in the second half but never turned on the side, aware of just how far the team has come over the last few years under manager Kieran McKenna.

But if they are to avoid a battle against relegation they need to cut out the defensive errors and discover a ruthlessness in front of goal.

Image source, PA Media

Kieran McKenna spoke to BBC Sport after Ipswich lost to Everton: "It ended up being a poor day for us. The first half was pretty even but at the moment the moments are going against us.

"It was an error from us for the first goal and the over-rule for penalty is a very surprising one considering everything I've been told about clear and obvious - that makes it 1-1 and shortly after we didn't defend a corner well enough in the second phase.

"We knew it would be a challenging season and the step up into the Premier League was always going to be a big challenge. In eight games we've got a result in four of them. We know where we need to improve and it's up to us to turn those margins in our favour. The last two games have got away from us.

"We need to look back on what we can do better. We've had a couple of VARs against us recently and I found that a strange one today."

On VAR overturning a penalty for his side: "Jack [Clarke] rolls inside the box, he is around the penalty spot and about to shoot and Dwight McNeil lunges his leg across the line of the ball and Jack's swing of the ball when he is about to probably score.

"Of course he kicks Dwight McNeil, but I understand you can't lunge across the ball like that when someone is in their backswing. I'm sure Sean will see it differently but in terms of clear and obvious unless I'm wrong I can't see how that is clear and obvious. It's a really debatable decision but from everything I've heard is that they wouldn't go against that decision."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Ipswich's performance, external

What did you make of Everton’s display?, external

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

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

For week eight, he takes on legendary boxing manager Kellie Maloney.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

This one is very hard to call. Ipswich are still winless but, performance-wise, they might still be strangely happy because they have shown they can compete in the Premier League.

Everton have some reasons to be cheerful too. They are only a point and a place above Ipswich in the table but their results have picked up recently, and they are unbeaten in three league games now.

So, I have been scratching my head here about what to go for... and I am going to go against all my instincts and say Ipswich are going to get their first win of the season.

Kieran McKenna's side deserve a break, and maybe they will get it here.

Kellie's prediction: I like the way Ipswich play and I think this is when they get their first win. 2-0

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

There are seven matches that make up Saturday's Premier League action:

• Tottenham v West Ham - 12:30

• Fulham v Aston Villa

• Ipswich v Everton

• Manchester United v Brentford (listen on BBC Radio 5 Live)

• Newcastle v Brighton

• Southampton v Leicester

• Bournemouth v Arsenal - 17:30 (listen on BBC Radio 5 Live)

Kick-off 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Image source, Getty Images

The Premier League returns this weekend, with each club having played seven matches.

BBC Sport has looked at eight players that have performed better than fans may have expected this season.

Liam Delap had only made two substitute appearances in the Premier League before Ipswich Town paid Manchester City an initial fee of £15m, in a deal that could rise to £20m, in the summer.

But that is looking a bargain as 21-year-old Delap has already scored four goals despite his new side struggling in their first top-flight campaign since 2001-02.

If Town are to stay up then the form of the England Under-21 striker will be key, with him already scoring in the 1-1 draw with Fulham, twice in the 2-2 draw with Aston Villa and in the 4-1 loss to West Ham.

Did you know? With four goals from 11 shots, Delap has the third-highest shot conversion rate of any player with 10 or more attempts in the Premier League this season.

See the other players BBC Sport picked here

Image source, Opta

With the October international break now firmly in the rearview mirror, Opta Analyst, external have turned their attention to the next four Premier League fixtures.

Here, they have given each team a ranking between 80 and 100 and then found the average to determine to difficulty of the schedule.

Liverpool's opening seven matches were ranked the easiest in the league, but their upcoming four are the fourth-toughest in the division. They will face Chelsea, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Brighton, with an average opponent strength of 91.4 before the next international break.

Fellow early pacesetters Arsenal also have challenging fixtures, playing Bournemouth, Liverpool, Newcastle and Chelsea with an average rating of 90.7, while Manchester City's next four against Wolves, Southampton, Bournemouth and Brighton are ranked the third-easiest by Opta.

Chelsea and Brighton have the second-hardest and third-hardest runs respectively, a real test given the promising starts for their new managers Enzo Maresca and Fabian Hurzeler.

At the other end of the table, Leicester - who recently secured their first win of the season against Bournemouth - have a chance to build with the easiest run in the division. They face Southampton, Nottingham Forest, Ipswich and Manchester United.

Fellow promoted side Ipswich will hope to pick up their first win of the season during a run of games that is ranked the fifth-easiest.

Ben Ramsdale
BBC Sport journalist

Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Everton (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• McKenna confirmed Axel Tuanzebe, Jens Cajuste and Massimo Luongo are all out.

• He gave a longer update on Tuanzebe, saying there is "no time frame" on the defender but he will likely be out for "a few months" after a household accident saw him come close to losing his thumb.

• Meanwhile, Dara O'Shea will be "assessed" before Saturday's game: "He had an issue with his back [during international duty] that is having to be assessed so we just have to see how that goes over the next couple of days."

• He said that getting the first win on the board isn't about "getting a monkey off your back" and confidence remains high in the squad.

• When pressed on the lack of game time for Conor Chaplin, Cameron Burgess and Luke Woolfenden, McKenna said all three have "been terrific" and assured them "they will contribute on the pitch over the course of a long season."

• As for Saturday's opponents, McKenna identified their attackers as a key strength: "Their front four is in really good form. They can go to [Dominic] Calvert-Lewin to go in behind. [Iliman] Ndiaye has started ever so well for them while [Jack] Harrison and [Dwight] McNeil have both got a lot of quality and can score from outside the box. They can score goals from not very much."

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

Image source, Getty Images

Everton cannot take Ipswich Town game "for granted", says Toffees boss Sean Dyche.

The Merseyside club, who have taken five points from the past three matches after losing their first four, travel to Portman Road on Saturday.

The Premier League newcomers are still waiting for their first league win, but sit only a point behind Everton as a result of their four draws in seven games.

Sean Dyche's side have a good record against promoted teams, winning three and drawing two of their past five encounters.

Despite the turnaround in form from the Toffees, boss Dyche is wary of the threat posed by Kieran McKenna's side.

"You can't take these teams for granted. There are no gimmes," said Dyche.

"They've spent a small fortune - or a recognised fortune - in this level of football for a club who've just come up so they're obviously intent on staying in the division.

"They did terrific last season. They're good operators. They're learning as they go. The last time out [a 4-1 defeat by West Ham] was a tough one. That can happen in the Premier League.

"But from what I've seen so far, they're full of endeavour and full of belief to take it on. That's what we've got to be ready for."

Image source, Opta

After the October international break, the Opta supercomputer has updated its projected final Premier League table.

It is only seven matches into the campaign so much can still change, but the season is beginning to take shape. The supercomputer simulates thousands of seasons and takes the percentage each side finishes in each league position.

Southampton remain most likely to finish bottom but their one point from seven games has seen their chances increasing dramatically from 28.6% to 61%.

A solid start, despite no win yet, has seen Ipswich's probability of finishing 17th creep up from 12% to 15.2% - but a 19th-placed finish has increased from 21.3% to 25.3%.

Leicester's most likely finish has changed from bottom to 18th after their first win under Steve Cooper, while Crystal Palace's poor start has seen their chances of ending in their current position of 18th go from 1.1% to 7.2%.

Wolves finished 18th in 9.7% of simulations before a ball was kicked but the now-bottom side are now at 20.1% to end in that position after a winless first seven games.

Did you know that the player who has completed the most sprints for Ipswich this season is the same man who has walked the furthest?

But who is it?

Find out here

Image source, Getty Images

We asked you for one thing nobody is talking about at Ipswich.

Here are some of your comments:

Matt: Why is he not playing Omari [Hutchinson] on the right and [Sammie] Szmodics as number 10? He scored loads from there last season and will do again. He can't play wide on the left. Jack Clarke can play there. This needs to happen if we are going to stay up.

James: Our lack of clean sheets has slightly gone under the radar. With the exception of Brighton away, with some heroic individual performances from Muric and Tuanzebe, we have failed to keep a shut-out across seven matches in all competitions. All successful sides are built on a solid defence, so it is imperative that we address this part of the team.

Sonny and Harrison: Ipswich are really going under the radar as you look at big teams like Wolves and Southampton are below Ipswich in the table. Players like Davis are contributing to the team a lot with many assists which passes through the team and might create the best Ipswich team we have seen in a while. I think we can really push for mid-table this season.

Jackie: Why isn’t Szmodics playing?

Josh: Our attack is good. Fast transition. Issues are the mistakes which at this level cost goals. We need to stop this and we will be fine.

Despite some creditable performances, Ipswich are yet to record their first Premier League win of the season.

Kieran McKenna's side are outside of the relegation zone, after picking up four draws from the opening seven games, but as our Q&A with BBC Radio Suffolk's Graeme McLoughlin last week showed, there are plenty of questions around recruitment, personnel and Town's prospects this season.

But even within that, there is plenty going under the radar. So we want you to tell us, what is the one thing nobody is talking about - good or bad?

Let us know, external

BBC Sport pundit Fara Williams will be answering your questions, giving her insight and opinion around your club.

So what would you like to ask the former England midfielder?

What can your team achieve after their start to the season? Who has been your best player so far? What does the manager's future hold?

Send in your questions here, external