Ipswich Town

Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's home Premier League game against Crystal Palace (kick-off 19:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Defender Axel Tuanzebe will be out "long term" with a "significant" hamstring injury sustained against Nottingham Forest with McKenna adding he has "some other knocks" in his squad which are "being assessed".

• Kalvin Phillips rolled his ankle against Leicester and Ben Johnson has a "small muscular injury" but both have trained today and should be fit for the visit of Bournemouth on Sunday if not for Tuesday evening.

• On Nathan Broadhead's first minutes of the season against Nottingham Forest: "He's training hard. Hopefully now he can stay injury-free for a period of time."

• When the first home win back in the Premier League comes it will be "brilliant": "We know it will come and we want it to come as soon as possible. In all of our draws at home we feel we could have won. We've got two chances to do that this week."

• On a busy December: "We're looking forward to it. We're used to busier spells like this. We'd love to have a full clean bill of health, but that hasn't been the case. We hope to have as many fit and available throughout this next spell. We're going into the period positive."

• Would he have taken this league position at this stage before the season?: "If you'd told me this is where we'd be in December, I think most would have been pretty pleased with that. We know we've got another step to make now in winning games more regularly."

• On the challenge posed by Palace: "Palace have a lot of top players, are picking up some form and we fully respect them. But it's about us trying to deliver a performance we can get behind. We'll approach it with a positive mindset like we do every home game. We'll try and start fast and score early. We believe we've got the qualities to go and win the game."

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

Listen to full commentary of Ipswich Town v Crystal Palace from 19:30 GMT on Tuesday on BBC Radio 5 Live

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Nottingham Forest and Ipswich Town.

Here are some of your comments:

Forest fans

John: Phew. There was a lot riding on this game - we needed a bit of luck and the penalty gave it us. We were doing OK initially, but Ipswich have got spirit and came back into it, so the penalty came at a perfect time to make things easier. It is great to have Morgan Gibbs-White, Chris Wood, Neco Williams and Elliot Anderson back. Jota Silva now deserves his place - he works so hard.

Gary: Forest were pretty solid and organised for the entire game, which is a dramatic change from the previous two seasons in the Premier League. Ipswich Town look the best of the bunch at the other end of the table, and Forest had to be good to win the game.

Andy: A better performance than the last two games, but Callum Hudson-Odoi and Gibbs-White look rusty. This team can't rely on penalties and Chris Wood... this team needs more of a goal threat if we are going to really make the most of the start we have had to the season.

Michael: We should really be scoring more goals against a team that is second bottom of league, but of course three points is good. I think the current league position is very false for Forest, it gives the impression that they are better than they actually are. It is really great where they are, I just hope they can get more wins.

Ipswich fans

Billy: Town were good in the first half. They weathered the early Forest attack and created some good chances. Second half, they started slowly and were punished by Forest. Although the penalty seemed soft, we have made an error and made the referee make a decision against us. We had very little ideas going forward in the second half and didn't create enough clear chances for our attackers.

Kopmac: Unfortunately we turned up with a 'try-not-to-lose' attitude. We didn't start playing until we were behind. We won't stay up with this game plan.

Mike: We had them and their crowd exactly where we wanted them for 50 minutes - Forest and the stadium were flat. Then, out of nothing, a lapse in concentration gives them a new lease of life, lights up the place and it was difficult from that moment on. We never really showed enough guile to open up a stubborn defence, which went to a back five. A poor result!

Robert: I believe Ipswich are stuck at the bottom of the league, because we are lacking quality players in some vital areas and some of our players are struggling at the top level. I can see that we will continue at the bottom, apart from some good wins from time to time. We need to buy quality in January.

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It is one of the most eagerly anticipated dates in the football calendar as Premier League and Championship clubs join the FA Cup action from round three.

The draw will take place on Monday, 2 December from 19:00 GMT and can be watched live on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's five Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from Friday's game between Brighton and Southampton.

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

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Crystal Palace 1-1 Newcastle United

• West Ham United 2-5 Arsenal

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Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna has been speaking to the BBC Match of the Day following the narrow defeat: "I think it was a pretty even game. It wasn't the most high-quality game of the season. First-half was really even. It really felt like a first-goal game. We would have been in a great position, but it was them that got it.

"We are disappointed. It's a poor penalty to give away from our perspective.

"We had plenty of moments in the first-half. We had chances and we had a lot of pressure. The first goal felt important and, on another day, we would have got it. Fine margins."

On the penalty: "I can understand why it was given. He lunged in from behind and you are giving the referee a decision to make. I've not seen it close up, but I can see why it was given in real time.

"I don't think we can say we hit our best level to win the game, but I think we deserved something. We have got steps to make if we are going to consistently win."

Charlotte Coates
BBC Sport journalist

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Ipswich's three-game unbeaten run was also going to come under threat when visiting the City Ground as Nottingham Forest looked to jump back up the Premier League after a disappointing couple of games.

The Tractor Boys started the game well against Forest but their only dangerous effort on goal was Omari Hutchinson's low drive but Matz Sels got down well low to his right.

Kieran McKenna's side play some tidy football and look like they should create more than they do but they have a chance to correct that on Tuesday night.

Ipswich welcome fellow strugglers Crystal Palace to Portman Road with the two teams locked on nine points.

A win for the hosts could see them jump up from 19th to 15th in the table and give them huge confidence going into another a huge game at home against Bournemouth.

Ipswich's only win of the season came in that almighty shock away at Tottenham and the home faithful cannot wait for the let off inside Portman Road once the first three points are secured.

It could be a very special event under the lights on Tuesday night.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

How did did you make of Nottingham Forest's display?, external

Have your say on Ipswich's performance, external

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

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

• Brentford v Leicester

• Crystal Palace v Newcastle (listen on BBC Radio 5 Live)

• Nottingham Forest v Ipswich

• Wolves v Bournemouth

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

Kick-offs 15:00 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 13, he takes on boxer Sunny Edwards who is a Chelsea fan.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

For some reason people often think that I am quite petty when it comes to these predictions, and that I occasionally use them to make a point.

So I would like to remind Ipswich fans that I correctly predicted they would draw 1-1 with Manchester United last week and, importantly, the points I earned for that handed me victory in that round of games.

I know that many Ipswich fans were pleased for me and I think it showed that, despite my allegiance to Norwich, I don't hold any grudges against them.

On to this week, and I hope Ipswich get absolutely pumped by Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

I should explain that Forest were my boyhood team, so that is the only reason why I am rooting for them here. Mind you, if Forest play like they did in their previous home game against Newcastle, then I will be sending my replica shirt back to the club shop and giving up on them again.

Being serious, though, I like this Ipswich team. They have got some good players and play some good football. They deserved to beat United and would have done if not for a couple of superb saves by Andre Onana.

Still, I expect Forest to bounce back at the City Ground after two defeats in a row. Chris Wood has to be back in the team after starting last weekend's defeat against Arsenal on the bench, but if he plays then they will come out on top.

Edwards' prediction: 1-1

Ipswich did well against United and their striker Liam Delap is very sought after - we are one of the teams who are supposed to be after him.

Read the full predictions and have your say

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BBC Radio Suffolk's Brenner Woolley, speaking to BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut Up And Show More Football podcast about whether Ipswich can look to Nottingham Forest as an example of what they could become: "They undoubtedly are looking along those lines [of what Forest have done].

"Anything outside the bottom three will do this season. I know some fans have got a bit carried away off the back of the past two results, talking about them finishing 15th or 14th, but the vast majority would take 17th place and then build from that base. Like Forest have done and, with all due respects, smaller clubs than Ipswich Town like Bournemouth and Brentford. Look at those as yardsticks and think, 'why not?'

"Once you get to that stage, I can understand why you are looking at Aston Villa or Brighton who have taken the extra step and gone into European competition. That is a lot further down the road for Ipswich Town.

"I understand completely and do see the parallels between the two clubs.

"It is going to be very difficult if the likes of Wolves and West Ham pick up form - they are going to be down there around the bottom four or five, but let's just hope they can finish somewhere in the top two of that mini-league."

Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds

For teams down at the bottom, some have that player who can save them and others are missing that talisman.

Wolves have got Matheus Cunha. If they can really get him firing, we saw last season how important he was to the team. The goal at Fulham at the weekend was one that affected that result. If Gary O'Neil can get him back to his best, he could be their potential saviour this season.

On the other hand, I do not think Southampton have that player. They relied heavily on Adam Armstrong in the Championship for goals, but I do not think he brings the same qualities we saw last season when he was able to get a consistent run of goals. Yes, Southampton are a great possession-based team but they do not have that player that will get 20 goals.

With Ipswich, they have got Liam Delap with all his attributes and they also have Omari Hutchinson too who can contribute towards the goalscoring the team needs.

When I look at Everton, I do not see them having that talisman, that player that is going to get you the goals, but as a team they have a knowhow in the Premier League. That is so important when you are fighting at the bottom. That is what Everton collectively as a team and boss Sean Dyche know how to do.

Crystal Palace have got Jean-Phillippe Mateta, they have got Eddie Nketiah, there is Ebere Eze too if they can keep him fit, so I am not worried for them. They have got a lot of injuries which has not helped and they lost two key players in the summer, but I think they have enough. If they can get players back fit, they can go on a run again like we saw at the end of last season.

And then there is Leicester. They have only really got Jamie Vardy who is ageing but does know how to score goals in the Premier League. They are struggling and I feel out of the teams battling relegation, it is Leicester and Southampton who have not got a talisman that can save them.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

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Earlier, we asked you who scored Ipswich's first Premier League goal of the 2024-25 season.

The answer is Sammie Szmodics, who netted in the 4-1 defeat at Manchester City on 24 August.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Mum's the word when Chris Wood faces Dara O'Shea at the City Ground on Saturday.

The Ipswich defender and Nottingham Forest striker Wood never played with each other but share a special bond.

They were at West Brom and Burnley at different times but Republic of Ireland international O'Shea lived with Wood's parents, Julie and Grant, when he was a young player at the Baggies.

The couple offered Baggies players digs while they were living away from their own homes.

It meant Wood would return home and, on occasion, find O'Shea - who joined Ipswich from Burnley in the summer - relaxing in the living room.

He said: "A couple of times! Unfortunately, I was never too close to Birmingham the times he was there. I was at other clubs across the country. It worked well for Dara and my parents and they have stayed in contact, at least at parent level with his mum and dad.

"It was a nice way to give back and feel part of the club. They've had a number of boys and one of those was Dara, who's done extremely well over the years. He did well at West Brom, when he went to Burnley and now at Ipswich.

"Mum and dad are extremely nice to take in players as digs parents. It's a great way to give back to a club which gave me a huge stepping stone in my career. They took a big chance on a Kiwi boy from New Zealand."

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Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna does not want to make "grand summaries from one game" after their impressive performance against Manchester United.

Th Tractor Boys fought back after conceding within 90 seconds to draw against Ruben Amorim's side and looked the more likely to take all three points.

Despite taking five points from their past three games, Ipswich still sit in the relegation zone heading into Saturday's match against Nottingham Forest.

"It's one game, but it was a good game. We feel like we could have won it on the balance of chances. We were the team certainly more likely to win it," McKenna said.

"But we are not too interested in making grand summaries from one game. It was a pretty good performance, it's another point, but it's on to the next game and all eyes on Nottingham Forest.

"The time for taking stock will be a bit further down the line and at the end of the season. For now, it is just about focusing on the next game of the season and concentrating on our next performance. That's what we have done since Sunday finished.

"We are happy that we are competing well and generally been hard to beat. In terms of being consistently competitive in almost every match and in the early stages of the season as a newly promoted team, I think that's a big priority.

"We would like to have a few more points and we think that, especially with quite a few of the home draws, we feel like we could or should have won one or two of those at least.

"But there are positives there and we are going to try and build on those. But with all these things, you can't count on anything really. Come 3pm on Saturday, it all starts again and we have to fight for a new result."

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You never want to come up against a type of player like Liam Delap. They can really get under your skin.

I have always said in football you play with your head and it is a mental game. For a player, if it works for them, it is an advantage and it is horrible to play against. As long as it is something that is controlled, it is a good attribute to have.

With Delap, the way he plays is not overtaking other qualities. Instead, it adds in and contributes to all the good things he is doing. With the physicality that he brings and the goals he is scoring, his approach does not seem to be affecting other areas of his game, which is really good.

I like players like that on my team - Wayne Rooney was that type of player, Diego Costa too - those kind of players that have that bit of spike about them. If they are in your team and it is controlled it is good, but if you are coming up against them it is horrible. You feel like it is an advantage and they can get the upper hand on you mentally in those areas.

Overall, I have been impressed with Delap this season. He has shown really good signs. He has shown he is a good finisher, that he is athletic and strong - but also that he does not mind playing with a target player and can run beyond.

He is showing all the attributes you would want in a forward.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Who scored Ipswich's first Premier League goal of the 2024-25 season?

Answer will be revealed at 17:00 GMT

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

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• There are no "fresh issues" on the injury front. Kalvin Phillips and Ben Johnson remain out and longer-term absentees "are still being assessed".

• The Ipswich boss is "not aware" of or "interested in" Manchester City having a buy-back clause in the contract of in-form striker Liam Delap. "Liam's full focus is here and on the team and trying to help the team while continuing his own improvement," said McKenna.

• On the progress made after taking four points against Tottenham and Manchester United: "I think you look at the performances in both games and there was a lot of positives to take but it's up to us to continue that. We feel like we are in pretty good form but it's about the next game - a tough game against Nottingham Forest. We need to step up again."

• McKenna is happy that his side are "competing well and have generally been hard to beat" since coming up to the Premier League and believes there are "positives" to take from their performances so far.

• On Omari Hutchinson: "It's enjoyable seeing a hungry, talented young player getting to grips with the league and trying to make an impact. He's been a positive through the season but certainly in the last few games. He was maybe the standout attacker on the pitch against Manchester United. He is making good strides. Lots to go."

• On Nottingham Forest: "They've got a lot of very good players, they've got a really talented squad and an experienced Premier League manager who has done well at clubs before. They have had some fantastic results, winning at Anfield, we know it is going to be tough but it's another good challenge for us."

Read about Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Leif Davis has created more chances than any other Ipswich player in the Premier League this season. His 28 is also the most among defenders so far in the competition this term.