Ipswich Town

Latest updates

  1. Man City 4-1 Ipswich: What McKenna saidpublished at 20:04 24 August 2024

    Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna has been speaking to BBC Sport following the defeat: "We regrouped and stuck together. We got through the majority of the second half without giving up too much. It was something for us to go through at this stage of the season.

    "The way the fixtures have come out, it is about learning lessons and adapting as quickly as possible. There are positives for us to take.

    "It was great for us to get our first goal. It was a really well-worked transition, exactly to plan. The only shame was we weren't able to enjoy that for longer and find stability in the game.

    "The first goal is just a one-vs-one and you know you have to defend them. The second goal is a mistake. It wasn't a big bother from a tactical point of view. The players got together on the pitch and said we need to have a steady period.

    "If we use the lessons well, it will be two good games for us [Liverpool and Manchester City]. That is a really difficult game - to play Manchester City - their first game back in their stadium and with the fans' favourite player back at the club.

    "We are still short. We have added a lot of players late on [in the transfer window]. We know we are a work in progress and we will be for a little while. There are big positives across both games and that sets us up for the season."

  2. Man City 4-1 Ipswich: What Szmodics saidpublished at 18:09 24 August 2024

    Ipswich forward and goalscorer Sammie Szmodics has been speaking to Sky Sports following the defeat: "We knew it was going to be a tough game. We knew the crowd would be up for it. We started the game well and individual mistakes at this level get punished. The three goals in four minutes killed us.

    "It was a dream start but we have got to manage the game better. We have got to learn from it.

    "It is early days. I'm getting used to the intensity [of the Premier League]. We have had the first two games against two of the best players in the league. We have got a week to look forward to another home game."

  3. Man City 4-1 Ipswich: Did you know?published at 17:39 24 August 2024

    Ruben Dias of Manchester City and Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrate after 2nd goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Ipswich Town FCImage source, Getty Images

    Each of the first four shots in this game were scored, making this the first ever time this has happened in a Premier League game (excluding own goals) on record (since 2006-07).

  4. Man City 4-1 Ipswich - Szmodics shines published at 17:29 24 August 2024

    Gary Rose
    BBC Sport journalist at Etihad Stadium

    Sammie Szmodics celebrates his goal against Manchester CityImage source, Getty Images

    Few teams will go to Etihad Stadium this season and get a result, let alone one that was playing in League One just two seasons ago, so for Ipswich this was all about learning and taking the positives they could.

    One of those positives was Sammie Szmodics. The forward is one of a number of new additions at Ipswich this season following their return to the Premier League and he picked off right where he left off in the Championship with a goal after seven minutes.

    It was similar to many he scored in the second tier as well. Getting into the right position before squeezing a shot under goalkeeper Ederson and into the back of the net.

    That was Ipswich's only shot on target, but they will need players capable of finishing the very few chances they are likely to get in the top flight, and Szmodics did just that.

    An image detailing how to follow your Premier League team on BBC Sport: "On the app? Tap the bell icon to get news about your club sent to you. Signed in on a browser? Hit 'Follow' to stay up to date.
  5. Follow Saturday's Premier League fixturespublished at 11:37 24 August 2024

    Brighton v Manchester United, Manchester City v Ipswich Town, Tottenham Hotspur v Everton, Southampton v Nottingham Forest, Fulham v Leicester City, Crystal Palace v West Ham United, Aston Villa v Arsenal

    There are seven games on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you all the action and reaction.

    Follow live here

    *All times are BST

  6. Sutton's predictions: Man City v Ipswichpublished at 11:18 24 August 2024

    Chris Sutton and Clara Amfo and Jordan Stephens

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

    For week two, he takes on Make Me A Mixtape hosts Clara Amfo and Jordan Stephens.

    Sutton's prediction: 4-0

    I really like the work Ipswich have done in the transfer market. They are signing Armando Broja and also got Sammie Szmodics, Liam Delap and Omari Hutchinson in, so they are giving it a go.

    For the first hour against Liverpool, I thought they really pushed them and played with great intensity. I feel really sorry for them the fixtures have fallen as they have done.

    Manchester City got a pretty routine win against Chelsea last week and that is them fairly half-cooked and nowhere near up to speed, so that is ominous for Arsenal, Liverpool and everybody else. At home, it will be business as usual for City.

    Amfo's prediction: 2-1

    Stephens' prediction: 4-1

    I feel like Ipswich will get one, just because City always start pretty slow.

    Read the full predictions and have your say

  7. Why PSR tweaks may harm top Premier League clubspublished at 09:23 24 August 2024

    Media caption,

    This season, English top-flight clubs are trialling a new financial system that limits spending based on the earnings of the bottom side, designed to "protect the competitive balance of the Premier League".

    Football finance expert Rob Wilson tells The Football News Show why, if permanently introduced, it could make the top Premier League sides less competitive against their European counterparts.

    Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

    Watch on BBC iPlayer banner
  8. 'I still want to learn and improve' - Johnson on Ipswich movepublished at 14:54 23 August 2024

    Ben Johnson in action for Ipswich against LiverpoolImage source, PA Media

    Ben Johnson has said the chance to develop and improve under Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna was a major factor in him moving to Portman Road earlier this summer.

    The 24-year-old defender left West Ham at the end of his contract and made his debut for the Tractor Boys as a substitute in the 2-0 defeat by Liverpool.

    Johnson said: "When I knew there was interest from Ipswich and the manager, he sold it to me when he said he was going to develop me, coach me and I was going to improve. That was definitely the key factor to why I made the switch.

    "I'm at a stage of my career where I want to make that next step and be a more established Premier League player, but also to learn. I've not come this far to just filter out and be mediocre, I still want to learn and improve in the position I play."

    Johnson's summer transfer ended a long association with West Ham and he said he will always have "fond memories" of his time with the London club.

    "It was a huge decision [to leave], but it was nice and it was mutual really," he said.

    "There's no bad blood between myself and West Ham, I always want them to do well and hopefully they want me to do well and establish my career here.

    "I had a great period of time there; growing up from a boy to a man, giving me the opportunity to play in the Premier League and setting me up for my career. I look back with fond memories and wish them all the best."

  9. PFA concerned at PSR's 'unintended consequences'published at 12:25 23 August 2024

    Media caption,

    Maheta Molango, chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association tells The Football News Show why he is concerned at the current and potential future financial rules in the Premier League.

    Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

    Watch on BBC iPlayer banner
  10. Watch: Ipswich will take Man City challenge head on - McKennapublished at 18:16 22 August 2024

    Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has told a news conference that his team face a "massive challenge" against Premier League champions Manchester City on Saturday - but it is one they will "embrace".

    Ipswich, promoted from the Championship last season, lost their opening top-flight game to Liverpool last weekend.

    Media caption,

  11. McKenna on Man City, injuries and more 'good additions' to comepublished at 17:18 22 August 2024

    Henry Brownsey
    BBC Sport journalist

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

    Here are the key lines from his news conference:

    • On Ipswich's opening loss to Liverpool: "It was a great experience for us to go through, the most overriding feeling after the game was positivity and the group came away more confident from the game that we can be competitive this season."

    • He said his side "felt first hand how a team the calibre of Liverpool can go through the gears, they became a huge threat very quickly and had a number of big chances in quick succession so we need to manage that better."

    • He thinks Manchester City are "an even bigger challenge - the big goal is to get points but underneath that it's about coming out of the weekend stronger and we use it as a way to fast-track our adjustment to the league."

    • On prolific City striker Erling Haaland: "He is pretty unique in world football; in terms of his physical attributes and his strength, pace and power - there's probably not anyone in the modern game that comes close in these aspects."

    • New signing Jens Cajuste may be involved on Saturday and McKenna said: "He's a different profile to the midfielders we already have, he's a very talented player - there will be a period of adjustment but I think he's going to be a good addition to the group."

    • McKenna thinks the side are now strong in the midfield area but "there are still some areas we feel we want to add to, the forward area is one of those". He added: "With the level of the league and how we operate, we need great depth in those areas. We want to add different qualities that will help us be successful in the Premier League."

    • On Armando Broja, who is reportedly set to join on loan from Chelsea, he said: "There is nothing confirmed yet, until there is any confirmation - I think that is still a little way away."

    • Wes Burns has had a scan on his hamstring this week and he will be out for "a number of weeks". McKenna said it is a "blow because he's an important player for our system". Goalkeeper Arijanet Muric is doubtful but on-loan midfielder Kalvin Phillips is unable to play against his parent club.

  12. Man City v Ipswich - did you know?published at 14:42 21 August 2024

    Kieran McKenna acknowledges Ipswich supportersImage source, Getty Images

    Ipswich's Kieran McKenna will be the 14th different manager whose first ever Premier League away game came against the reigning champions.

    None of the previous 13 have won (drawn two, lost 11), with Mark McGhee managing Leicester City (1-1 v Manchester United in 1994) and Claudio Ranieri managing Chelsea (3-3 v United in 2000) the only ones to earn a point.

  13. 'The overriding emotion should be encouragement'published at 12:55 20 August 2024

    Richard Woodward
    Fan writer

    Ipswich fan's voice banner

    I doubt many Ipswich Town fans will look back on Saturday’s 2-0 loss to Liverpool with any concern. If anything, the overriding emotion should be encouragement.

    Our previous Premier League campaign included an 0-11 aggregate loss over the two games to the Reds. Any pre-match optimism was therefore offset with a lingering worry that history might repeat itself, at least to some extent. But, this present-day Ipswich, with eight players getting minutes who starred in our 22-23 League One promotion, always give things a good go. The aggressive start by Kieran McKenna’s side nearly led to goals for Jacob Greaves and Omari Hutchinson.

    But Liverpool ultimately deserved their win. The goals by Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah demonstrate a standard of attacking play which won’t be common for us to face most weeks this season. But, it’s worth noting that Arne Slot was forced into a half-time substitution and a tactical tweak to help make it happen.

    There are of course lessons to be learned by McKenna and his team.

    The bar for refs to hand out yellow cards is much lower than the EFL (annoyingly for the Portman Road faithful!). It’s clear that winning fouls, but more importantly avoiding cards, is an art form in the Premier League.

    The luxury of decision-making time, especially during counter attacks, is not something we’ll be afforded much of. Too often an extra touch was taken by a Town player when presented with a sight of goal. Realistically the trigger will need to be pulled much earlier if we’re going to get enough goals to win games a level up.

    But these are the kind of lessons to learn when there are 37 games still to go. The Blue Army will be hoping we don’t get a schooling though during a daunting trip to the Etihad.

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

    An image detailing how to follow your Premier League team on BBC Sport: "On the app? Tap the bell icon to get news about your club sent to you. Signed in on a browser? Hit 'Follow' to stay up to date.
  14. 'We respect them but we don't fear them'published at 09:40 20 August 2024

    Ipswich Town's Axel Tuanzebe in action against Liverpool's Alexis Mac AllisterImage source, Getty Images

    Ipswich Town defender Axel Tuanzebe says the side "don't fear" the top teams but they do have "lessons to learn".

    The Tractor Boys played their first Premier League game in more than 20 years on Saturday as they kicked off the season against Liverpool at Portman Road.

    Despite a 2-0 defeat, the newly promoted side won plaudits for their first-half performance and will need to take that level into their next match against Manchester City.

    "You have seen a glimpse of what Ipswich are capable of," Tuanzebe told BBC Radio Suffolk. "Chances don't come often and you can see Liverpool took their chances. We can only learn from that and capitalise when it is our turn.

    "We respect them [top teams] but we don't fear them. This was a game when we could take the gloves off and go for it. If you lose, people just think: 'Oh well, it was against a big team.' But, for us, it takes us a step forward and tests our levels to see where we are at compared with the top teams.

    "We caused them a few problems and it was difficult for them to break us down. The second half was when we needed to keep that intensity and keep concentration throughout the game.

    "We have some big lessons to learn."

    Listen to the full interview on The Blue Hour on BBC Sounds