'Technical ability of these players is second to none' published at 18:10 9 May
18:10 9 May
Image source, Getty Images
Ipswich Town defender Jacob Greaves has lauded the level of the Premier League.
Greaves made his debut in the competition this season with Ipswich after signing last summer from Hull City, where he had risen through the ranks.
"All-round concentration, I don't think you've got time to switch off in moments where you are a little out of position or wrong body position. The technical ability of these players is second to none," said the 24-year-old.
"You've got to make sure you are doing everything week in and week out to be dialled in, to make sure you give yourself the best chance to perform at the weekend."
Greaves also revealed that the trending social media question of whether100 men could beat one gorilla in a fight has been a topic of conversation in the Ipswich dressing room.
"I've had this argument with so many lads in the building. I'd back the 100 men but my one was 10 Jon Jones [MMA fighter] against one gorilla," he said.
"The Jon Jones question took over the dressing room and it caused a lot of argument. A lot of the lads backing the gorilla, to be honest. [Liam] Delap actually said he'd have 10 of him against a gorilla."
McKenna on team news, Brentford, and Championship preparation published at 15:00 9 May
15:00 9 May
Karan Vinod BBC Sport Journalist
Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Brentford (kick-off 15:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
On team news: "Axel (Tuanzebe) came through the week well and he's had a good training week. Still struggling a little bit with Kalvin (Phillips) and Jens Cajuste in terms of the ongoing issues they have and getting them to fully available to train and get to their best. But we will have to make a decision tomorrow. I don't think anything else new from where we've been."
McKenna confirmed neither he nor the players will "accept anything else" than fighting for every game despite being relegated. He said "it's the minimum requirement between now and end of the season".
On Brentford: "They are a really good side, they've done terrifically well - manager and club and players - and I think they had a really good home record at the start of the season up until the halfway point. And then the home record has not been as good in the second half but their away record has been really good. We are sort of in a similar position as our away record has been better than the home record but truthfully football sometimes is a random sport. We know they are a good side home and away and we are going to be at our very best to compete."
McKenna said that they will have to account for Brentford's threats and it is "clear to see what they are very good at." However, he stressed it is "important to go and impose ourselves and have belief in ourselves on what we can do".
On the short turnaround from the Premier League to Championship- season: "We'll have five weeks off and it is plenty. It is a little bit more challenging for the boys that go on international duty but we'll have to manage that and make sure they get enough rest. We are a few weeks ahead knowing where we are going to be next year so pre-season planning is well underway and the players will have plenty of time for physical rest."
Ipswich have won just one of their past 16 Premier League games - 2-1 at Bournemouth in April. They have conceded two or more goals in 13 of those 16 matches, but did come from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Everton last time out.
The Tractor Boys have lost 10 of their past 11 Premier League home games, including all their last seven - the longest home losing run in their league history.
Gossip: Arsenal make offer for Delappublished at 07:22 8 May
07:22 8 May
Arsenal have made an offer to the representatives of Ipswich's English striker Liam Delap, 22, as they seek to sign a supporting forward alongside a more experienced and proven option. (Football Transfers)
'Resilience and determination' on show at 'evocative' Goodisonpublished at 12:44 6 May
12:44 6 May
Richard Woodward Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
What an evocative experience it was visiting Goodison Park as an away fan on Saturday (even if my view from the away end was compromised by steel rafters and pillars!).
The pre-match scenes were exactly what I hoped for, and while the buoyant atmosphere amongst the home fans waned as Town got themselves back in the game, you could easily imagine what a vibrant place it could be for a bigger match.
While the new stadium will lack the character of its predecessor, the key is to ensure the existing fanbase give it a soul by creating a new shared history. Stuffing it full of corporate hospitality and pricing out generations of supporters that made Goodison special would be a huge error by the club.
As for Ipswich, Saturday's game very much had the feeling of looking ahead to next season. While Julio's Enciso's worldie rightly drew the headlines, it was great to see the likes of Jack Taylor, Conor Chaplin and George Hirst in particular make key contributions – all of whom will likely be key players in 2025-26.
While Taylor hasn't necessarily shown that he has the influence to be a regular midfield starter in the Premier League, his second half against Everton gave some insight into what Kieran McKenna sees in the former Peterborough man. The hope is that he can dominate more a level down.
Hirst meanwhile demonstrated once again his abilities to lead the line in a way that brings others into the game. His impressive towering header to earn the point was the least his efforts deserved.
After a taxing second half of the season, it was great to see us demonstrate the kind of resilience and determination on Saturday that this club has shown consistently in the EFL under McKenna. It will be needed back in the Championship if we are to bounce back at the first time of asking.
Oliver: The full-backs simply weren't up to standard. Vitaliy Mykolenko offers solid defensive cover but lacks the quality or confidence going forward, while Nathan Patterson contributes more in attack but is too often caught out defensively. Strengthening the full-back positions will surely be high on David Moyes' agenda this summer.
Mike: Jekyll-and-Hyde performance once again from Everton. Second half we just didn't turn up but credit to Ipswich who were good value for the draw. On far too many occasions this season, a two-goal lead has been squandered. Moyes knows this is not good enough and a major overhaul is needed in the summer.
Harry: I can't believe how sluggish and lazy we looked. On a day, when the fans made such an effort to give the Old Lady the beginning of a memorable send-off, the players thought they'd just go through the motions. Fifteen draws and counting.
Anton: Extremely frustrating result. Clearly too many players thought that 2-0 up after 35 mins at home to an already-relegated side equated to three pts. They'd better not produce this kind of performance against Southampton. This summer is going to be extremely interesting, not frustrating...we hope!
Ipswich fans
David: This was one of very few games this season where I felt we matched the opposition and weren't outclassed.
James: Where have those performances been hiding?! Great resilience to come back and get a point. My concern is how many of those players are going to be there next season.
Steve: The team have not given up - a good sign.
Robert: A fighting display to get the draw but sadly too little too late. My greatest worries are whether the manager will stay if approached by other clubs, how many players will move on and, if we sign new players, how long will it take them to gel together. We need to be on the front foot from the very start of next season.
Gossip: Delap transfer race continuespublished at 07:27 5 May
Catch up on the Premier League actionpublished at 12:34 4 May
12:34 4 May
Highlights and analysis from Saturday's Four Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from Friday's game between Manchester City and Wolves.
'We stuck together and deserved at least a point'published at 17:59 3 May
17:59 3 May
Image source, PA Media
Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna spoke to Premier League productions after Saturday's draw against Everton: "I'm really proud. It was always going to be a tough game for us.
"I don't think it had been a 2-0 game, but the group responded really well. It took a great goal to get us back into it, but the group stuck together and I think we deserved at least a point.
"It's been a challenge [this season]. We knew everything would have to go right, and it hasn't. We know injuries has been a part of that. There's frustration in there, but it is what it is. The boys who have been available have given their all pretty much every week.
"The motivation hasn't been hard. A lot of the boys are playing in the Premier League for the first time. The only hard bit has been pulling them together as a group. I think you can see that they're still really fighting for the club."
On Julio Enciso's goal: "That's what he's capable of. We'd have liked to have him available for more of the season because that individual difference can get you points in this league."
Everton 2-2 Ipswich: Tractor Boys going down with a fightpublished at 17:45 3 May
17:45 3 May
Bobbie Jackson BBC Sport Journalist
Image source, Getty Images
On a day when the headlines were all about Everton's final Saturday 15:00 kick-off at Goodison Park before moving to new stadium Bramley-Moore Dock, Ipswich ensured they had a big role in the story.
In any other season a game in early May between a club already relegated - Ipswich - and a team set for a bottom half finish - Everton - would likely be overlooked by many, however, the occasion added a much-needed layer to encounter.
Everton were undoubtedly lifted by the atmosphere, with flags, banners and ticker tape greeting them on to the field, and it wasn't long until they led 2-0 through Beto and Dwight McNeil.
However, it might have been a case of throwing too much into the opening stages for the hosts as they soon started to fade and Ipswich found a foothold.
Julio Enciso was the catalyst for the comeback with a stunning 30-yard strike shortly before half-time.
George Hirst's header with 11 minutes remaining drew Kieran McKenna's side level but Ipswich were unable to find a winner.
Ipswich are playing for pride at this point and it was a performance their fans can be proud of as they make the long journey back to Suffolk.
Did you know?published at 17:29 3 May
17:29 3 May
Image source, Getty Images
Ipswich overturned a two-goal deficit to gain a result in a Premier League game for the first time since October 2001 against Southampton (3-3).
Everton 2-2 Ipswich - send us your thoughtspublished at 16:59 3 May
Sutton's predictions: Everton v Ipswichpublished at 11:06 3 May
11:06 3 May
I am covering this game for BBC Radio 5 Live and I am really looking forward to going to Goodison Park again.
Everything points towards a home win, despite Everton losing their previous two games.
Ipswich are definitely down now and, while they won't throw in the towel, they might be a little less spirited now they know they are relegated.
Their confidence has been sapped over the course of the season and, after watching them recently, I can't back them to get anything here.
They were flimsy against Arsenal, then well beaten by Newcastle, and it would be a shock if they scored at all, let alone break my record for the fastest goal scored by an away player at Goodison.
Everton have stuttered in the past couple of weeks but I don't think that is a bad thing for David Moyes.
He has over-achieved since taking charge in January, when the reality is that he has got the same group of players as his predecessor, Sean Dyche, and there needs to be a lot of work done on improving that squad in the summer.
Earlier, we asked you to name the current Ipswich player from a series of clues.
The correct answer is Sam Szmodics.
An ever-growing gap? The stats on Premier League survivalpublished at 14:05 2 May
14:05 2 May
Alex Fletcher BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
With just four games to go in the Premier League this season relegation has been decided.
For the second season in a row, all three promoted clubs have been sent straight back down, and 14 points separates those in the relegation zone and 17th placed West Ham.
Southampton,Leicester City and Ipswich Town have just 10 wins between them this season, and there is still a chance that the Saints finish the campaign as the joint-worst Premier League team of all time.
But where did it all go wrong?
A struggle to survive
According to Opta, this is the worst combined points total of any group of promoted sides at this stage of the season in Premier League history
The three teams have only managed to get 50 points between them - after just 34 games - and are 14 points behind the previous record which was set last year by Sheffield United, Burnley and Luton Town.
While Leicester and Southampton have seen changes in the dugout this season, Ipswich have stuck with Kieran McKenna, but this has not changed their fortunes.
Between them, they have picked up just 21 points at home, with Southampton and Ipswich winning just once in-front of their own fans.
Promoted sides face 'more of a challenge'
And things look set to get even more difficult for those coming up from the Championship.
According to Opta, five of the lowest eight Premier League points totals for promoted sides after 34 games have come in the last eight years. Southampton are currently on the joint-lowest points total ever at this stage of the season, alongside Derby County.
Speaking before his sides relegation, Ipswich boss McKenna said the gap between the Premier League and the Championship "is getting bigger" and that "it's been getting more of a challenge for clubs to be able to bridge that".
'We can hopefully bounce straight back up' - Taylor published at 08:48 2 May
08:48 2 May
Image source, Getty Images
Ipswich Town midfielder Jack Taylor believes the club's difficult Premier League season has given him the "hunger" to improve.
Last weekend's defeat to Newcastle marked relegation for Ipswich but Taylor thinks there is plenty to take out of the season.
"It's not the outcome we wanted but the club is on an incredible journey. I've loved it and I'm really proud of where I've got to," he said.
"Looking at the bigger picture, If you take all the lessons that we've learnt this year in to next season, we can hopefully bounce straight back up."
Taylor has started just two league games this season, but believes the adversity has made him improve.
"I've overcome so many things personally, from missing out on squads at the start of the season, before finally getting a chance," he said. "You've got to become a better- player.
"No matter whether you are coming on for 30 minutes or just for one, you want to be positive. I've set a mentality for myself to use it as an opportunity to impress the manager.
"If I get the opportunity to start again, it's an opportunity to play in a Premier League football match and I want to show the best version of myself."
Today's trivia challengepublished at 08:25 2 May
08:25 2 May
Guess the current Ipswich player from these three clues:
I began the 2024-25 season playing in the Championship.
My first goal for Ipswich was scored against Manchester City.
I played twice against England in the Nations League earlier this season.
Come back to this page at 17:00 BST for the answer