Ipswich Town

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

Ipswich's Kieran McKenna paced along the edge of the technical area, encouraging and clapping his side - calm and steady instead of panicking and nervous.

He was a near-permanent presence there, but when something happened - goals at either end, corners, good challenges, shots - he would watch the clip with the analysts for 10-20 seconds before returning to his position.

A raised fist followed Liam Delap's goal, but McKenna - 40 seconds late for the start of the second half - was dejected after Wolves' late winner.

Wolves manager Vitor Pereira - watching from media seats - and assistant Luis Miguel were suspended, so first-team coach Andre Monteiro took charge.

After Ipswich scored, Monteiro was a chalk-on-the-trainers boss, almost on the pitch, a few paces out of the area. On a few occasions the fourth official had to politely tell Monteiro to get back.

Monteiro was constantly in touch with Pereira, looking in his direction, making hand signals while talking via an earpiece.

When Wolves equalised, Monteiro was about to bring on striker Hwang Hee-chan, but after some hand waving in Pereira's direction, the decision was changed. Wolves' winner left Pereira hugging his coaching staff, with Premier League safety practically secured.

See what all the other managers did

Richard Woodward
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Saturday's defeat by Wolves finally extinguished any realistic hope that Ipswich Town had of surviving in the Premier League. While there is not an "R" next to our name yet, it is very much in the post unless something dramatically unexpected occurs.

As for the whys and wherefores for this disappointing campaign, Saturday's game highlighted another key learning point - competing for the full 90-plus minutes is essential. Whether it be a mental or physical challenge, Kieran McKenna's side have dropped a whopping 25 points from winning positions so far this season, with a good number in the latter stages of matches as on Saturday.

So what in hindsight could Mark Ashton and McKenna have done differently to give Town a better shot?

Some aspects of Town's transfer business would likely not be repeated. Failing to target physicality and athleticism in favour of technical ability and long-term potential has been a major criticism - although maybe it will be proved right in the coming seasons?

The local focus to Town's recruitment geography has also limited options and led to higher fees being paid - the English "talent tax".

Continuing the point on physicality, could pre-season have been more onerous in anticipation of the significant demands of the modern Premier League? Injuries throughout the squad have severely sapped any momentum accrued from winning one-off matches, as well as testing the reasonable bounds of our squad depth.

Ultimately though, as I have debated a few times in my pieces here, did Town have a fair chance to begin with? Double promotion after 22 years out of the top flight has clearly tested our reasonable capabilities on and off the field. But we are currently the "best of the rest" - it is of minimal comfort but should be acknowledged.

The hope now is that our collective experience this season gives enough insight to react better should we return, hopefully at the earliest opportunity.

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

How does a promoted team stay in the Premier League?

Is it about style? Or does over-spending become a tempting proposition in a bid to stay out of the bottom of three?

Is it all about unearthing transfer "jewels"?

Take a look at a clip below or listen to the Monday Night Club debate in full here

Everton and Brighton have joined the race to sign Ipswich and England Under-21 striker Liam Delap, 22, whose £40m release clause will become active if Ipswich are relegated from the Premier League. (TeamTalk), external

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Image source, PA Media

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

Here are some of your comments:

Ipswich fans

Jonny: With defeat by Wolves, the slim hope of a "great escape" was well and truly put to bed. Most level-headed Town fans will now be preparing for another season back in the Championship. Our hope is that we can play the rest of the season without fear now that the pressure is off, and who knows, maybe even pick up a few more points to send us down with our heads held high.

Ben: Another predictable watch. Lots of effort but no real quality to transition from the back. The lack of Premier League experience is telling - the league needs to have a good look at how any promoted team stands a chance.

Paul: Unfortunately Ipswich do not have the players to survive in the Premier League just yet. They huffed and puffed to no real avail. It was quite an eye opener to witness the gulf in class between these two teams next to each other in the table. Another year in the Championship will help their development and they will have to add better quality players to their squad.

Terry: Good display in the first half but no response after half-time when Wolves were on top. No bite up front in the second half. There appeared to be no belief that Town would win after the equaliser.

Wolves fans

John: Good display after a shaky start. Joao Gomes and Andre were outstanding again and have a really good understanding together. Onwards and upwards, and hopefully Fosun will back us next season after the turnaround from Vitor Pereira.

Jen: Passion, resilience and a sprinkling of class. Wasn't the prettiest but who cares! The players want to play for the shirt, the connection is back with the fans and we have a manager who gets it. Roll on the next few games!

John: Great result obviously against an Ipswich side that had not only beaten us already this season but who were absolutely desperate for points. I remember sitting in the pub five weeks ago and seeing the news of Matheus Cunha's red card against Bournemouth come through and thinking: "OK, no points until Leicester - it's going to get tight." But 10 points from a possible 12 without him and we're flying. Safe with seven games to go - could not have dreamt of that after the farce that was the Ipswich game at Molineux back in December.

David: Yet more evidence that we are a side transformed under Vitor Pereira, and for once we are finishing a season strongly. Three wins and a draw without Cunha. If all are match-fit, does Pereira put him in the starting XI v Spurs next Sunday?

Gary Lineker presents highlights and analysis from Saturday's five 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:

• Crystal Palace 2-1 Brighton

• Aston Villa 2-1 Nottingham Forest

Image source, Getty Images

Ipswich have lost each of their past six home league games - the Tractor Boys' longest losing streak on home soil in the top four tiers since November 1963.

Liam Delap scored his 12th Premier League goal of the season, with only Marcus Stewart netting more for the Tractor Boys across a single campaign in the competition (19 in 2000-01).

Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna has been speaking to Premier League Productions about the home defeat: "We are gutted, it's very sad in the dressing room. The players put everything in and we weren't able to find enough in the second half to get the result we wanted.

"The first half wasn't a beautiful game, but we had great energy and scored the goal. The second half energy played a part. There are players who pushed really hard to get out on the pitch on Wednesday, so to go again today was difficult. Energy was a challenge.

"They are a strong opponent who bring on good substitutes and put pressure on. I thought we had ridden it out. You can call it lucky, a high quality substitute that changed the game and gave all the energy to them, but we weren't able to find anything else.

"We know where we are at. I can't ask for more from many of the players - they have given everything. A lot have come on the journey from League One. A lot of them have performed really well and done themselves proud.

"We know the strength of the league and we know opponents can bring on top international talent off the bench."

On the motivation in the squad: "It can't change too much for us. Today is a sad day and if we had got the win today, it would have felt good.

"We know we are probably going to fall short. We play Chelsea, Newcastle and we have some good games coming up. I don't think motivation will be an issue.

"We'll take a day or two to get over this one and try to deliver a performance to be proud of in the coming weeks."

Were you at Portman Road or following from elsewhere?

What did you make of Ipswich's performance?

What did you think of Wolves' display?

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

Five matches make up Saturday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Everton v Arsenal (12:30)

• Crystal Palace v Brighton

• Ipswich v Wolves

• West Ham v Bournemouth

• Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest (17:30)

All kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

I am going purely from the heart here, not because I have any feelings for Ipswich but purely because of what I know a Tractor Boys win will mean for my daughter's teacher, Mr Fields.

I have written Ipswich off plenty of times this season and said they are already down but they simply have to win this game otherwise they really can forget any hope of staying up.

What a result it was for Kieran McKenna's side to win at Bournemouth on Wednesday, especially after Wolves had beaten West Ham on Tuesday.

It means that Ipswich are still one place and nine points behind 17th-placed Wolves. With eight games to go, they only have a slim chance of survival but at least they do have a chance, and they could put their nearest rivals under a bit of pressure by beating them here.

They have already beaten Wolves once this season, at Molineux in December, in Gary O'Neil's final game in charge of Wolves, and beating them again at home to get their second win this week would be huge when you consider they had only won three of their first 29 league games.

My head is not exactly convinced that will happen, if I am being entirely honest, even though Wolves' best player Matheus Cunha is still out suspended.

Mr Fields would probably prefer me not to tip Town to win anyway because I have usually been wrong when I've done that in the past, but I am going to say they will get over the line because I want him to be happy.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Image source, Getty Images

Earlier, we asked which player has appeared in the most Premier League wins for Ipswich.

The answer is Matt Holland, who was involved in 29 victories.

Karan Vinod
BBC Sport journalist

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

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On squad fitness: "Nothing new from other night [against Bournemouth]. In terms of availability, we'll be leaving some decisions until tomorrow. We had players who played a little bit more than what we would have wanted the other night. It was a physical game and we've got players coming back from injury. It's going to be late judgements on how everyone is tomorrow before we make final decisions."

• On the climax to the season: "We have nine games left. We broke it down as pretty much a quarter of the season - and we want to have the best quarter of the season in terms of performances and in terms of results. We want to show growth as a team and we want to try to win as many games as we can."

• McKenna also said that he wasn't the biggest fan of VAR but believes that semi-automated offsides could help: "I don't naturally enjoy it. I enjoy when you score a goal and it's a 100% goal. Other than that, it has brought some benefits. But the time is still an issue and semi-automated offsides would be a step forward."

• On facing Wolves knowing a win would move Town to within six points of the Molineux side, McKenna said: "We will be ready to go. Everyone knows it's an important game, with not too many games left. We are playing a team that is one position higher than us in the league so it's a game of significance - but every game is. We are going to give our best. It would be a fantastic game to win."

• On Kevin de Bruyne leaving Manchester City: "He's been incredible and certainly one of the greatest to grace the league. I faced him quite a few times as a coach with United and the biggest part of the gameplan was how to stop him. If he decides it's the right time, it's the right time."

All the key lines from Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves have won their past two away Premier League games, as many as in their previous 19 combined.

The Old Gold have won six of their past eight Premier League games against promoted sides.

Their sole defeat though was against Ipswich in December, while Birmingham in 2009-10 are the only promoted side to do the double over Wolves in the Premier League.

Ipswich have lost 10 home Premier League matches this season, their most in a season since 2010-11 in the Championship (also 10). They've only ever lost more home games in one season, losing 13 at Portman Road in 1994-95 when they finished bottom of the Premier League.

Which player has appeared in the most Premier League wins for Ipswich?

Come back to this page at 17:00 BST for the answer

Tom Gayle
BBC Match of the Day commentator at Vitality Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

Whenever I see the name Julio Enciso my mind goes back to Brighton's 4-1 demolition of Wolves at the start of last season.

While Kaoru Mitoma's solo goal, which started at the halfway line, understandably grabbed all the headlines, the big takeaway for me was Enciso's performance.

Selfless decision-making enabled the Paraguay international, then still a teenager, to provide two assists, but also display the physicality needed to excel in the Premier League when a key part of your game is driving the team forward and looking to hurt the opposition.

I was convinced he was on course to follow in the footsteps of Moises Caicedo, Alexis Mac Allister, Marc Cucurella and Ben White, and be sold for a hefty profit.

Just a few days after his performance at Molineux, Enscio suffered a meniscus tear in training, an injury which would require two operations and force him to miss over six months of football.

Having clocked up more minutes on the Brighton bench than on the pitch under Fabian Hurzeler this season, it was no surprise to learn Enciso pushed for a January loan move in pursuit of more game time.

I must admit, though, I was shocked to see him opt for struggling Ipswich amid reported interest from Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United.

I have not watched every second of all of his performances in a Town shirt. However, commentating over his assist for Nathan Broadhead's goal in their 2-1 win over Bournemouth, which included a powerful dribble where he was able to hold off and outpace three defenders, was a reminder of the game-changing quality the 21-year-old possesses.

Enciso is proven at Premier League level. However, apart from Liam Delap, all of Ipswich's attacking options have struggled to make a consistent impact this season.

With manager Kieran McKenna confirming to me injuries to Lief Davis and Omari Hutchinson, the pair who sit at the top of Ipswich's chances created stats list, the need for Enciso to rediscover his best form on a regular basis could not be greater.