adminIpswich Town: Kieran McKenna on 2-1 defeat at Oxford United
Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna reflected on a ‘frustrating’ defeat at Oxford United, admitting that it felt like his side ‘gave the game away’.
The Blues were pegged back when Azor Matusiwa gave the ball away in the first half, allowing Mark Harris to run through on goal and force Christian Walton into a good save before firing the rebound into the back of the net.
Leif Davis responded with a well-placed strike from a corner, but Town were punished while searching for a winner as Przemyslaw Placheta rushed through on goal to seal all three points for the hosts.
“It’s a frustrating one for us, of course,” McKenna said after the match. “It feels like we’ve given the game away tonight.
“I think there’s two main elements to it, really. We weren’t clinical enough in the phases of control that we had. We started the game really well and had real control, a couple of good chances, and we got into some great positions. We weren’t clinical enough to go and get the early goal.
“The same at 1-1. We had a couple of big chances to go and take the lead, so we didn’t manage to take the lead at either of those periods where we had the chances to do so, then we’ve given away two poor goals, no doubt about that.
“They changed the momentum of the game and the energy in the stadium, everything. It took us a bit of time to respond to both.
“After the first one, and then after the second one it gives the crowd and the opponent the energy to get through the game.
“Having said that, there was plenty in the performance that was fine. We got into loads of good areas, we had chances across the night. The players never gave up, even at 2-1, even with a couple of blows. We had two big chances to get to 2-2, which you would have said was really good character to get back in the game in that way.
“We’re really frustrated. It feels like we’ve given the game up, given it away a little bit tonight, which is frustrating from our point of view, off the back of a pretty good run.
“We knew that there were going to be bumps along the way, especially in this period of games coming in really quick succession.
“We’ve taken a knock tonight so we’ll learn from it quickly, review it in the morning and get ready for Tuesday.”
There were similarities to last month’s defeats against Middlesbrough and Charlton Athletic, where Ipswich were punished for their mistakes and unable to claw their way back into the game to respond.
Placheta’s strike in particular stood out to McKenna in that regard, with bodies caught too high up the pitch when the Polish winger rushed down the right flank.
“In terms of the second goal, that’s probably fair, but I know where we’re at as a group,” the manager argued. “We’re going through things and experiences, but for the first time for this group of players together.
“It’s not going to be as consistent as we’d like it to be at the moment – there are going to be some errors in there. We just had to limit them as much as we can.
“We’ve done that pretty well lately, but tonight, in terms of the second goal, it’s fair to compare it to those games in terms of the way we were pushing to try and get the winning goal. You have to give yourself until the 95th minute to do it.
“It felt like the only way Oxford were going to score was on a counterattack or with a long throw, so you need to be really, really switched on to those situations whenever they do arise because that’s what the opponent is waiting for.
“To not defend the second goal and that situation better than we did, really frustrated with that. It’s something we’ve generally been doing well.
“We make a mistake on it tonight and we’ve been punished. It’s another reminder for us. The players feel that, and we all feel that pain tonight.
“We’ll have to make sure it really sticks in our heads for the games coming up.”
On the flip side, Ipswich did have chances to at least draw the game. George Hirst saw one shot bobble wide and another one saved, while Jamie Cumming denied Ivan Azon before Marcelino Nunez and Jack Clarke were denied late on.
“You play the game over, on the balance, we should get something from the game,” McKenna stated.
“That’s not football. Football is a goalscoring sport and goals change games. You make mistakes, or they take their moments and you don’t take their moments, then the game is never dead and that was the case tonight.
“It was a frustrating one for us, but I think we’ve been really clinical in our last few away games, getting the first goal. We weren’t tonight and it cost us.
“I don’t think there’s any lack of effort or intent. Even after the couple of blows, we were creating a couple of big chances to get back in the game.
“We’ll dust ourselves down and get ready for Tuesday.”
Midfielder Jens Cajuste wasn’t in Ipswich’s squad after injuring his ankle in Tuesday’s 2-1 win against Hull City, with fears that he could face a spell on the sidelines.
“He’s rocked his ankle,” McKenna revealed. “It’s not big ligament damage, but he was nowhere it for tonight. We’ll have to assess him day-by-day at the moment.”
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