adminLeicester City 3-1 Ipswich Town: Kieran McKenna’s verdict
Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna says ‘two incredible goals’ set the tone for his side’s 3-1 defeat at Leicester City this afternoon.
Bobby De Cordova-Reid broke the deadlock in the eighth minute with a swerving 30-yard strike before Abdul Fatawu lobbed Christian Walton from inside his own half just before the break.
Jordan Ayew made it 3-0 soon after the restart (52), with Jens Cajuste’s goal back (71) proving a mere consolation for the Blues.
“I thought it wasn’t a great performance, certainly,” said McKenna, when asked for his verdict.
“I think the goals were the decisive thing in the game really. A strike like that from 30 yards, seven minutes into a game away from home against a good team, means it’s always going to be tough.
“They had a small bit of momentum after that, but we kind of got ourselves back into it, were growing into the game and had a really good chance to go 1-1 (Jack Clarke firing straight at the keeper from 12 yards).
“They had a couple of moments from set plays, but nothing really in open play, so there was nothing really in the game. And then they scored an incredible goal right on half-time. Again, we’ve not done loads wrong in the situation. It’s just an incredible bit of individual brilliance that you have to give credit for.
“So yeah, not to shorten the story, but they were the decisive moments of the game. Leicester at home, with the confidence of two incredible goals like that, are a really good side.
“At half-time, you know it’s going to be tough, but you still know you can get back into the game. So we’re disappointed with the third goal, definitely more than the other two. I think we’re expecting it to be a free kick and then we switch off in the box. And from there it’s really, really tough.
“We got our goal back out of not very much, to be honest. Then we have a couple of chances to go 3-2. If you score one of them then maybe you can get something out of the game.
“But it was a game of moments, not many moments went our way and they’ve grabbed a couple of incredible moments.”
This was Town’s final match of seven in the space of 22 days and dampens a week that started with home wins against Coventry and Stoke. A fifth defeat of the season leaves the Blues fifth in the Championship table.
“Our response to going behind is something we can still work on as a group and find a little bit more,” said McKenna.
“It’s been a really busy run, with ups and downs in there. Today’s a disappointment off a couple of good ones, but the big thing now is just how we regroup, to be honest.
“With no midweek next week we have the chance to do some training and recover for a home game (against Sheffield Wednesday next Saturday).”
Town still haven’t won three games in a row since the back end of their Championship promotion season of 23/24. Asked of he felt this group was ready to put the sort of winning run together that’s going to be required to close an eight-point gap on second-place Middlesbrough, McKenna replied: “I think we can only take it one game at a time. You can’t get too ahead of yourself about a run. We’ve lost today and we’ve got to try and win the next game. If we do that, we’ve then got to try and win the next game after that.
“Of course, when the games come really, really quick, it’s harder. If anyone wins their four games in nine days over Christmas, or whatever it is, then it’ll be an incredible achievement. But that’s what we’re going to try and do.”
Meanwhile, the Blues boss confirmed that Sindre Walle Egeli missed today’s game after being sick yesterday.
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