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McKenna: We Did More Than Enough to Win the Game
Saturday, 30th Jul 2022 18:31

Town boss Kieran McKenna felt the Blues did more than enough to win their opening day 1-1 home draw with Bolton Wanderers.

Lee Evans equalised Aaron Morley’s penalty and Town had enough chances to win it in the second half with Sam Morsy missing the best of them as the game moved into injury time.

“I thought we did more than enough to win the game, especially in the second half but even in the final stages of the first,” McKenna said.

“It was quite an edgy first 20 minutes, which can happen, it’s understandable no matter how much you talk about it, there are still human emotions playing in front of a crowd that size and with the build-up to the game.

“I thought it was an edgy first 20 minutes, nothing really in the game, really bitty, not many balls in play.

“And obviously we got a really early blow with the penalty out of nothing that to my eye was a little bit soft, but came from nothing.

“I think the most pleasing thing from that was the response of the players and the response from the crowd.

“I thought everyone stayed really positive, it would have been easy to drop their heads at that point and for the crowd to get disappointed but everyone stayed together, I thought the response was really good.

“A well-worked goal for our goal and we started to find a rhythm at the end of the first half.

“And in the second half once the ball was able to stay in play for a little bit longer once we were able to get a little bit of flow to the game.

“I thought our football and our physicality really took over and we had more than enough chances to win a game at this level and it just wasn’t to be on the day, but I’m sure we’ll keep improving from here.”

When your side misses that many chances, does it send you back into the transfer market to find another striker? “No, it’s not just about the striker. I think the big chance was for Sam [Morsy], who plays in midfield.

“Tyreece [John-Jules] came on as a left-sided 10 and had big chances, I thought our strikers both put in really good performances.

“I thought Freddie [Ladapo] had a great battle with [Ricardo] Santos, I really enjoyed it, it gave us a really good platform in that second half to play off him and get the movement playing off him, so he was pivotal in that.

“And I thought Kayden [Jackson] came on and was a massive threat and could easily have had an assist or a goal for himself.

“I thought the strikers did well, it’s not just about the strikers, it’s about the whole team and we had enough chances throughout the game to win the game but I think we’ll get sharper in those positions as the weeks go on now and we keep building our fitness.”


McKenna was asked whether Morsy would have sleepless nights over his miss: “He’s pretty tough so I don’t think he’ll lose too much sleep over it. I thought his performance was fantastic, I have to say. Every pre-season game against Premier League teams I thought he was one of the most dominant players on the pitch.

“And again today, I thought there were a lot of good players on the pitch, I thought we had some really good performances, but the level that we’re operating at the moment is extremely high and he was very dominant in a high level game.

“He’s just got to keep pushing and pushing now as I know he will do and in terms of his goalscoring, if he gets in those positions, as he keeps doing at the moment, he’s going to get goals across the season.”

Town used four of the five subs they’re now permitted to, which benefitted them in the second half.

“It gives you that little bit of confidence to make them earlier because you’re not so worried about picking up an injury, so that helped,” the Northern Irishman said regarding the change in the rules.

“I thought the players on the pitch who started the game had already got control, but that can give that little bit of impetus and I thought the subs came on and gave us a good platform.

“But to be fair, Bolton have a very good squad as well. They brought on two, three very good forwards and midfield players, so I thought their intensity maintained so they weren’t easy to break down because they were bringing on fresh legs and it kept a little bit of a counter threat for them.

“I thought it was good in keeping the level and the intensity of the game high, which is one of the reasons I think it’s a good idea.”

John-Jules and left wing-back Greg Leigh came on in the 58th minute and both made a strong impression.

“We thought about doing that substitution as a pair, it was planned for them to come on and get their link-up going together,” McKenna said.

“Two really good options for us and Tyreece is getting stronger and stronger every week. I think everyone is starting to see the potential that we saw in him and if he can stay fit and keep get stronger, he could be a massive player for us this year. And Greg is settling in well and getting more and more used to what it’s like here.

“We have good options down there, I thought Leif [Davis] and Marcus [Harness] had real good energy, the start of the game was obviously very bitty, so it wasn’t so easy to shine but I thought they both ran well, brought a good physicality and set the game up well for the other two boys to come on with fresh legs and really give us that added impetus.”

Davis got the nod over Leigh at left wing-back despite having only joined the club on Monday and McKenna says he has tough choices to make all over the pitch.

“We have lots of difficult decisions in the squad, it’s what we want really, difficult decisions in every position almost and difficult to decide who wouldn’t make it onto the bench,” he continued.

“But I was pretty clear on that one in my head. Leif’s a player that we really like, I think he’s going to have a big future in the game if we can do the right things with him, if he can do the right things himself and we wanted to throw him straight in.

“He’s going to be an important player for us and we wanted to throw him straight in at the deep end and we knew it would probably only be 45 or 60 minutes but get him up and running rather than wait a few weeks, knowing that Greg was going to be more than capable and ready to come on and make an impact.”

McKenna was delighted with the way the 26,668 crowd, the biggest on the opening day since 2002, stayed behind his team after the setback with the penalty.

“Fantastic. The FanZone coming into the stadium was a sight to behold as well. Great to have that support, everyone appreciated it so much,” he said.

“The best thing about the crowd for me today was the reaction to conceding the goal. It would be very, very easy and perfectly understandable to have such a build-up to a game and such positivity and then to concede a goal after 20 minutes when we haven’t really started the game yet, to have a goal as easy as that against you, it would have been very easy to have negativity in the stadium.

“In those instances, playing in front of 27,000 can go either way. It can be a big backing for you or it can be a big burden for you and the way that the crowd stayed positive straight away encouraged the next attacks, they stayed right behind the players.

“I thought that was massive for us as a football club because we’re going to need that on the pitch but we’re going to need that in the stands and I thought they certainly did more than their part today.

“And the players did everything that they could in the second half to force home a win for them, we just weren’t able to get the ball in the back of the net, not through the want of the right ideas or trying.

“I think it was a good day for the club, for the unity between the team and the club and the supporters and it’s up to us to build on that now.

“We know we have the backing, we know that we have their encouragement and their support and it’s up to us to deliver more performances like the second half and if we do that we’ll give them the wins that they crave.”

He added: “It’s one of 46 games, so, to be honest, whether we’d have won today, ended up with a draw that probably should have been a win or we’d lost today, I’d probably been saying the same things - three points next week against Forest Green next week is massive.

“And the way we do that is by having an outstanding training week, doing all the right things Monday to Friday, going there with the correct mentality and knowing that it’s going to be a really tough game.

“Knowing that with them having their first home game and first game in the division, it’s going to be a game with a big atmosphere and the pivotal thing, whatever way today had gone, is how we approach that game next week and how we go there and put in the right performance to give ourselves a chance to get a result.

“A draw’s a draw, could have been a win, probably should have been a win, but I think we’ll take the positives from it, from everything involved in the day and we’ll move on to next week.”

Bolton manager Ian Evatt felt the Blues' goal changed the impetus of the game.

“We were in complete control first half. I think we started the game really well. Our press was excellent, it was intense, they struggled to find solutions, they couldn’t get out and we completely dominated,” he said.

“The set play wobbled us and changed momentum, as it will when there’s 30,000 fans shouting and screaming for their team.

“We got to half-time and managed the game particularly well and then second half we just lacked a bit of quality in possession which is not like us.

“We had the resilience and we had the fight and we had the energy and the work ethic, we just lacked that in possession edge and quality and that’s something we’ll work on

“But we have to give huge credit to the opposition as well. They’re a really good team who are very well coached and ask you lots of questions.”


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ArnieM added 22:03 - Jul 30
Thing is , it's what we do against these teams likely to be pushing for that top 6. We really do need to run at least our home games against them. Bolton came here for a point , and achieved their aim! It's winning that top half mini league that will determine if we go up I think .
1

Vancouver_Blue added 22:11 - Jul 30
Would James Norwood have come on and grabbed a late goal?
1

ipswichboi added 22:12 - Jul 30
Played them off the park Second half. Nothing to worry about. Ladapo looked handy to me, like piggott on roids. Subs all impressed. Won't get many better teams down here, the league is ours
4

Europablue added 22:15 - Jul 30
grow_our_own It's possible for a penalty to be a clear penalty but also incredibly soft. A penalty is just a foul in the area, it was a foul, but it was a poor one to give away and also the ref could have also not given it.
1

Europablue added 22:16 - Jul 30
There's nothing quite as annoying to hear than "we did more than enough to win it". Quite clearly you didn't do enough to win it because you didn't score more than the opposition. Take it on the chin and move on! A draw against Bolton is not a disaster even if we should have won. Move on and win the next one!
4

SussexTractor added 22:17 - Jul 30
Morsy great thanks player but needs to work on his finishing. Play 2 strikers up front.
-2

BurleysGloryDays added 22:23 - Jul 30
Second half was brilliant, we smashed them to pieces. Obviously frustrating not to score and win, but all in that's such a positive start to the season! If we play like that every week, and yes, if we have a lethal goal scorer in the team, then we'll be cruising.

Map good watching a Town team absolutely smash the oppo, not seen that in years and years.

It was more than possession, it was everything - just not the goal.

We'll played Town, onwards to next week.

Cheers up moody fans, today was brilliant! If TJJ had scored we'd be buzzing.

And KMK is right. We did more than enough to win the game. Stop moaning and get behind them all. Dreary lot!
6

Europablue added 22:27 - Jul 30
In hindsight Davis wasn't ready to start today, but it was worth a shot and I would have chosen him to start too. It wasn't really our day today, but equally wasn't a disaster.
2

yorkieblue62 added 22:50 - Jul 30
Last season we lost 5-2 at home to Bolton so thats a big improvement for a start. If you dominate possession & create more chances, as we did in the second half then the manager's entitled to claim that we did more than enough to win, even if we didn't. Finally with such a strong squad KMK won't know his best team until we have played a few matches & he has tinkered with a few positions. Stay positive
3

Juggsy added 23:37 - Jul 30
More than enough to win sounds awfully like a lot of the draws we had last season so I can see why there is some pessimism amongst us.

Fingers crossed it'll keep improving.
4

terryf added 23:56 - Jul 30
McKenna gets most things right but today he should have started with Greg Leigh. He'd had a good pre season and looked sharp whereas Leif Davis arrived this week after flying back from Oz and looked off the pace to me. He'll get better though. Trouble was once again today until the substitutions we looked unbalanced. Once TJJ and Leigh came on we looked a threat on both flanks. Apart from the first 20 minutes we looked OK and progressively took control of the game and really should have won it.
5

shakytown added 00:07 - Jul 31
How many times in the past few seasons have we heard the same old story. Did more than enough. Sorry we clearly once again did'nt.
4

Bert added 00:45 - Jul 31
Not a very representative bunch of supporters on here . I think most people left the game thinking we hammered them second half, fluffed good chances but overall we showed enough to think we have the quality to be promoted. Cheer up for goodness sake. The positives far outweighed any negatives in what was the opening game.
8

Dissboyitfc added 06:34 - Jul 31
terryf..... spot on!

Another thing i didn't agree with, Ladapo didn't look good and i didnt enjoy seeing the Bolton defender put him in his pocket and keep him there!

Lots to be positive about though!

Is it just me, or was anybody else disappointed with the new screen? Too small!
0

Flamencaman added 07:38 - Jul 31
Watched the game from afar,edgy first half hour David got himself into the wrong side, and it was a soft pen,both our c/bs had a dozy moment or 2, the subs down the left were brilliant Bolton I thought were heroic throwing themselves about and Santos probably mom, I bet they were exhausted when it finished,won't belong before some team catches a real hiding from us
1

grinch added 08:02 - Jul 31
Encouraging especially second half started wrong team today on left hand side when subs came on such a difference. Concern is same as last season really we only play 45 mins of good football we need 90 mins and we can't finish today we had numerous opportunities to shoot on 18 yd box but didn't that has to be confidence item great to see a set piece off trg ground work with a goal. Apart from his goal thought Evan's was poor today he is 2 yds off the pace and does not think attack enough his set plays are appalling for a professional player lets take the positives of game as we destroyed a strong Bolton team in second half think today also showed we need that proven goal scorer
1

norfolkbluey added 08:58 - Jul 31
I sincerely hope this lack of goals scored is not McK Achillies heel. With the amount of fire power in the side I find it incredible that we continue as we did last year. It's a worry but it is the first match, so it has to be down to the coaches now, so COYB expectations are high, and we are behind you all willing you on to do well. This is our year!
2

Skip73 added 09:59 - Jul 31
I didnt realise that the Transfer window had already shut. So many saying 'we should've signed a striker but didnt'
2

Bazza8564 added 10:15 - Jul 31
Look back at the league at Xmas and see Bolton challenging and then people will realise this was no disaster.
I cant believe the 2 strikers comments, the whole system is built around one with two off him and wing backs offering so much more.
It really is depressing reading such ignorant negativity after one game, a game we ended up dominating against a very decent L1 side who will challenge this season.
1 game from 46 and people are talking about "same old Ipswich".
Absolute b*****ks.
We play like that every week we've every chance of automatic promotion. If people think we were off it yesterday perhaps Guardiola should be sacked for losing the shield.
2

Nomore4 added 11:38 - Jul 31
If Bolton are one of the best teams in L1 then promotion is a certain for ITFC….or should be.
2

blues1 added 13:53 - Jul 31
Tabs. It wasn't a penalty. Davis made no contact with the player. Unfortunately he wentcto ground which gave the referee a decision to make and the referee fell for it. As for tohsd going on about anew striker. He's, we need another 1 but whoever wed had there yesterday wouldn't have scored. There were no clear cut chances for the strikers, so they didn't miss chances did they? The only big chance we had to score, and should have scored was Morsys chance near the end. Let's not start slagging off the strikers after one game. But thats some of our fans all over unfortunately.
-2

19781981twtd added 16:56 - Jul 31
Disappointed with result seemed a little like last season pretty football no end result.
Walton best keeper in this league.
Burns for Sussex from last season and was pushed back.
Davis did not look ready.
Woolfies was far to played back and hot caught a couple of times.
Burgess looked solid.
Donation best centre back covered woolfie backside more than once.
Mersey just a giant itfc legend in the making. Evens ok good goal. Chaplin looked off the pace.
Harness looked lost at times.
Ladapo looked no better than anyone wr had last season.
The four subs were all a different class and we looked far more threatening.
There are some positives but personally still think we need a fox in the box finisher who will notch 20 goals a season.
We will have easier games this season,it is the tougher games that will ask the questions.
Thanks god for super Sam Morsey !!!

1

Nomore4 added 20:26 - Jul 31
Burgess didn't play
0

Razor added 10:31 - Aug 1
It is not rocket science and after only one game it is plainly obvioue--we need a top quality striker and we need one quick-----simple as that so getr it sorted lads!!
1

blueboy1981 added 18:44 - Aug 1
Sorry, but we didn't - Goals win Games, and for the umpteenth time we didn't score enough to WIN.
How many times do we have to hear ‘we deserved to win' - but actually didn't, for the same old reason.
Unless we get another Striker in, we won't either.
Injury to Ladapo - and what have we got ???
Mark me down as much as you want, but that will not change the TRUTH.
Much euphoria at Portman - but much to prove….. !!!
Nice talk will not reep Goals, that WIN Games - never has, never will !!
0


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