Blues boss Kieran McKenna felt Town’s 2-1 defeat at Oxford United should have been abandoned in the second half due to thick fog which made it hard for the players to see the ball, revealing he and his U’s counterpart Karl Robinson were in agreement but that referee Bobby Madden erroneously told them that the result at that point would have stood had that been the case.

Cameron Brannagan’s 83rd minute goal won it for the home side in a second half during which the fog became very thick in spells.

Quizzed on his side falling to their fourth League One defeat this season, McKenna said: “We’re obviously disappointed and angry about how the day panned out. There’s not much we can say that’s going to change it.

“We’re very disappointed to have lost the game. There were so many factors in it in terms of conditions and chances and things that didn’t go our way, but at the end of the day we didn’t do enough to get it over the line because we missed the chances that we had and they’ve scored a 25-yard bouncing volley to win the game with maybe one of their only shots on target in the game.”

McKenna is rarely a boss to express anger but the Northern Irishman says there are times when it’s the right reaction.

“I think it’s right to be angry at times, we have to be frustrated,” he said. “The players are trying very hard, everyone’s working well, we’re doing a lot of good things as a team but it’s right to be angry sometimes when you’ve dropped points you don’t want to drop and you’re on a run of results you’re not happy with.

“It’s about the reaction, how we use that going into Tuesday night now, big game, no doubt about it, and we need to use the anger and the disappointment from losing today to give us the energy we’re going to need for Tuesday night.”

Asked whether the defeat today adds to the pressure on Tuesday’s game against 21st-placed Morecambe, he added: “I think pressure is what you make of it. There are still 19 games to go but we put pressure on ourselves every game to perform, to pick up results and when we don’t we’re not happy. We put pressure on ourselves every game to try and get a winner.”

Regarding the two Oxford goals, McKenna admitted he was disappointed by the manner in which they were conceded.

“Definitely,” he reflected. “The first goal, we weren’t strong enough and it’s too easy, it’s a ball hoiked into the sky and the striker gets through too easily to score.

“The end of the game, it wasn’t right, in my opinion. We couldn’t see the ball, I couldn’t see the ball from the sideline, the players were saying they couldn’t see the ball on the pitch.

“Conor [Chaplin] had a fantastic chance from five yards out but he said he couldn’t see the ball and at that stage the game was a little bit ridiculous in my opinion and Oxford were being clever in a way and just putting it in our box because it was very hard to see. Just putting it in the box at every stoppage.

“The ball keeps coming in and things can happen and, of course, it’s a great strike, a wonder goal but we need to do better in the situation but also I thought the situation wasn’t right really.”

Quizzed on how close the match was to being abandoned with referee Madden speaking to the managers in the 51st minute and then again on 74.

“I think me and Karl were both pretty similar on it, we both were expressing concerns at the start of the second half,” he said. “We weren’t able to see the ball from the sidelines.

“When the referee came over the first time, he said that the massage from the players on the pitch was that it was OK at the start of the second half they wanted to continue.

“I thought it got much worse as the half went on. That’s why we called the referee over on 74 minutes to discuss it because at that point myself and Karl were both happy to play the game another day because it was going to be a lottery playing it in those last 20 minutes.

“At that stage, we and I think the captains on the pitch were prepared for an abandonment but the referee said that if it got abandoned after the 75th minute, even though it got stopped on the 74th minute, if it got abandoned after the 75th, the result would stand.

“As a group, we want to win, so we in those conditions tried to go for the last 15 minutes and see if we could get the win.

“It’s not easy, it’s not an easy circumstance. I guess the only thing I think should have been done, there should have been a consultation on 70 minutes if the call had to be made finally by 75 irrespective when the ball went out of play.

“If the decision needed to be made by 75, there should have been a consultation on 70 because by that point both myself and Karl were saying it was getting to a point where we couldn’t see the ball and it felt like players on the pitch were making mistakes in terms of the flight of the ball as well.”

However, we understand that the position in the EFL is not as the referee outlined and the match could have been abandoned and replayed rather than the result standing.

Reflecting further on the chances his side missed, two decent opportunities in each half, McKenna felt his team ought to have been in a position where Oxford’s second goal shouldn’t have mattered.

“There’s no doubt about it,” he said. “When it’s 80-plus minutes and no one can see the ball and it’s coming into your box, things can happen, so the best thing in that situation is that we’re two or three-one up and that’s what we should have been in reality at that point.

“Of course, that’s been the case in other games. We’re working on it, the players are trying hard, we’re getting into good positions and creating good chances and I think when you’re doing that, you have to keep believing that there are goals in the team and we’ll be more clinical in the future.”

Did keeper Christian Walton see Brannagan’s shot? “I’ve not spoken to him about it. The only one I’ve spoken to in the dressing room is Conor and he’s adamant on the big chance that he has, the free header inside the six-yard box, that he couldn’t see the ball all the way across and he was just guessing where it would go to. I haven’t spoken to Christian about whether he could see the shot or not.

“In my opinion the game shouldn’t have gone ahead once it got deep into the second half and we tried to address that with the referee. I think at least there should have been a consultation before it got to the cut-off point and come back and play the game in proper conditions and have a fair game to see who wins.

“But at the same time, it was the same for both teams and they managed to get the goal in those conditions and we didn’t.”

Reflecting on Town having won just one of their six league matches and asked whether he has any concerns about the current form, McKenna said: “When you have a run of draws and draws where we feel at least some of them should have been wins and things having gone our way in those games, it’s really important that you want to come out of that run of draws with a win, and we haven’t done that.

“It can very quickly go from however many games unbeaten if we’d have won today and in a decent place to then when you lose your first game in a while after a run of draws, then it ends up a not good run of results that we’re not happy with.

“We don’t have momentum at the moment, there’s a lot of time to play in the season but we need to fight to get it back and we want to get it back quickly.

“All we can do is stick together, fight really hard, get ready for the next game. I’m really happy the next game is on Tuesday night, to be honest, because I think the feeling at the moment is that we just want to get back out there on Tuesday and fight for three points.

“We have to win the next game as soon as we can and take it game by game and try and build some momentum back up again.

“In terms of our general performances, we’re not far away. It was a really tough game, there’s no doubt about that, Oxford played completely differently from any Oxford seen before in the league and it made it very challenging, the conditions were challenging and all these things.

“But, having said all that, we still created more than enough to win the game and we didn’t give away that much.

“We know that performances-wise we’re not that far away but we also know that we’re coming on the wrong side of the margins too often and that’s something that we’re not happy about.”

Striker George Hirst was handed his first start and McKenna was pleased with the on-loan Leicester man’s display.

“I thought his performance was good all round,” he said. “He showed what he can bring to the team.”

McKenna gave Harry Clarke his debut from the bench in the second half and is pleased to have signed the 21-year-old from Arsenal.

“Really happy to have him in,” he said. “I think he’s a really good prospect. He’s someone who can help us now, he’s an investment for the club for the future and we’re looking forward to getting him on the pitch and he’s looking forward to getting out there and helping the team.”

Oxford manager Robinson agreed that the game should have been abandoned.

“I think they were quite keen for it to be called and if I’m being totally honest, it probably should’ve been called,” told the Oxford Mail

“A fan behind me said ‘take the point and go home’ and we probably would’ve at certain stages.

“From my point of view, it was almost the wrong decision but it ended up being the right decision because we won.”

Regarding his tactical switch to 3-5-2 and a change of approach, he added: “Tactically we had to give a little bit up of what we perceive what our normal football is, with some unique changes and subtle differences,” Robinson said.

“The players’ attention to detail out of possession was one of the best I’ve seen all season. They’re a very good team and you can never underestimate how good Ipswich are.

“I don’t get too carried away with results and I won’t get carried away with this, we’re still disappointed with where we are in the league. I felt that large parts of the game, we looked a very good side.”

Photo: TWTD

OldClactonBlue added 19:28 - Jan 21 Whilst I concur that our players need to be much better than they have been recently I can't believe many people saying it was the same for both sides were at the game. I was and I hardly saw anything in the second half, it was totally ridiculous. How anyone could think the game should have continued is beyond me. Perhaps we should post some pictures from the stand, I would challenge people to say how many players were in the picture let alone who they were. And as for the ball!

5

Bert added 19:31 - Jan 21 Every fan in the country knows that if a match in these circumstances cannot be continued it is played again. Why did this so called experienced referee not know that ?The answer is because this is League One.
5

Michael101 added 19:37 - Jan 21 Texaco cup. The game can be shortened but it must be 2 equal Half's😈👿
1

LegendofthePhoenix added 19:40 - Jan 21 A year in, and the Kieran McKenna honeymoon is over - now he has to stand up and face the music when it doesn't go well. Yes it was a lottery in those conditions, but it was obvious we couldn't play our normal game - long diagonal balls were impossible because you couldn't see more than 30 yds. It ended up being played at close quarters, scrapping for the ball, which suited Oxford. Kieran should have pushed for it to be abandoned. He also should have adapted and just tried pumping balls into their box. The ref and lino were utterly dreadful yet again, but we know we have to overcome them, and with the squad we have we should be able to. Kieran needs more than 1 game plan.

3

PSGBlue added 19:43 - Jan 21 It wouldn't have been unreasonable to abandon the game, but only if it was to be played again. A point was no good to us anyway. Perhaps it should be pointed out, that none of the numerous late goals which have gone against us have had nothing to do with the weather. I still have faith in Kieren, he still has credit in the bank. But having gone four without a win, is it time to wheel a player out on Monday to apologise to the fans? Probably starting with the captain!

0

brittaniaman added 19:48 - Jan 21 Not looking forward to next Saturday when we entertain Burnley, hate to think what they will do to us after watching highlights of them in the championship
1

HopefulBlue69 added 20:00 - Jan 21 @Brittainiaman, let's hope that not what KmK has been focusing on the last few games... Doesn't look like he's been working out how to beat the teams around us in L1..
1

churchmans added 20:05 - Jan 21 Just come off of insta and KM getting hammered bad
0

Westy added 20:08 - Jan 21 Is this an excuse? It was the same for both sides
0

cressi added 20:11 - Jan 21 Fed up of shi*e excuses I want results clean sheets and promotion end off
4

Bazza8564 added 20:18 - Jan 21 Just calm down everyone and think a bit more calmly. KM is excellent but he is leaning as he goes and hes is raw. Its clear we need to make some changes and im sure we will, there are attitudes and tactical things we need to fix and we were poor today but as ever, we are over reacting as much as he is being patient. Tuesday is huge, we need to reset and get sorted again, and stick together. This isnt Cook or Lambert, churning it out for cash, this is a 36 year old guy who is potentially the very best of his generation, doing his best and learning as he goes. He deserves a bit more from us that aiming it at him.

7

BlueParadigm added 20:33 - Jan 21 McKenna says he wanted game called off at half time. Why didn't McKenna know the rule that when you reach 75 mins and call game off the score at that point stands as the result? He should have asked for abandonment at 70 mins but having waited too long to approach Ref didn't want to settle for a point. 🤬
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Bluespeed added 21:03 - Jan 21 “Oxford were being clever, in a way, just putting it in our box, because it was very hard to see. Things can happen in that situation” Could we have been clever Kieron ?
5

bluesince76 added 21:07 - Jan 21 Mc Kenna needs to deliver automatic promotion this year there's no excuses has been given the backing.
4

Phil1969 added 21:14 - Jan 21 Frankly it makes me embarrassed to be a fellow Ipswich supporter not the game but the comments on this and match report above ffs. There is ages to go we have an owner spending money a quality manger and squad. It's a blip all will come good. Bring back Marcus and Mick I'm half expecting to see in comments. Nothing is ever guaranteed in football apart from retard comments!

3

Stato added 21:21 - Jan 21 It's been embarrassing to read the comments of many if the posters on here who have been too quick to crown KM the greatest Ipswich manager only behind Bobby and Alf. And now it's all falling apart they are too entrenched in their own inflated opinions to do anything other than slam any criticism of their man. We saw it with McCarthy, with Lambert, with Cook and even with Hurst 😂😂😂 and here we go again. If KM is so good he will get us promoted and let's all hope he does.

4

Umros added 21:23 - Jan 21 Some silly comments, I doubt half were at the game. I have just got back. The game should have been abandoned on the first questioning by the ref. I can honestly say I didn't even see the Oxford winning goal, to stand in the stadium and not be able to see it or the stand opposite is a farce. It would have done us a favour as we were poor.
3

JewellintheTown added 21:23 - Jan 21 KM blames the fog for our loss. Personally I couldn't see what was wrong.
0

brendenward35 added 21:26 - Jan 21 Mckenna is learning we all knew that when he started. 4 new additions won't create miracles overnight takes time. No one can argue the football is better we just need to be stronger see games out players and McKenna need to learn it and quick. I suppose most would have wanted Mick back and watching his boring football. Let's calm down every team hit the buffers at some point our turn is now.

3

Bert added 22:49 - Jan 21 It is totally irrelevant to say it was the same for both teams in order to slam the team and the manager. If the playing conditions are such that a game should be abandoned then that is what should happen. The EFL have got some thinking to do but no doubt will hide behind the fact that the referee in charge made the decision to continue but only after giving both managers a flawed interpretation of the rules. One for judicial review ……. even if we were poor !

1

ipswichboi added 23:14 - Jan 21 Wasn't watching but heard conditions were bad. I was 100% behind calling it off at 1-1 as knew exactly what was going to happen
1

Tractor_Boy_in_HK added 09:56 - Jan 22 Playing pretty football is great and pleasant to watch. But sometimes playing Mick McCarthy football wins matches. When there's thick fog and a slick surface trying to play pretty football is a fantastic way to lose a match.
2

AlanG296 added 10:12 - Jan 22 According to the song McKenna knows what we need but maybe at times he hasn't got the foggiest.
0

The_Prof added 11:07 - Jan 22 I love to watch passing football, but I do think that the vast majority of those passes should be forwards and played quickly; that's how teams are opened up. And playing long from defence isn't necessarily 'Hoofball'. Look at the famous Marcus Stewart winner at Anfield. Superb long ball from Venus (who had looked up!!) to Stewart, slick 1-2 and then a skilled striker is loose in the opposing penalty area, not facing two banks of 4-5 defenders all formed up an ready. Playing long is just as good to watch when done properly as 'tippy-tappy'. It could be 'Plan B'...

2

yorkieblue62 added 17:04 - Jan 22 Agree with some of comments about McK. He needs to quickly assimilate the new players into the team/squad & decide on his best team/18 players without too much rotation. He is a young manager, still learning but modern football is a harsh environment where fans & owners have little patience. Still think we will get near 90 points though unless either Plymouth or Sheff Wed falter, this may not be enough for auto so we will need another famous play off win, probably against Barnsley!!

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