Town boss Kieran McKenna was proud of his side’s performance, character and quality as they came from 2-0 down to beat Premier League Wolves 3-2 at Portman Road to reach the last 16 of the Carabao Cup for the first time in 13 years.

Jack Taylor walloped home a brilliant 25-yard winner after Omari Hutchinson and Freddie Ladapo had levelled two early Wolves goals.

“A great game,” McKenna said. “So much to be proud of in the performance and in the character and the quality that we showed in the game really.

“A difficult start to the game. I don’t think we started particularly badly, but the first mistake we made, the first time they had an attack, we made a little mistake and we got punished, and that’s the quality of the opponent. It can happen.

“And then a really good set piece from them and one area that you can suffer a little bit from when you make a lot of changes is your set pieces and we got punished on a set play and we found ourselves in a difficult position - 2-0 down to Premier League opposition with a really high level of player.

“It really tested us again as a group, tested our bravery to keep playing, to stay brave with the ball, to keep trying to play through the opposition.

“Tested our bravery off the ball having conceded two goals to keep jumping and trying to press high up the pitch, defend big spaces, defend one-v-ones.

“A great show of character from the group because we’ve been through similar situations with the players who have been playing more in the league, but tonight for other players to come in the team not having that match rhythm and that confidence of having been through all those experiences on the pitch, for them to show those same attributes, that’s a great reflection on their group.”

Town showed that they are capable of going toe-to-toe with top level opposition when they took Premier League-bound Burnley to a replay in the FA Cup last season.

“It’s a reflection of the work that goes on day-to-day by a lot of people,” McKenna said. “The intensity that the players put into training every day enables you to play at the intensity that we played at tonight.

“But from a tactical point of view, we try and work in a really consistent manner and all the players in the squad get the same level of care and attention and coaching and it allows them all to stay on the same journey and make the same improvements, showing that the players can stay ready and also improve from the work that they’re doing.

“That’s a great sign and I think it’s really important for us. We spoke about the Burnley game today because nights like tonight, we wanted to win, you might lose, but they can be really important signposts in the development of the team.

“And the Burnley game last year, probably externally people don’t remember it that much, but for us it was a big, big confidence boost for the squad and how we were working.

“And that was the goal going into tonight, that whatever happened, whatever the scoreline would be, we would stay really brave to our identity and test that against really high level opposition.

“When you do that that and you show that you’ve got that running through your whole squad, that’s a really good marker for the development of a group and of the club.”

Regarding Taylor’s superb winner, he added: “What a goal. He’s got some strike, he really has, you just want him to be the one that that ball falls to.

“But it was a well-worked goal, we worked it through the pitch well and once you get Jack anywhere within 25-30 yards of the game on his right foot, you know he’s got a great chance to test the keeper.

“I thought his all-round game was excellent, I thought he and Lee [Evans] were excellent in the middle of the pitch, probably the best they’ve been this season.

“They’ve done well in the other games but that was a really top performance from the two of them and for Jack to top off with a game, for Lee to captain the side against the team he was telling me released him, means it’s a really proud night for him as well, and a great night for the two of them in there.”

Forward Marcus Harness picked up a hat-trick of assists having previously played a part in the fourth goal on Saturday.

“I didn’t 100 per cent clock that until somebody told me afterwards,” McKenna said regarding the former Pompey man’s three assists.

“I thought he was typical of the team’s performance really. I thought he really showed bravery and character to grow into it.

“It wasn’t an easy start and there were a few little bits tactically going on off the ball that he was getting to grips with, but he really kept at it and stuck at it and grew into the game.

“A wonderful assist for Omari’s goal for the first one and his performance really grew from there and he was really strong until the minute he came off.

“A good night for him, another player, like everyone tonight, who has been working hard behind the scenes and waiting for opportunities to impress and, like so many tonight, he did that.”

Town will be in tomorrow’s draw when they could be drawn against one of nine other top flight sides who could be among the 16 clubs in the hat.

Asked what his side could achieve in the competition, McKenna said: “Let’s see. It’s game-by-game, let’s see what the draw brings. There are some massive teams and clubs in there, so we certainly can’t get carried away with ourselves.

“There are things to improve from tonight’s performance, but as much as realistically possible, we’re going to try and stay aggressive and brave with our identity whoever we face.

“Don’t hold me to that if we pull the blue side of Manchester out of the draw, but we want to have these big challenges and these big tests and challenge ourselves, so let’s see what the draw brings.”

Reflecting further on another memorable Portman Road night, McKenna said: “We need to enjoy the moments as they come. We need to enjoy tonight just for tonight.

“It’s the first time there’s been a Premier League team here in quite a few years, the first time we’ve beaten a Premier League team since when? 2011? Arsenal? That’s much better than this, so we’ve got a bit to go!

“So, 12 years since we beat a Premier League team. A good night, progress and regrowth for this football club again.

“But it’s a cup game, in the big picture of our season, the result tonight doesn’t win us anything and it doesn’t mean huge, huge amounts for the outcome of the season, but it is a really significant marker point for the development of the squad.

“We’ll take it as that, we’ll enjoy it as a sign of progression, we’ll certainly enjoy it, and the players are enjoying it down in the dressing room for the experience and the memories of that result.

“But I think the bigger picture is that we just need to keep working day-by-day, there’s lots to improve, lots to improve from tonight. I think we can still improve this group of players and this team a lot, so from tomorrow it will be focus on Huddersfield, on the next really tough game and trying to keep pushing the players forward.”

Photo: TWTD

ArnieM added 23:26 - Sep 26 Well, there it is again. In Kieran we trust!
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Broadbent23 added 23:33 - Sep 26 Magic KM and staff does us proud. A+ tonight. How many prem teams have lost a 2 goal lead to a lower league side. A very pleased fan.
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Richardspain added 03:57 - Sep 27 I used to have a dream that I was on the bench and I was called on late in the match and scored the winner. Now I just dream I stay on the bench. Happy days.
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BurleysGloryDays added 05:36 - Sep 27 Legend.
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_clive_baker_ added 06:18 - Sep 27 What a guy, how lucky we are to have McKenna in charge. Drink it it ladies & gentleman. He’s always so measured, never too high or too low. Strikes a lovely balance between celebrating successes when they come but you don’t ever get the impression he’ll let his squad get ahead of themselves or believe the hype. Hearing he thinks there’s still loads more headroom to improve is exciting when you consider how much better we are already vs 18 months ago. McKenna says last night doesn’t compare to Arsenal in 2011, arguably true based on it being a Semi final and the quality of opposition, but equally that was half time in that tie and ultimately counted for little once we lost the 2nd leg. We’re in the hat for the next round, 2 wins from another semi maybe? Who knows, we’re probably a better side now relatively speaking as one of the best outside the premier league as it stands than we were then.

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SpiritOfJohn added 07:10 - Sep 27 'Super' Mick used to make less changes for cup games and it looked like we had a team of strangers on the pitch who submitted to an early exit. Super Kieran McKenna makes 10 changes and the team identity is consistent with the high standards we have been achieving in the league. And, as usual, still saying that there is "lots to improve". The sky is the limit with this man in charge.

4

Len_Brennan added 08:35 - Sep 27 Amazing performance & result. The fact that we won the game in itself is nothing particularly noteworthy; we are a top Championship side, at home in the lesser cup competition, against a bottom third Premier League side, so it was always going to be a game where it could happen. But, for us to go 2 down within the first 15 minutes, against a Premier League club, when we have just come up from League 1, have pretty much the same squad that got us up, and started with an all changed (reserve) outfield 10, and come back to win 3-2 in normal time, is an outstanding achievement. The belief in the manager, the system, the footballing principles, and each other, was a joy to behold. No panic, just resilliance, confidence, and not too little skill & finishing ability. Great stuff. I was one of those who really wanted us to win the game & go as far as we can, hopefully getting one of the giants before exiting, so I was disappointed/concerned when I saw all the changes from the start. Then when we went 0-2 I feared that a heavy defeat could even affect us psychologically going back into the league fixtures; but to see players like Harness, Edmondson, Evans & Taylor step up like that was fantastic. What Kieran McKenna has done with this whole squad is something special; they have all bought into it, from those experienced pros, to young players like Baggott & Hutchinson. Roll on Huddersfield now.

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Ipswichbusiness added 08:50 - Sep 27 A superb attacking performance, it’s so good to see the Club progressing after many years of mediocrity. The only fly in the ointment is our recent home defensive record. We conceded three goals against Leeds, two against Cardiff, three against Blackburn and two last night. That’s ten in four matches. Hopefully, Tuanzebe will be the answer.
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SohoBlue added 09:00 - Sep 27 Well done to Elkan Baggott, maturing fast in the set-up and getting his chance to shine. It's the trust KMK puts in the players to be their best that I love. And the tactical change to close down the game by bringing on the experience in the last quarter of the game...great management. And 20,000 fans on a Tuesday night... hats off to everyone! COYB!
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Gazelle added 09:04 - Sep 27 Ipswichbusiness who do you propose to drop, once it got to 3-2 we had no trouble defending. Superior fitness and Wolves looked shattered well before the end.
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IpswichT62OldBoy added 10:02 - Sep 27 We are an attacking team, it is our philosophy, score one more than the opposition, don't be frightened by going behind, be brave. We were all of that.
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Bazza8564 added 11:43 - Sep 27 thats three games now, Cardiff, Blackburn with the first choice side plus Wolves, where guts and determination has shone through. Let's face it, 2-0 after 15 and I'm wondering which early train to get if they get another. Their fans were noisy and we hadn't got a prayer! Then Omari strikes their fans get nervous and the rest is history. Lots of players did well, but the one who caught my eye most was Elkan, he is maturing into quite a young plare

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Ipswichbusiness added 15:04 - Sep 27 Gazelle; it is a matter of simple statistical fact that in the last four home games we have conceded quite a few goals (if you don’t believe me, look under the fixtures tab and count them for yourself). Changing the personnel is one way of addressing that, coaching is another.
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BobbyBell added 17:13 - Sep 27 I don't want to see any knee jerk reactions to conceding goals and I don't think that's KM's style anyway. We must continue to play bravely, on the front foot and continue to score goals. Defensive errors can be corrected on the training pitch over time and I'm sure we will improve defensively but let's enjoy our outstanding attacking flair.
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