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Ipswich Town 2 v 0 Chelsea
FA Premier League
Monday, 30th December 2024 Kick-off 19:45
McKenna: Chelsea a Tough Test, But a Great Game
Sunday, 29th Dec 2024 07:00

Boss Kieran McKenna says tough games against the likes of Chelsea, who the Blues face at Portman Road on Monday evening (KO 7.45pm), and Arsenal, who beat them 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Friday, are the challenges he wants and which excite him.

Town go into the match, which marks the halfway point in the season and is the final fixture of 2024, 19th in the Premier League, four points plus goal difference from safety following the narrow defeat to the Gunners and Wolves’ 2-2 draw at Tottenham on Sunday.

Chelsea are fourth following the West Londoners’ 2-1 home defeat to Fulham on Thursday, Nottingham Forest having moved ahead of them and the Gunners via their Sunday 2-0 victory at Everton.

The derby loss to the Cottagers, Chelsea’s third Premier League defeat of the season, followed up a 0-0 draw at Everton, a result which ended an eight-game all-competitions winning run, five in the league.

On their travels this season, Chelsea have picked up more points than on their own turf, 20 compared with 15, having won six, drawn two and lost only one, 2-1 to leaders Liverpool at Anfield in October.

Town boss McKenna, whose team has lost five of their last six, knows it’s another difficult fixture but says these games should be relished.

“A tough test, but a great game,” he said. “These tough tests, let’s get it right, coming to the Emirates Stadium to play against Arsenal at Christmas is a positive, it’s not something to fear, it’s not something to feel hesitant about or feel anything other than feel excited about, and Chelsea at home’s the same.

“We know they’re a top side having a very good season but they’re the challenges that we want. Last home game of 2024, let’s go and give it everything we’ve got.”

Despite having picked a team which was able to restrict Arsenal to very few clear-cut chances on Friday, McKenna says he will look at making changes to his XI for the second game in four days.

“I think usually when you’ve got Friday night and Monday night, there’s likely to be some changes. We’ll assess that over the weekend,” he said.

The match is a reunion of the two bosses who won automatic promotion from the Championship last season, Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca having left Leicester to take over at Stamford Bridge in the summer.

The Blues and Foxes played out two enthralling 1-1 draws last season, the Blues getting stronger as the games wore on and coming from behind to claim a point on each occasion.

McKenna was asked whether he learnt anything from those matches which he can take into Monday’s fixture.

“I don’t think I learned anything that I wouldn’t learn from watching Chelsea now, really,” he reflected.

“A lot of the structures in possession in particular are the same, but now, of course, he’s working a different calibre of player - although Leicester had very good players as well - which makes it an even bigger challenge.”

McKenna feels Maresca has made a strong start to life in the Premier League, although recalls the West Londoners ending last season positively under former boss Mauricio Pochettino.

“Without seeing the insides of it, he seems to have done very, very well,” he said. “They went about it a little bit differently but they’ve recruited some fantastic players for quite a few transfer windows now, some fantastic young players, and seem to have really found their way with that.

“Enzo’s done a really good job coaching them and getting them into the structure that he likes and turning them into a good team.

“I have to say, to be fair, the second half of last season, Mauricio had really good results there as well and you could see the talent that was there, you could see the talent was coming through, and they had really good results in the second half of last season.

“But I think Enzo’s taken that on to another level this year and he seems to have settled in very well.”

McKenna was asked whether he believes Chelsea are genuine title contenders this season.


“Their manager says not, doesn’t he?” he said. “He’s in a better position to judge than me.

“Liverpool are obviously in incredible form, but they’re certainly one of the best teams in the league, so I guess they’ll make their judgments on that and time will tell in the end.”

The Team

While McKenna says he’ll make changes of personnel, it’s more likely he’ll tweak his side than make very significant amendments.

Aro Muric will be in goal with the Blues boss perhaps again going with the back three which frustrated Arsenal for much of Friday’s match, from the right, Dara O’Shea, Luke Woolfenden and Jacob Greaves.

Leif Davis will be at left wing-back, while McKenna may swap Ben Johnson with Harry Clarke on the right, or perhaps Wes Burns if he wants to add a more attack-focused player in the role.

Skipper Sam Morsy looks certain to return in the centre of midfield for Kalvin Phillips, who was making his first start since the start of November at Arsenal following his ankle injury. Jens Cajuste will continue in the other central role.

Liam Delap seems certain to be the number nine with Omari Hutchinson on the right and various options for the other number 10 role. Nathan Broadhead has made an impact from the bench in recent games but McKenna may feel that the Welshman would be better utilised in that manner again and Sammie Szmodics’s work-rate might be the best choice from the start.

Hutchinson remains on four bookings with Monday’s game the last in which a fifth would result in a one-match ban.

The Opposition

Chelsea head coach Maresca rates his Town counterpart very highly: “He is doing fantastic since he joined Ipswich. They are doing top.

“Even this year, they are doing well so congratulations to him for the way he is doing everything since he joined the club.”

Reflecting on the challenge the Blues will present, speaking at a press conference on Friday, the Italian added: “I think all the Premier League games are complicated, no matter the other team. You see every game we play, it is always complicated. You see the other team, you struggle to beat teams and I think the Ipswich game will be exactly the same.”

Having gone two matches without a win, Maresca feels ending 2024 with a victory is vital.

“Very important,” he said. “We are going to try to prepare the game in the way we try always - to win the game. We have a bad feeling about the game we just lost against Fulham and hopefully we can come back with three points after this game.

“After a game you need to go again no matter the result. Especially this month. I think in December, we already played eight or nine games in 25 or 27 days.

“So now it is also important to recover the energy and go again on Monday and then if we are going to make one change, two changes or three changes, we will see. Now it is a bit early, but for sure, we are going to change something.”

Right-back Reece James (hamstring) and centre-backs Wesley Fofana (also hamstring) and Benoit Badiashile all remain sidelined, while midfielder Romeo Lavia is close to a return, also following a hamstring injury, and midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall missed the Fulham game after picking up a knock. Winger Mykhaylo Mudryk is suspended having tested positive for a banned substance in November.

Winger Noni Madueke and left-back Renato Veiga were left out of the squad for the Cottagers match for what Maresca described as a “technical decision” but the Italian says they are in contention to return to the fold at Portman Road.

History

Chelsea have had much the better of Town over the years, winning 23 games (19 in the league), losing nine (nine) and drawing 11 (10).

The Blues are without a win against Chelsea in 10 games in all competitions - seven in the league - since John Lyall’s side won 1-0 at Portman Road in August 1993, recent signing Ian Marshall continuing his goal-a-game record in his third match for the club as Town started the season taking nine points out of nine. That victory is the Blues’ only win in 17 in all competitions against the West Londoners.

The last three league games between the teams at Portman Road have been draws with Chelsea’s last league win in Suffolk a 1-0 success in March 1989, while more recently they won a Carling Cup tie 4-1 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in January 1998.

The teams last met in the FA Cup third round in January 2011 when the managerless Blues - Roy Keane having been sacked earlier in the week with his assistant Ian ‘Charlie’ McParland in caretaker charge - were thrashed 7-0 at Stamford Bridge, Town’s record defeat in the competition.

After an evenly balanced first half hour, the cup holders and Premier League champions went on the rampage with the goals coming from Salomon Kalou, Daniel Sturridge (2), Carlos Edwards (OG), Nicolas Anelka and Frank Lampard (2).

The sides also met at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup fourth round in 2009 when Jim Magilton’s team were beaten 3-1.

Superb second-half free-kicks from Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard saw Chelsea to a 3-1 victory, the Blues having matched the Champions League finalists for spells with Alex Bruce equalising Ballack's opener before the break.

The most recent league meeting was at Portman Road in April 2002 with Town on their way to relegation from the Premier League.

George Burley’s side were left rueing Marcus Bent’s first-half penalty miss as a second successive home game ended 0-0.

Chelsea’s Carlo Cudicini was the busier of the two keepers in a game which temporarily took Town out of the bottom three.

Earlier in the season at Stamford Bridge, a last-gasp wonder goal from Sam Dalla Bona won the three points for Chelsea just when Town fans were starting to celebrate a well-won point.

A first-half goal from Gianfranco Zola had put Chelsea deservedly ahead, but as Town improved in the second, Marcus Stewart equalised with a penalty.

Familiar Faces

Hutchinson joined the Blues on a permanent basis from Chelsea for an initial £18 million in the summer, making him the club’s record signing, having spent last season on loan at Portman Road.

The forward joined Chelsea in June 2022 from Arsenal and made two sub appearances - one in the Premier League, one in the FA Cup - while at Stamford Bridge.

Officials

Monday’s referee is John Brooks with Simon Bennett and Sam Lewis his assistants and Darren Bond the fourth official. The VAR official is Michael Oliver with his assistant Nick Greenhalgh.

Leicestershire-based Brooks was the VAR official for the Newcastle match last week and the victory at Tottenham but last took charge of the Blues back in March 2019 as relegation-bound Town were beaten 2-0 at Hull City in the Championship. Gwion Edwards and two Tigers were cautioned.

Brooks was also in the middle for the 2-2 draw at Birmingham City in September 2018 in which Matthew Pennington was given his marching orders for two bookable offences. Cole Skuse was the only other player yellow-carded.

His only other competitive Town match was the 0-0 home draw with Sheffield United in March 2018 in which he yellow-carded Skuse and Stephen Gleeson as well as one Blade.

Squad From

Muric, Walton, Slicker, Davis, Townsend, Johnson, H Clarke, O’Shea, Woolfenden, Burgess, Greaves, Morsy (c), Cajuste, Phillips, Luongo, Taylor, Hutchinson, Chaplin, Szmodics, J Clarke, Broadhead, Burns, Delap, Al-Hamadi.


TWTD



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Dissboyitfc added 07:59 - Dec 29
Going to be a really tough opponent made i think even tougher( if possible ) as they have dropped points including a loss at home to Fulham, which will have hurt them, so any chamce there might have been of being complacent on Monday evening ( extremely wishing thinking ) is very unlikely!

I remember as a kid the Chelsea team coming to Portman Road with the likes of Osgood, Bonetti, Wilkins, Hollins and Chopper Harris etc, plenty of bruises, players like Harris would have spent most of their career suspended!

Last years corresponding fixture was also a game against Moresca, go back 2 years and we were playing Oxford, which demonstrates just how far we have come. I know which fixture i prefer!

Think i would give Hutch a rest, he looks short on confidence and i fear he could well get a booking as he will be looking to impress against his former team!
12

bluebullet29l added 10:24 - Dec 29
There was only so long kmk could live in this protected bubble but unfortunately now the facts are he is the worst performing manager on a points per game ratio. I'm getting fed up with the spin he keeps putting on each game to deflect any criticism from him. It's time to step up or step down as currently we are the poorest side in the Premier league.
-45

grinch added 10:24 - Dec 29
Surely we bring back Burgess...best defender this season and must start Chappers if Burns is used would stick with Johnson as both Clarkes are not up to Prem standard Jack needs a season to adapt. Shame that Philips will be dropped currently he is our only player with Prem experience and each time he plays the midfield is better for it he drives and covers ground far better than Morsey would be better Town team with Philips playing alongside Cajuste. The attack needs to keep hold of the ball again Chapli can do that and Delap needs to concentrate on his early form of football rather than bouncing into every opposition player hype seems to have got to him lets go back to how excellent he was early season . Also Broadhead deserves a start with him on right Chappers on left of Delap hope MK goes for it season half way and we need a won before teams pull away from us
8

bluebullet29l added 10:39 - Dec 29
I don't care if people mark me down. It's fact and everyone knows it. The facts don't lie.
-28

Dissboyitfc added 11:08 - Dec 29
if you are going to say what you believe are facts, you should quite actually facts otherwise you look stupid! Include facts like our injury list being as bad or worse than other teams. Quote the games where we have been so unlucky. Facts are we should have at least another 5/6 points! Also we are a promoted team on back to back promotions a phenomenal achievement and unfortunately with our injury woes we are quite often fielding a team that served us in league 1. Anyone who is surprised we are in a relegation battle are clearly deluded! Is and always was going to a real battle to stay up!

Another fact which is true for me I love going to Portman road, even watching Newcastle was a joy to watch to see such quality, we are a long way off that.thats a fact but to be expected!


22

ArnieM added 11:19 - Dec 29
First home win of the year
7

blues1 added 11:31 - Dec 29
Bluebullet291. Talking bs. He is qorking with a squad, many of whom were playing in lge1 2 seasons ago. And with big injuries to key players on top of that. And we're actuslly unlucky to not have more points than we have. While every other manager has said waht a great job hes doing, u think hes doing a bad job. Pathetic. Go away and support some1 else. But then, assuming we go down, u likely won't be anywhere to be seen next season anyway. If you even go now that is.
18

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 12:04 - Dec 29
If we go down, it will be interesting to see whether Kieran stays to continue the journey. I certainly hope he does - for many years to come. As regards criticism of our manager - of course he tries to put an optimistic slant on our performances (it wouldn't be much good if he was negative all the time), but I think in general he gives honest and objective appraisals of our matches, much more so than several other PL managers I can think of.
21

Town1Inter0 added 12:17 - Dec 29
I’d like to see Kieran McK try out a 4-3-3, similar to how Newcastle set up, although msybe a bit more defensively minded. With the middle three of Morsy, Phillips and Cajuste.
5

hyperbrit added 12:20 - Dec 29
The owners are watching closely.
No one I repeat no one is indispencible(sp).Town is in danger of becoming Norwich 2.0 bouncing up and down like a yo yo and finally exhausted settling for mid table in the Championship.
-14

Blue_In_Boston added 12:26 - Dec 29
Dissboyitfc - facts are we are newly promoted, in fact on the back of a double promotion. Then you go on to say "Facts are we should have at least another 5/6 points!" - utter nonsense, in what way is that a fact? Fans of every team bemoan points that have escaped them. What the league table says is fact.
5

Dissboyitfc added 12:34 - Dec 29
Steve Itfc Sweden, personally i think he will leave at the end of the season regardless of where we finish, but of course according to some he has been found out and no clubs in the premier league would want him anyway!

So much to be proud of and pleased with since the new ownership took over and Km has been pivotal in all that is good about ITFC. I do think that Ashton will have a list of replacements in mind if he does move on!
4

Dissboyitfc added 12:39 - Dec 29
fingers crossed Arnie! Should we get an unexpected 3 points, that will put us on the 15 i had hoped for at the halfway stage, then similar in the second half with one extra victory and a couple more draws which will put us on 35, a points tally that could see us remain in the top flight!

All still to play for!
9

bluebullet29l added 13:11 - Dec 29
There is only so much you can blame on bad luck...injuries....sometimes you have got to look at km's decision making and it's not good...go and bury your heads in the sand or up km"s ar#e. He never accepts its his fault but spins the after match press conference every time to deflect the attention away from him. The facts are he is drowning because he's getting out of his depth and he has no plan b. We will go down and with that lose any of our decent players and I would imagine km will also jump ship to try and save his flagging career....
-17

TimmyH added 13:25 - Dec 29
We play too expansive we lose...that simple, like to see Morsy, Phillips and Cajuste start with Chaplin and Broadhead wide just in front of them and Delap upfront.

Hutchinson needs to be benched...
9

TimmyH added 13:28 - Dec 29
I remember the 2-2 draw on a freezing cold Boxing Day in 2000 when we were 2-0 down at HT to Ranieri's Chelsea and came out fighting!...what a game, if this lot put in as much fight as that side we'll get something out of the game.
4

hyperbrit added 14:03 - Dec 29
there was a mgr of Leeds years ago who was similarly found out and disappeared without a trace
-1

Leejames99 added 14:19 - Dec 29
What is wrong with everyone too much Turkey? Turning on Kmk is pathetic he is one of best young managers in country and has signed a 4 year deal so can't just leave if we go down, same with players, they have been bought with relegation in mind and building for the future.

Chaplin, Broadhead, Morsy etc need sold not started!

If Morsy gets back in team tomorrow I be shocked, he has done okay but to drop Phillips for Morsy would be a travesty.

Same team, same system with wing backs, only 2 swaps If any which is Burgess for Woolfeden and J Clarke for Szmodicks for his pace and so Szmodicks can come on.

The league 1 players served us well but it's time to move on.

To suggest we go all attack against Chelsea is just ridiculous, imagine Chaplin, Burns, H Clarke etc up against Chelsea.

No time for sentiment anymore we have Phillips on loan from Man City, Cajuste on loan from Lazio, 20 million winger and some of you want them benched for Morsy and Chaplin, it senseless.

We need to plug gaps in transfer window and allow league 1 boys to go back to their comfort zones in lower league's.

There is no way Kmk will go, they have a long term strategy, did not expect to be in Prem yet and have recruited and invested in youth, potential and long term.

I'd love to know which teams you think should go down instead of Ipswich? Unlike Norwich and Luton Ashton and the owners have invested in our stadium as is now Premiership ready but more so have recruited excellently with the real possibility of relegation in mind this year by buying players from championship who flourish there and let them have a taste of premiership and give us a chance to get right back if relegated with a new winning team.

You will see the same in Jan where we will raid some great young players tearing up Championship like Latte and some experience, like Leicester did. Some of the rubbish I read on here is unbelievable to the point I just think it's Norwich fans.

You were watching Town v Oxford now it's Town Vs Chelsea, enjoy sering those players and support KMK and the new players and those who stepped up and don't expect too much, 17th is the aim but we have to be prepared to go down to be better equipped to cone straight back up if needed.

Our club has never been in a better situation for years!

Only my opinion this is not a platform for abuse or Morwich fans.

COYB
20

Bert added 14:34 - Dec 29
Bluebullet says that KMcK has no plan B. So, what was it we saw against Arsenal ? Yes, we lost but with a bit more bite and courage we could have stolen a point. Can't see us going gung ho against Chelsea but they aren't as good as Aresenal in defence so with a bit of luck we may, just may get something out of the game.
15

Tedray added 15:46 - Dec 29
Keiran has done exceptionally well to put the club in its present position. However just to put the cat amongst the pidgeons the manager was given a lot of money to buy new players. Also a rep of our American owners rushed across the Atlantic to offer Mr Mckenna a very large salary.It cannot though have gone unnoticed by our wealthy owners that the change of manager by some of our lowly rivals has so far born fruit............
4

blueboy1981 added 16:39 - Dec 29
The biggest problem for ITFC at this moment is the almost certain possibility now of RELEGATION.
Somewhat sadly condoned and acceptable by consistent excuse making Supporters, they never change their Blue Tints which blinds their vision of reality.
We will see at the end of the season (or maybe before) if our Owners are as Benevolent … !!
Somehow I think excuses will not wash, and close attention is already happening.
Anyone who thinks dropping back will be acceptable, and good for our Club - enjoy your DREAMWORLD existence.
You hopefully, will pull you heads out of the sand - Eventually !!
The Owners didn’t purchase this Club to FAIL, although such may be acceptable to YOU !! - my Guess it, that they see things very differently.
Becoming ruthless, will be no surprise to me !
Bluebullet291 - agree with your posts !
-12

herfie added 17:01 - Dec 29
Whilst relegation would obviously be very disappointing, from all that’s been said by MA and our owners, rebuilding the club is viewed as a medium to longer term project - with bumps along the road an inevitable part of that journey.

With that in mind, cannot see the owners contemplating sacking KM; either as a knee jerk attempt to prevent relegation, or because they no longer believe in him for the long term. For the immediate future, is there any other, available or interested, individual who could be drafted in to replace KM and significantly improve our performances, and match outcomes, with the same squad? Pretty sure the owners would conclude that taking that risk would be far greater than maintaining the status quo, whilst continuing to steadily grow the club to the point where we can sustain PL status.



5

Dissboyitfc added 17:10 - Dec 29
blueboy did you really think we would take this division by storm? What an idiot if so. do you have a season ticket blueboy? i suggest you give it up if so, there are real supporters out there who would love to go and enjoy the games!
6

victorysquad added 17:24 - Dec 29
The reality is our recruitment in January is going to have a big part of whether we stay up this season. Maresca has shown that he can do well with a high calibre set of players and i suspect McKenna could too. I am not trying to knock our players, they have done great but we are short on quality and need another 4 imo to raise our level. We also need to get back to having a bench that can influence the games.
3

SpiritOfJohn added 17:40 - Dec 29
Same formation as against Arsenal please, but with Burgess for Greaves, Morsy for Phillips and Broadhead for Szmodics.
-2


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