Ipswich Town 1 v 2 Southampton FA Premier League Saturday, 1st February 2025 Kick-off 15:00 | ![]() |
McKenna: I've Never Labelled a Game Must-Win Friday, 31st Jan 2025 18:50 Town boss Kieran McKenna played down the ‘must-win game’ tag ahead of the Blues’ 19th-v-20th Premier League meeting with Southampton at Portman Road on Saturday afternoon, pointing out that whatever the result there’s a lot of football still to be played between now and the end of the campaign. Having been promoted via the play-offs last season after missing out on automatic promotion to Leicester and the Blues, Southampton have had a disastrous campaign, picking up only six points from their 23 Premier League games so far, 10 fewer than the Blues one place above them. The Saints are without a win in 13 Premier League matches - their only victory was a 1-0 home defeat of Everton at the start of November - and have lost their last six and nine of their last 10 with their only point in that period a 0-0 draw at Fulham three days before Christmas. Former manager Russell Martin and his staff, which included former Town first-team coach Matt Gill, were sacked in mid-December with former Genoa, Hellas Verona, Torino and Roma boss Ivan Juric taking over. The Croat’s only win since his appointment was the 3-0 FA Cup third round victory over Championship Swansea City at St Mary’s earlier this month. Away from home, the Saints have drawn two - the 0-0 at Fulham and a 1-1 stalemate at Brighton at the end of November - and lost 10 of their 12 matches, scoring eight, the second least on the road in the division after Everton’s seven, and conceding 23, the same as the Blues, with only Leicester and Wolves, both 28, having shipped more. Inevitably, given the teams’ positions, the game has been tagged a must-win fixture for both sides, but McKenna says he never looks at matches in that way. “I've never labelled a game anything like that, whether we've been at the top of the league in the last few years or now, naturally, at the other end,” he said. “It's January, the game will be on February 1st, but we're in January and there are lots of games and lots of points to play for. “We see it as an opportunity that we really want to win, that we’re really going to try and win. Southampton will also see it as an opportunity for them to try and win a game. “But I think whatever happens tomorrow, hopefully, a positive day for us and a positive result, but whatever happens, there's a lot of football left in the season. “We’ll go at this one with everything we've got, give it everything to try and win the game. Hopefully, we'll do so but either way there's a long way to go.” McKenna anticipates the bottom of the division still being tight towards the end of the campaign. “I think whatever happens on Saturday, I don't know the points totals at the bottom, and that's the truth, but whatever way it goes on Saturday, I'm pretty sure it's still going to be really tight with X amount of games left,” he said. “And the league's really tough. I can watch Southampton's games and certainly over the last six or seven games, they've been competitive in every single game apart from the Brentford game [which they lost 5-0 at home], and Brentford were very good. “They've gone ahead in a lot of their games and they've conceded some late goals and not quite managed to get the results. “We know the feeling in the level. The step up, even for Southampton who had had one season out of the Premier League, is really, really difficult and they've done some good things, they've signed some good players, they've got some of the players from last year, but they haven't quite found a way to consistently pick up points at the level. “The margins to do that are really, really small. We know their qualities as a team and we feel that there are areas that we can go and try and hurt them. “I'm sure they'll do the same for us as a team, but we'll go into the game with the utmost respect for the opponent and, other than that, focus on giving the best performance we can.” The Blues and Saints are far from strangers, Town having won two tough games last season, 1-0 at St Mary’s and a famous last-gasp 3-2 victory at Portman Road, to claim automatic promotion ahead of the Hampshire side, who eventually went up via the play-offs. “We had two really good games,” McKenna recalled. “The second one at Portman Road is the most significant maybe in the history of the football club. “It was just a really, really tough game and we had a really tough game with them earlier in the season. “Probably the game last year at Portman Road, they were the dominant team in quite a few aspects and we found a way to compete with the team that we weren't expected to compete with and found a way to stay in the game and come out with a result. An incredible occasion for the football club. “Now, of course, the perspective is very different for both clubs in a different league and the perspective around both clubs is different, but we're not expecting anything other than another really tough game, another really competitive game. “I think it'll be another really good game. Both teams will look to attack and we'll hope for a similar outcome.” He says last season’s games haven’t been recalled too often in preparation for Saturday’s match with the teams having met at St Mary’s in September when skipper Sam Morsy’s late goal grabbed a deserved point for the Blues. “We refer to some things sometimes, but we're conscious that we've got quite a few new players in the group, so we don't reference back to last year a lot with the players that are in the group,” he continued. “Getting the late goal down there early in the season when we had most of the group is another reference. “I think the supporters will probably reference it a little bit more and I think my hope and belief is that they'll reference it in terms of how we all remember the joys of the game but how hard the game was and how good Southampton were and what a challenge it was. “And what it took from everyone in terms of the effort on the pitch and the effort off the pitch to create the atmosphere that turned that into a historic win. So I'm sure they'll remember that and hopefully we're all ready to bring the same energy on Saturday.” He says showing the same mentality for 90-plus minutes that the Blues did at St Mary’s will be vital on Saturday. “Very important, and it always is in football,” he said. “But in our games with Southampton, the second last season and the one earlier this, have been decided with very, very late goals and it could be the same again this weekend. “We know for us we have to go to the last whistle, we know that the players who start and the players who come on off the bench have got an equally important job and we know that as a football club the crowd had a massive, massive impact on the result last year in a difficult game when the opponent was on top for spells in a game, and we were behind in the game. “They absolutely pushed with us right to the last minute, made it hard for the opponent and gave the players extra energy and extra belief. It was a win that the whole club squeezed together to pull over the line. “I think there's every chance we're going to need some of the things again this weekend, so let's see if we can and I believe we will bring the same sort of energy.” Saints boss Juric has said he sees the game as a big chance to start winning matches and McKenna says that’s inevitable given the teams’ positions and the other sides they have faced recently. “I think that's natural,” he said. “They’ll see it as a chance to win. They played Newcastle last week, who are maybe top four, top five with a top, top, top Premier League side. “We just played Man City and Liverpool, so we'll see this as a better chance to go and win a game. So that's natural. “I think it's going to be a really good game. I think it's going to be a really competitive game. Both teams have faced each other over the last year, the games have always been tough and competitive and both teams have added good quality to the squads from last season. “From last season, both teams have improved but are now in a very, very different division, so the perception of that might be different. They have their qualities, they have a different style of play under the new manager, so there are some different threats from when we played them early in the season. “We've analysed that and we respect that and give them the respect they’re due, but other than that it's us at Portman Road at home and whoever we're playing we always feel like we can be a really good side and we can make it difficult for the opposition and we can pick up points, and we certainly believe that going into Saturday.” McKenna was asked whether there is a balance between securing the three points and sticking with his approach to football. “I think there's no two ways about it, the three points are the most important, but how we play football, how we play, how we train, how we do everything and our football philosophy, if you call it that, is the way that we see best to get three points,” he said. “We don't do anything that we do for the sake of it, for aesthetics or to make ourselves feel good. We try to do the things that give us the best chance to compete and progress and to pick up points, so we'll continue to do that.” McKenna says the Saints have changed to a degree since the switch of manager, but still retain elements of the way they played under former boss Martin. “There's definitely some aspects that are very different,” he reflected. “They’re defending in a very aggressive man-to-man style with the high press and even when they're in their defensive shape they're much, much, much more man-to-man orientated. “So, that's a little bit different, a little bit different for the Premier League, there are not many Premier League teams defending as man-to-man as them. So, that brings different challenges and different opportunities. “Of course, new managers put some different players in and when Paul Onuachu [who is 6ft 7in tall] plays in your team, you're probably going to play to his strengths a little bit more. “So they certainly play a lot more direct in terms of the build-up or they have the option to go a lot more direct in the build-up to a really strong target man striker. So, that's a little bit different. “But other than that, they've still got some really good players, they keep the ball well, they keep possession well, they've got very good players in between the lines, they’ve got versatile forwards, so they can line-up in different ways and they're a side with some good threats.” Coming back to the ‘must-win’ tag, the Northern Irishman admits he can see why fans might see it that way. “You understand it,” he conceded. “I think maybe the terminology around ‘must-win’ is different because that implies something definite that it isn’t. “But we're playing against another team down towards the bottom of the division and we want to and we need to pick up points along the way, and we're coming off the back of a couple of really difficult games, and this is a home game and a good opportunity for us to go and try and win. “Again, the opposition will see it as one of their better opportunities and whichever way it goes on Saturday, there's still going to be a lot of games, it's still going to be really tight at the bottom, we're not going to be set in one direction or the other, and there'll be lots of games to play. “We know it's a really important game, we know our home games to the end of the season are going to be very, very important, we know that we need to pick up points and this is the next opportunity to do so, and we're going to be desperate to do so.” Is there more pressure on these matches than those against the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool? “I think it's natural that there can be a little bit of that, but we've shown this year, because two of our wins have come against Tottenham and Chelsea, that it's not always when you expect it,” he said. “As much as Man City and Liverpool are very, very difficult games and it's very unlikely that you're going to win them, it's also not impossible. We were really even-stevens with Man City for 25-plus minutes and just before they scored we had a pretty good chance with Omari [Hutchinson] to go 1-0 up. “If we score that goal, we can win the game, it's not impossible. Of course, they get the first goal and it goes in a really difficult and different direction. “So I understand why this is a game with more expectation on us, but I also think the fans understand. We played Southampton last year and it was seen as an incredibly difficult game. We were an incredible team to compete with Leicester and Southampton. “We spent the season probably just beneath Leicester and just ahead of Southampton and that was one of the best achievements in English football. Now, this season, we've been just ahead of or just level with Leicester and a fair bit ahead of, at the moment, Southampton. But the perception is wildly different. “That's the external perception, but I think our fans understand that we're coming up against a good team because now the teams who were first, second and third in the Championship last year are 18th, 19th and 20th in the Premier League. It doesn't mean that they're bad teams, it doesn't mean we're a bad team and it doesn't mean Southampton are a bad team. “It's a lot of the same players who gave us a really tough game last year, going against a lot of the same of our players. We've added players that have improved us and they've added players that have improved them. “We're not expecting anything other than a really tough game. It's a game that we'd love to win and when you really, really want to win a game like that, whether you're at the top of the division like last year or the bottom of the division like this year, it’s about taking care of the details, focusing on the performance, performing as well as we can and then giving everything to get the result. “Whatever end of the division you're in, that doesn't change too much, and that's how we'll approach it tomorrow, and I think the fans will understand and be right behind us for that as well.” For perhaps the first time this season, McKenna’s men are the favourites going into a league match. “I’m not a betting man, so I don't know exactly what it would be, but probably,” he said. “As I’ve said, it's drastically altered perceptions from last year with the same teams, and for Leicester as well, the teams who were one and two, and Leeds were three, so there or thereabouts. “Now I think it's the challenge of the step up to the Premier League and I’ve said many times that it's a different challenge for Leicester and Southampton, who had one year in the Championship as opposed to which we had 22 years out of the league. “It's a big step back up. I'm sure if Southampton had lost the play-off final with Leeds they'd probably be at the top of the Championship and people would think they're doing a great job. “So, that's just the reality of it. It doesn't change our perception of the game, we know it's a tough game. We believe that it's a game that we can perform really well in and win, but we also know it's going to be a really good test and I think it's going to be a really good game.” Asked whether he’s tempted to give loan signing Julio Enciso his full debut, the Paraguayan having made a strong impression from the bench at Liverpool, most notably with the corner from which Jacob Greaves headed Town’s late goal, McKenna said the Brighton man had had a good week at Playford Road. “Julio's ready to go in terms of he's played minutes this season, he's training really well, and he's been a real positive around the training ground this week,” he said. “Everyone's enjoying having him here, so he's ready to make an impact tomorrow and whatever minutes he gets. “We're still missing Conor [Chaplin] and Sammie [Szmodics], but we've got forwards ready and available to make an impact and we'll pick a group of forwards to start tomorrow and, as always, we'll have a group in mind to come on and affect the game later on as well.” The TeamMcKenna may be looking at one or two changes ahead of the game with Aro Muric perhaps in his thoughts for a return in goal for Christian Walton, who has started the last six matches. Leif Davis is well again having been sick at half-time at Liverpool last week and will take his usual left-back role, while Axel Tuanzebe looks certain to continue on the right of the defence. Dara O’Shea and Greaves will also probably get the nod once again in the middle. In central midfield. McKenna has a decision to make with Kalvin Phillips one of the Blues’ better performers at Anfield and Jens Cajuste, who was rested last week after a busy spell, one of Town’s more impressive players all season. The Blues boss has to decide which will partner skipper Morsy or whether he leaves the Egyptian international on the bench, as he did for the Brighton match. Ben Johnson will probably start in the wide right role having come on for Wes Burns, who is now out for the season having suffered a ACL tear, last week. Behind out-and-out striker Liam Delap, McKenna has to pick from Omari Hutchinson, Nathan Broadhead, Jaden Philogene or Enciso. The former Chelsea man and Paraguayan international may well be the ones in from the off with the other two and George Hirst given their chance from the bench in the second half. The OppositionSouthampton have forward Kamaldeen Sulemana and midfielder Tyler Dibling, who has been linked with Tottenham and Newcastle, available again after hamstring and ankle injuries respectively. Keeper Aaron Ramsdale is also expected to be OK after a knock having picked up a problem in training and then missed the 3-1 home defeat to Newcastle along with Sulemana and Dibling. Skipper Jack Stephens is back in training having been out with a fitness problem since December. New signings Welington, a Brazilian left-back, and Danish international midfielder Albert Grønbæk look set to be in the squad travelling to Suffolk. But former Blues loanee Ryan Fraser and centre-half Nathan Wood will miss out with minor knocks. Keeper Gavin Bazunu, striker Ross Stewart and left-back Juan Larios are long-term absentees. Manager Juric believes a first win since November could have a big impact on the squad and knows a game against the team directly above them is a good opportunity. “I think we need something positive to happen,” he said. “It's a big chance for us to start winning the games. “I have a feeling that we are improving, that we need some positive situation. I think if we win the game against Ipswich, it will be huge for us. [We will] have lots of confidence and then we can do good things.” However, the Croat admits he has been impressed with Town: “A very good team. They bring some very good players now. I think they play good. I see lots of games. They have talented players. Like a team, it's a good team.” HistoryHistorically, the Blues have the edge having won 27 games against Southampton (26 in the league), losing 23 (17) and with 21 (20) ending in draws. In September at St Mary’s, skipper Morsy netted a 95th-minute equaliser as Town and Southampton drew 1-1. Dibling’s fifth-minute goal gave the Saints a 1-0 half-time lead against the overall run of play and both sides had chances before Morsy slammed home his first Premier League goal to secure what could prove to be a vital away point. Town, who had previously gone eight games without a win against the Saints going back to November 2007, did the double over the Hampshire side last season. In April at Portman Road, sub Jeremy Sarmiento scored a 97th-minute winner as Town came from behind to beat 10-man Southampton 3-2 in a Portman Road classic to return to the top of the Championship. Davis gave the Blues the lead on 13 but Southampton hit back through Che Adams only a minute later and Adam Armstrong gave the visitors the lead in the 23rd minute. Town had been second best but took charge after a triple substitution with one of those changes, Broadhead, levelling on 68, before ex-Town loanee James Bree was dismissed for hauling down Davis on 85 and Sarmiento sent Portman Road into raptures seconds from the end. Familiar FacesSouthampton’s squad includes a number of ex-Town players, most notably Flynn Downes, who came through the academy and made 75 starts and 24 sub appearances, scoring three times before moving on to Swansea in the summer of 2021 for an initial £1.4 million with the Blues receiving another £1.5 million following the midfielder’s £8 million move to West Ham the following summer. The midfielder was on loan with the Saints last season before making his move permanent this summer for £18 million when he turned down the chance to return to Portman Road. Keeper Alex McCarthy spent time on loan at Town in the second half of 2011/12, making 10 appearances and impressing after a difficult start having been red-carded in his third game, a 3-1 defeat at former loan club Leeds. Winger Fraser was on loan with the Blues during the 2015/16 season, scoring six times in 15 starts and five sub appearances before injury curtailed his spell. Full-back Bree was on loan at Town in the second half of the 2018/19 season making 13 starts and one sub appearance. Saints full-back Ryan Manning came close to joining the Blues as an academy scholar but ultimately opted to sign for QPR. OfficialsSaturday’s referee is Michael Oliver, who will be assisted by Stuart Burt and James Mainwaring with the fourth official James Linington, the VAR official Jarred Gillett and his assistant Adam Nunn. Oliver, who was the VAR official for the Chelsea match just after Christmas, was the subject of controversy last week for red-carding Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly during the Gunners’ game against Wolves, a dismissal which was backed by VAR but subsequently overturned by an FA independent regulatory commission. The decision led to Oliver receiving abuse and death threats online, which were subsequently condemned by referees’ body, the PGMOL, and the Premier League. Oliver, whose father Clive was a Football League referee, has shown 121 yellow cards and five red in 25 games in domestic and European competitions so far this season. The 39-year-old was last at Portman Road for the Everton game in October in which he awarded a penalty for a foul on Jack Clarke by Toffees’ forward Dwight McNeil. However, after a VAR review, he looked at the incident again and reversed his decision. He booked Jack Taylor and one of the visitors. His most recent Town match prior to that was back in January 2010 when Pablo Couñago famously grabbed a late, late winner moments after a Coventry leveller in a 3-2 victory over the Sky Blues at Portman Road. During that game he yellow-carded Jon Walters, Liam Rosenior and three visitors. Before that, he was in charge of the 1-0 win at Reading in March 2009 when he showed yellow cards to Ben Thatcher and Owen Garvan and to no members of the Royals side. Squad FromWalton, Muric, Slicker, Davis, Townsend, Johnson, Godfrey, O’Shea, Woolfenden, Burgess, Greaves, Morsy (c), Cajuste, Phillips, Luongo, Burns, Taylor, Hutchinson, Philogene, Enciso, J Clarke, Broadhead, Delap, Hirst.
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