Boss Kieran McKenna admitted that the Blues’ 2-1 home defeat to bottom club Southampton was a really poor result, particularly as he believed it was a game there for his team to win.

Joe Aribo gave the Saints the lead against the run of play on 21 before Liam Delap levelled with his ninth goal of the season 10 minutes later.

The Blues had chances to go in front but failed to take them and the visitors claimed their second Premier League win this season - and their first on the road - via Paul Onuachu’s 87th-minute goal.

“Its a really poor result for us, no doubt about it, especially on the balance of play and the feel of the game,” McKenna said. “It felt like it was definitely a game there for us to win.

“I thought we were the better team, but it’s not really any consolation at this moment. Today was about picking up the points.

“I thought we started well, had the much better chances throughout the first half, then went behind with the opposition’s first real chance or first entry into our box after 20 minutes.

“Had the chances to certainly go in at half-time with a lead, but weren’t clinical enough to go and take the chances and then in the second half we didn’t create enough as we wanted to.

“Still had the game under control, didn’t give anything away really, but didn’t execute well enough in the big moments that we were getting.

“And then conceded a really poor goal where we were breaking away and then they win it and they break away, we don’t defend the situation well and it’s a late goal against us.

“It’s a really poor outcome to the game. There were some good things in the game but I think they get lost in the result today, to be honest. We’re very frustrated.”

Soon after Delap’s equaliser, Nathan Broadhead had the first of a couple of opportunities but Saints keeper Aaron Ramsdale saved from the Wales international.

“I think it was a good chance for us, it was a great save, but we got to so many good positions in the game,” the Blues manager continued.

“Southampton give you the spaces. There were so many opportunities, we got round the edge of the box, we got one-v-ones, we had opportunities around the edge of the box, but we weren’t able to execute well enough to go and score.

“And they come on and execute in the last minutes, a substitute off the bench scores the goal and we don’t defend it well enough.

“It definitely felt like a game where we certainly should have been going in at half-time with a lead, not having to chase the game back.”

The fans left Portman Road with the mood as flat as at any point over the last few seasons and McKenna said the dressing room was little different.

“It’s pretty similar in there,” he continued. “We’re all disappointed, frustrated. Today was an opportunity for us, not because of the narrative that Southampton aren’t good, they’re a good team, but because of the balance of the game.

“It was there for us, the pictures in the first half were exactly what we wanted, what we knew it would be.

“They went man-to-man, every time we got a connection off we were breaking into huge spaces and everyone’s very, very frustrated that we felt like the game was there for us but we didn’t execute well enough to score the goals that we could score in that game.

“And we’ve had not too much penalty box defending to do and we’ve come up short a couple of times with two soft goals. Everyone is very frustrated.”

One positive was full debutant Julio Enciso’s performance, the Paraguayan having joined on loan from Brighton just over a week ago, while McKenna had said on Friday that there will still be a significant number of games, 14, remaining after today regardless of the result.

“I think Julio is a fantastic player, he’s been a shining light at the training ground this week. His play, his energy, his enthusiasm for the game, I thought he showed a really, really high level,” he said.

“There’s a lot of football to be played. I don’t like saying it, but it’s another game and it feels like all season [I’ve been saying that], but that’s just the reality of where we’ve climbed as a club.

“We’ve got players making debuts, we’ve got players playing with players they’ve never played with before and that’s been the case all season.

“When you have the change that we’ve had, when you have had the ascent that we’ve had, you have that [change] through the first half of the season, then you have a period now where we’ve tried to improve the squad because we feel like we need to make another step up.

“But then you’ve got players settling into the team and building relationships on the pitch and that takes time.

“At the moment, we’re not able to turn the margins consistently enough whenever we perform well and are in games, and that was something that we were absolutely exceptional at last year. The balance of the game today is completely different to when we beat them last year.

“Last year, I think they were probably the better team in many aspects. When we played them early in this season, I thought it was a 50/50 game and I thought today we were the much better team in most aspects.

“But at the moment, the group, we don’t consistently turn the margins in our favour in tight games in which we’ve played well to go and win or even to pick up the point, and that’s been the case on too many occasions this year.

“The only answer is work, it’s time together, it’s still a really new group and, of course, they’re learning the lessons in the toughest league in the world.

“And now we’ve got new players coming in and they’re learning and feeling the group. We’re bringing players off the bench who are still settling into the club, to the level, to their teammates.

“And that makes it a challenge to come out on top in the margins as consistently as we would like to do.

“But the only answer is work and we’ve got time to do that now. We’ve got some training weeks ahead, the games aren’t as frequent in the remaining months of the season, so we’re going to work really, really hard with the group to find ways to turn these tight margins in our favour more often.”

Quizzed on whether he might want to add some more bodies to the squad before Monday’s 11pm deadline, having said on Friday he wasn’t anticipating any more moves in or out, McKenna said: “Not another body but the quality, yes, if it’s there. You can see the level that Julio has given us today, he’s a really, really high level, he certainly will improve us.

“And if there are players out there who can improve us, then we’ll look to do it and the club’s working really, really hard to do that, but, of course, many, many clubs are in the same situation.

“I said my feeling is that there probably won’t be movement. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible, but we’re not expecting it and we’re focusing on the group that’s here at the moment.”

TWTD

Robert_Garrett added 20:06 - Feb 1 Can Muric be sold before the window shuts?
7

davidsc1971 added 20:16 - Feb 1 Well I thought we were awful - all passes backwards, little link up play, very little determination shown and generally lacking in confidence all over the pitch. We were out-hustled and we let them do it. Just nowhere near good enough, and that hurts to type
3

dirtydingusmagee added 20:28 - Feb 1 It will upset some im sure but imo we are not good enough for prem and KmK is now showing he is coming up short too.No disrespect to him its his first managerial post and past two seasons he has achieved amazing things.I just think he has got ahead of himself.Its a learning curve and another season in Championship will be good for him.At the moment he is out of his depth and is resorting to talking the talk but he is not walking the walk.We may survive this season but things are going to have to take an amazing turn for the better even a miracle imo .

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gippeswyk added 20:37 - Feb 1 Some of you so called fans need to get a grip. We are very lucky to have Kieran and he has got us from mid table league 1 to the Prem in 2 seasons! How can some of you accuse him of coming up short or not being good enough! Also, the owners are pumping huge amounts of money into improving the squad, facilities and to try to keep us up. Fans need to get behind the team, on bad days, not just good ones. Yes, it was gut wrenching to lose today. But Town were the better team and deserved 3 points. That's football.

5

blueboy1981 added 20:44 - Feb 1 McKenna has simply been found out at Premiership level, it’s generally been there for all to see from from earlier on - all he does now is show his Naivety by giving excuses. He’s fortune to still have his job, with Clubs demanding results these days. It’s a bit late in the season now for him to know his Best 11 and stick to it for a few games. ITFC past success was always built on such !!

2

Cadiar added 20:58 - Feb 1 Amazing how the fans are now turning. I really have to question some, so many new ones since we started our amazing rise which probably has been too fast. Again the knives are out for Muric & the ridiculous comments flood in. Perhaps the defence should be questioned, perhaps the two chances Broadhead had should have been put away, perhaps, perhaps. By the way, Garyinvault, was your Gran a bike?

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ArnieM added 21:10 - Feb 1 How about bringing in a GK and shipping out one, then how about, for a change, changing the formation we use and having TWO centre forwards playing up top at some point in a game…… you know, try something different. Go on, I dare you!
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alfromcol added 21:12 - Feb 1 Lots of new names on here, since the dark days and descent into Division 1, that was when you really had something to moan about - but you probably weren't there. Enjoy the journey, we will be in the Premiership until the end of the season. Matches still to come against Newcastle, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham etc. etc. Instead of Fleetwood, Accrington Stanley, Forest Green Rovers etc.

0

ArnieM added 21:14 - Feb 1 Anyone actually enjoying The Plastic League?
3

carsey added 21:25 - Feb 1 As much as I have enjoyed the last 3 years this season has proved to be a tough watch. As many suspected we just weren't ready for the Premier League and needed another year preparing in the Championship. I also feel McKenna needs to adjust his philosophy and playing style and concentrate on being hard to beat rather than trying to win. I say this because we are now in a situation where we have to take points of teams higher in the division if we are to survive. The alternative is to accept relegation now and start preparing for a promotion push next year.

1

TimmyH added 21:26 - Feb 1 'a game that was there for us to win' - well you could say that for a number of games this season which we simply haven't (at home)...I'm just not seeing the quality on the pitch, we play in a far too frantic manner and do not keep possession of the ball anywhere near long enough.
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grubbyoik added 22:45 - Feb 1 Make desicions based on what's happening on the pitch as opposed to the pre game plan.. case in point ' taking Broadhead off.. Maybe give Davis a rest if he is not offering anything going forward.. The amount of times we take off a midfielder and conceded a goal.. How come our players can't play 90mins..
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cressi added 22:50 - Feb 1 My nan who was 4ft 10 could have played in goal for Southampton not a save to make second half. Nobody is untouchable and that includes McKenna who since his massive pay rise has done little to show his worth it.
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Carberry added 22:53 - Feb 1 For Mckenna to come up with the excuse that players haven't been able to integrate quickly enough and learn about playing together is amazing. He has constantly changed the personnel and line up and the results are there to prove has constantly been the reason. The Premier League is very unforgiving and any other manager, coaching a team with this record, would have been sacked by now, except that the management and owners have invested in a massive contract with him which they would be very reluctant to pay up. We've seen his strengths, we are now finding out what his weaknesses are. He doesn't seem to be able to lift heads and motivate when times get tough. The last 3 results could shatter any confidence which existed, you can't get players up for it by watching videos.

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poet added 07:45 - Feb 2 Those that boo. You remain anonymous in the crowd, nobody knows you did it do they! Booing your team achieves just one thing…. You lose the right to be called a supporter and you become deserter, a person who is only too anxious to throw in the towel. You’re not needed. Yesterday’s game was a missed opportunity to take 3 points from a poor squad of players, there’s no doubts about that, but the season isn’t over. Those that walked away from the ground after booing their players, do the real supporters a favour…. Don’t bother walking back. This I believe is a rhetorical question, but anyone on here have the courage to no longer remain anonymous? Come on, you still have the cover of your user name.

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tractorboybig added 08:42 - Feb 2 KM I think you are out of your depth. lets plan for next year and not do a luton
5

Len_Brennan added 08:46 - Feb 2 I won't make any specific comment about the goalkeeper, because it doesn't need to be said, other than it will be very interesting to see how Cieran Slicker gets on in the cup game at Coventry next week, because the chance is there for him now. I thought that Phillips would have played yesterday, and after the final whistle, I felt that he really should have, because it was another sub-par performance from Morsy, who just doesn't have the presence that he has had in the lower leagues, & isn't able to go deep, collect, swivel & drive forward, without the fear of dispossession, that has been such a feature of his game for us, up until this season. But the main issue for us, certainly yesterday, is our weakness in the forward area. Enciso has been a very welcome addition, however the main thing he has done is highlight how lightweight our forwards (behind Delap) have much all season. Ogbene might have made a difference on the right, but Wes did struggle to take on his man & beat him, or retain possession once challenged, in most games, and then seemed to lose the confidence to try it for a while. Funnily enough, he looked to have turned a bit of a corner on that just before he got injured, & was starting to get into good positions & delivering decent balls in/cutbacks again. But our 3 big signings, Omari, J Clarke & even Philogene (unfair to judge so early I accept, but contrasting already with Enciso), who were brought in to have the quality to open up defences with their control & one v one ability, have disappointed & been largely ineffective. My main criticism again is not even their inability to beat the defender, but to retain or win back the ball when challenged; well that & the decision making/over carrying when in a good position. So often we lose the ball cheaply or lack the strength & aggression to win a 50:50, maybe even a 55:45 ball. Broadhead has been better at that, despite his physique, and I think that's why we have all been calling for him to start of late, but at this stage of a season, when our position is a perilous as it clearly is, there is a lot to be said for sides first of all demonstrating that they have the fight for the battle. That's why the Philogene signing, and for that money, was a bit surprising, as he is more of the same in a sense - young, tricky & unproven at PL level - when perhaps we needed a more experienced, wily old Pro type to mix it up. He may not like the idea, but if we do manage to get another striker today or tomorrow, there is an argument to play Delap in the right-sided attacker role in order to win the ball & carry it into the box, in a way that others, including Omari (who tends to have his best moments closer to the halfway line) have been unable to manage. Hirst and whoever comes in would certainly appreciate that. It is surprising, that following promotion in early May last year, and £120m+ spent, with 3 expensive loans & a Bosman brought in, we are now into February without the manager really knowing what his best team is & unlike all previous seasons under him, the sense that we are probably further behind the other sides in the league than we were at the start of the season.

9

SpiritOfJohn added 09:18 - Feb 2 Extremely disappointing result yesterday. Enciso, Broadhead and Delap all looked lively in the first half and we should have scored more, but in the second half we ran out of ideas. Unfortunately, Broadhead doesn't seem able to last more than 45 minutes. I felt that KM should have been bolder with his subs and should have brought on Hirst to play up top with Delap in support. We gave the initiative to Southampton, who were really poor and there for the taking. Hoping that Slicker can take his opportunity next week.

3

brendenward35 added 09:54 - Feb 2 To many players going for glory not playing as a team because of too many changes. How many times did our players get the ball in midfield and fail to pick out a player for the end result. Spirit of the team has gone and McKenna and Ashton are to blame for that.
2

jayceee added 10:50 - Feb 2 Entitlement of some of our fans is a bit hard to stomach sometimes. Nobody could ague that we are not a year or three in the EPL sooner than expected. It was never going to be easy, and if we are to survive, it's going to go down to the wire. I've still faith we will survive despite the odds looking a bit longer than we'd hoped. We could lose half a dozen more games between now and the end of the season and still survive. Until it's mathematically impossible, we should celebrate every point, every goal, stay positive and enjoy the journey no matter the outcome. Some of our fans may have given up already, but I'm certain KmK and our players have not.

-2

BlueRuin69 added 11:00 - Feb 2 McKenna and Ashton have fallen at the last hurdle. World class team spirit and togetherness utterly destroyed in a few short months.
3

aas1010 added 11:26 - Feb 2 Muric out ‘ another decent striker , playmaker midfielder and proper goal keeper
0

Cheshire_Blue added 11:42 - Feb 2 This looks to me like a repeat of our last relegation from the Premier League. Millions wasted on a bunch of misfits who never gelled as a team, with a couple of exceptions. Kieran McK has done well but has he taken us as far as he is able ?
1

Stato added 12:00 - Feb 2 Not a single Ipswich player picked up a booking. Speaks volumes for the lack of fight shown by a team who were told it wasn't a must win game. Ignoring the dfaft Encisco challenge at Liverpool only Delap and Woolfy been booked in last 4 games. Yet we got 9 cards in the games against Chelsea and Fulham and points in both.
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Tedray added 12:03 - Feb 2 The most noticeable thing every week is how many physical big players all the opposition teams possess compared apart from Delap to our front quartet.Is our recruitment team looking for the wrong type of player.It is a bit late now as the money has been spent.In addition the midfield is dreadfully weak and urgently needs reinforcement.in the current situation other weaknesses are being exposed - for instance never thought Broadhead would score and what about Jaden - early days but not impressed so far by this managers must have. The GK has been commented on elswhere it is all very sad and not looking good.Rather clutching at straws now.

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