Manager Kieran McKenna felt his team did “a pretty good job” at 11 v 11 against Newcastle United but that the challenge was too big following Ben Johnson’s red card.

The Magpies went on to cruise to a 3-0 victory but until the 37th-minute dismissal Town had limited the Champions League-pushing side despite having 10 players unavailable and others on the bench short of fitness.

“We’ve come here in a really difficult situation, not just in terms of the league but in terms of availability,” McKenna said. “Getting a fit squad and team out with players in the right position has been a challenge this week.

“We knew Newcastle are in fantastic form at home with great momentum and have blown the last couple of opponents away, so we knew we had to manage the game well and try and take some of that momentum away in the early stages.

“And I thought we did a pretty good job of that and carried a little bit of a threat going the other way.

“And at 11 v 11, I think we can take pride in terms of how we’ve managed a really difficult game. With 11 v 10, the challenge was just too big, so it didn’t go our way.”

Regarding Johnson’s dismissal for two bookable offences, he said: “I think the first yellow is the key decision, in my opinion. I think we’re really frustrated with that one because as I saw it at the time, Ben Johnson’s running through, takes a touch past the last man and is running at pretty much full pelt with the ball.

“Dan Burn sticks his leg out, his foot and his knee across Ben. Whether there’s minimum contact, little contact, no contact, I don’t know, but I think it’s natural for the forward in that situation to go over the contact. You don’t have to get smashed by the defender, it’s natural to ride the contact.

“Of course, whether it’s a foul or no foul is really, really marginal and there will be 100 slow motion replays to see what contact there was that I haven’t seen, but I don’t think there’s any need to give a yellow card. It’s not simulation, he’s not that type of player, I think he’s expecting the contact when Dan Burn sticks his leg out and he tries to get out of the way of the contact.

“If the referee doesn’t think it’s a free-kick then fair enough, but to book a full-back in that situation makes it really, really difficult.

“The second yellow, I think in isolation you can say a yellow can be given but when it’s a player’s first foul of the game and the first yellow is a couple of minutes earlier and was very debatable, in my opinion, I’ve said that because it happened earlier in the season.

“I think a red card in football is such a big thing that there should be room for discretion in those areas when it’s a first foul and it’s very close after a very debatable yellow card.

“We’ve had a couple of those this season, we had Axel Tuanzebe [at Aston Villa]. Twice the full-back has been sent off for two yellows for one foul and that’s pretty tough to take.

“I think that had a big impact on the game today. It was tough and it was going to be tough. It had a big impact on the game today but in terms of reflecting on the whole season and stuff like that, we’re not going put it all or hide behind referees in any way.”

McKenna had sympathy with Jack Clarke, who was withdrawn for the second game running as the Blues sought to strengthen at the back following a red card, Leif Davis having been given his marching orders against Arsenal at Portman Road last weekend.

“Frustrating for him,” the Northern Irishman continued. “I thought he started well, to be honest.

“We spoke about it yesterday, he obviously played against Kieran Trippier last year with Sunderland and it was a big challenge.

“He was really looking forward to the game and I thought it was a good tussle. They were both going at it and I thought it was set to be a really good battle.

“Really frustrated for him, but he's taken some good progress in different areas and he's going to be at the club for the long-term and hopefully he can keep improving.”

Regarding the penalty from which Alexander Isak scored Newcastle’s opening goal following a foul by Julio Enciso on Jacob Murphy, a decision given by VAR after referee Michael Salisbury initially waved away protests, the Blues boss added: “I’ve not pored over it, it looks like there’s a touch, so it can be given.”

The defeat confirmed Town’s relegation from the Premier League and McKenna was asked if there was anything different he would have done if he had his time again.

“Today it’s mathematically to catch teams but you reflect as the season goes on and probably since the Wolves game we’ve known that the climb was going to be too big,” he continued.

“Of course, there are things to reflect on, of course there are things that we’ll look back at and think we could have done better or differently.

“But we look back from a position where we’ve tried to do the right thing in a pretty unique jump coming from League One to the Premier League in two seasons, which hasn’t been done in a very long time and I’m not sure it will be done in the way we did it again. There isn’t really a rulebook for that.

“People can see that the jump from the Championship to the Premier League has grown and has become really difficult and we were in a pretty unique position in the summer.

“We’ve tried to act in the best interests of the long-term future of the club, while still giving us a chance to be competitive this year. I think we’ve been competitive for the most part.

“We couldn’t have worked any harder and we’ve tried to do the right things. Of course, there are things that we’ll look back on and think we’ve made good decisions and done the right things and there are things we’ll look back on and think certain things didn’t work out or we could have done a little bit differently. But those reflections are always going to be in detail best kept in-house.”

McKenna believes the club is still on an upward curve, despite their stay in the Premier League lasting only one season.

“I think it’s definitely so from where we were a few years ago,” he insisted. “To establish in the Premier League following the two promotions this season would have been fantastic and we’ve given it our best shot but we’re going to fall short.

“But I think in almost every aspect, from work at the training ground, work at the stadium, staff infrastructure, people infrastructure, the squad, strength and development of players, I think in every area we’re much stronger than we were a couple of years ago.

“That doesn’t guarantee us anything, there’s no guarantee that we continue that progression but if we work hard again, if we continued to work as hard as we are, if we do the right things, if we make the right decisions, I think the club’s got a great chance to push on again.”

At the end, the Town players and staff were given a warm reception by their supporters sat high in the Leazes Stand Stand and McKenna said it meant a lot.

“It does,” he said. “We’ve had it plenty of weeks and it’s humbling and incredibly appreciated. I think we’ve got an incredible supporter base, as the team we faced today do and there are some similarities there and the singing for Sir Bobby [Robson] at the end was fantastic.

“The reception that we got is so appreciated, it’s humbling and we want to keep earning it. We know it’s not just for our efforts this year. I think the supporters can see that the players have given everything today, as they have on so many days, but we’ve fallen short.

“But they know that everyone’s given everything, but they also know that the journey has been an incredible one and this is now a step back but if we stick together and do the right things it can still be a great springboard to push on again. We really appreciate it.”

Photo: TWTD

flykickingbybgunn added 19:02 - Apr 26 It is always noticed when players have given all they have and it is appriciated. The same goes for supporters. Makes you proud to be a Blue
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Edmundo added 19:02 - Apr 26 Always a good bond with Newcastle supporters. They are a welcoming lot after the match, and we hope to be up there again In a couple of years. Forget today's result, it's almost irrelevant. COYB.
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FromReuserWithLove added 19:03 - Apr 26 "“I’ve not pored over it, it looks like there’s a touch, so it can be given.” Come on Keiran we would have let you take a suspension on this one fella.
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algarvefan added 19:05 - Apr 26 I know some will moan about what KM has said but he is so right, he is the man to take us forward alongside Mark Ashton, the club is in good hands and the fans especially the away fans have been fantastic. Thanks to Keiran and his team for all their efforts but sometimes it's all a bit too much. We shall regroup and go again in KM I trust.
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Town1Inter0 added 19:30 - Apr 26 Can we get a decent set-piece coach for next season and for a return to the PL? For defence as well as attack
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Facefacts added 19:42 - Apr 26 It's the Leazes End
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Leejames99 added 19:53 - Apr 26 Just woke nonsense, he genuinely believes his own waffle, said the same thing after every single game, he and Morsy i dont understand how they think we were doing well at 11 v 11, he already making excuses for not going back up and with him and his philosophy we wont, he will change nothing, same players same system, same philosophy, worrying times for owners now
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MickMillsTash added 20:25 - Apr 26 Johnson goes down under minimal contact and gets booked They go down under minimal contact and they get a pen I think our set pieces have been better recently- we just mess them up , O shea at the back post at Chelsea and Delap unmarked today do not come about by accident, defending them is not so sharp Is anyone thinking that Palmer is rubbish - where was he for their 2nd, he was too small for the 3rd and his kicking is useless. Get Hladky back

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warfarinman69 added 20:34 - Apr 26 LeeJames. We were doing well at 11v11. It was Nil-Nil. Fact.
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ThaiBlue added 20:54 - Apr 26 Been a challenge all season to be fair.
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Leejames99 added 21:15 - Apr 26 @warfarinman69 It might of been 0-0 but the whole game was being played in the Ipswich half. Newcastle were just finding their feet. They had 73% possession 11 corners, 25 shots (5 on target) in total. We had 2 corners 5 shots 0 on target, that is the facts , need to not hang on Mckennas every word its just deflection, ive never seen anything like this before in football that the manager with the worst records in the clubs history Is treated like some sort of god for a league 1 promotion, a fluke promotion and a horrific relegation

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dca77 added 23:45 - Apr 26 A fluke promotion you thick tw*t. If you were angling for a bite you’ve got it here, happy to be kicked off if I don’t have to read any more of your toxic b*llsh*t. Feck off and support someone else you horrific feck. Best regards.
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barrystedmunds added 23:49 - Apr 26 It’s ironic that KMcK is accused of believing his own waffle! Couldn’t possibly level that at some on here! Every thread. Extremely booooooooring.
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Gforce added 23:53 - Apr 26 @Leejames......I'm sorry but our promotion last season was no fluke,28 wins and only 6 defeats all season, I think proves that.
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Leejames99 added 00:29 - Apr 27 @gforce okay not fluke, a miracle, good goalkeeping, form of Hutchinson and couple good loans. Its irrelevant we relegated. Oh a new one, in a tantrum hello @DWP77 Been on the beers? Toxic BS, so anyone who disagrees that with you is not allowed to have an opinion, you go and support Colchester if you want to see lower league football and applaud losing and have no ambition for IpswichbTown Football Club. Doesn't matter if it was a fluke, a miracle, or the greatest promotion of all time, its history, we are relegated with the same players and sane manager and the worst records in club history so you applaud away and wash your mouth out with soap. @Barrystedmonds Told you before don't like my opinion just don't read it, very easy.

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jayceee added 02:36 - Apr 27 @Leejames99 "Just woke nonsense"... You know that says more about you than anything you point you could be trying to make, right? We suspected you're an idiot, and now we know for sure. You're just here to wind people up on the day we're relegated... but it makes sense that'd you'd use brain dead language like that.
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poet added 05:49 - Apr 27 Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but when someone makes comments born out of nothing more than feeble attempts at trying to sound clever, they abuse that privilege and nullify any interest in the content of their posts. Failing miserably at trying to sound clever, exposes themselves to all that spend time reading their regurgitated and repetitive garbage.
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BotesdaleBlue added 07:54 - Apr 27 Well said poet.
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Leejames99 added 08:30 - Apr 27 @jaycee Who exactly do you think you are? Pushing the agenda that If someone doesn't agree with your narrative then they must not be a supporter or have mental health problems or be brain dead, thats the woke nonsense that we now live in a culture where if an opinion is not agreed with its abuse not stop. I am not here to wind people up I am just giving my opinion on how I personally think the club should go forward and there is no better day than the day we got relegated. I respect anyone's oponion its a forum but I do not agree with applauding the worst season in the club's history backed up with things like 'we tried hard' , 'we will bounce back stronger', 'Its bad signi gs','its long term injuries', 'It's Muric', 'we are best of bottom three', 'Next season will be better with 'Burns and Chaplin', 'we will bounce back stronger', In Mckenna we trust' its every excuse accept the facts, Davis was diabolical, Morsy too old, Mckenna too soft and arrogant, you can't compete in Prem with league 1 players. Look at Yesterday,Newcastle bri g on Anthony Gordon and we bring on Luongo He has Cajuste on bench who was injured, how bad a manager is it to let an injured player travel to Newcastle even if he wanted too. And who is 'We'? So this isn't a forum and is like a cult because you say opinions are allowed but only ones you agree with, that's not democracy that's dictatorship. There are some really articulate posters who dont agree with me but will put their arguement across without abuse and name calling and obscenities. If you know everything answer this - We got relegated, we were always likely to get relegated, the owners and Ashton and many supporters outside of this forum would like to see Ipswich Town football club as an established Premier League club, we competed okay but ultimately the gulf at the moment is massive, we were found out tactically etc so the majority say we will bounce back once the fine margins ironed out etc so we are only allowed 25 players in Championship, we have 4 loans going 5 coming back. So we have the squad as big as it can be. You want Mckenna and all the league 1 signings to stay, we know most can compete in Championship but not in the Prem and the standard will be the same next year. Alot have contracts up in 2026 and won't play in Prem if we got back there, we need to mould a team who can first of all get us promoted again and secondly be equipped to stay up So with that in mind out of the squad 26 players, we will have at end of season, who goes? And who stays? And if all the league 1 lot stay how do we possibly improve? And if Mckenna stays how is he going to improve when he is following his philosophy and doesn't want or like change? Straightforward question what's the masterplan to match the owners ambitions? @poet as per you literally described your own post with your own post, with no topic that's an art form, have you got on opinion on how and with who we get back to Prem with, or you like rest trying to grind me down with insults?

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poet added 09:00 - Apr 27 Leejames99 You are the only poster who has responded to my post. Can’t think why!
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Leejames99 added 09:42 - Apr 27 @poet I responded because it was an attempt at undermining my opinion. Still can't answer question can you, none of Mckenna fanclub can, very straightforward, who stays, who goes and who then has the ability from squad now to become established in the Prem and how will Mckenna do it with his favourites who just got us relegated? And I'd love some insight on which teams we are better than in top half of Chsmpionship? Boro, Saints, Leicester, Birmingham, Wrexham, West Brom, Luton, Sunderland, Sheff Utd to blame a few breezing past them are we, obvs 1 will go up? All them teams will want to get back in Prem. We haven't beaten Southampton or Leicester this season so why would we next? Leicester have us and Southampton still to play so they are likely to go above us and then watch Man City will go down, Leicester stay up and that's another huge team to contend with! No answers only excuses

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MickMillsTash added 10:35 - Apr 27 Our biggest issue this year, and in some games last year, has been physicality. How many times have we controlled the ball and the opposition has jumped in and held off our player ? We needed to address this in the summer whether we went up or not and the majority of our signings have not been physically stronger or quick enough. The signing of Philogene seemed to be a confused one in my eyes Maybe we have all been drawn into thinking that McKenna is capable of turning water into Wine - the previous 2 seasons suggested he might be able to but everyone has a limit. We are in a better position than so many clubs below us - Coventry 4-1 showed that we have better finishers, we should have beaten Southampton and Leicester in all the games we played this season and we could easily have lost all 4 games last season against these 2 - so maybe progress is being made against the other clubs with parachute payments. West Brom have lost key players and Jed Wallace is now 50. Birmingham, Wrexham are unknown have momentum and can maybe compete but they will be looking at us and naming 8 players who can score 10 goals + at this level Who knows what the squad looks like in August but I'm pretty optimistic that we will be in the top 4 at least. Off the pitch the recruitment has to learn and improve.

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Leejames99 added 12:38 - Apr 27 @mickmillstash Nice Post and I respect your opinion totally. It's seems that again though there is no mention of the lack of quality capable of Premier League football and the signings thing everyone talks who are weak is surely only Phillogene, J Clarke and Hutchibson and it was the first to that ran Coventry down and both have a big turn of pave, they did so well because they both played in their natural positions in FA Cup. The two newly promoted clubs will attract very good signings as will Wrexham, If Sheff Utd or Sunderland don't go up they both have good squads, Leicester will have a fresh start, Southampton will have a huge amount of money to spend as they have some individuals who will go, Boro have good squad, Luton are similar to Ipswich with league 1 players who once their Prem experienced talent left they were nothing, Adebayo got 10 in the Prem only handful this year so shows how important Gareth Barry, Ogbene and Andros Townsend were. We have the speed and talented forwards and wings potent in fact but the problem is Mckenna won't play them. We need defense solid and that means a new LB to vover Townsend and a RB if Tunazabe goes. Davis will be first name on Mckennas team sheet and playing him makes wingers pointless, he will have Davis on left and Burns on right, he can't let go and that's why we may do okay top 10 but if we did win promotion again we know they aren't good enough in Prem so surely we need the next generation in securing Prem status. I think it was the old signings (not all) and Mckennas stubborness is why we are relegated. Palmer was shocking yesterday but like me Muric is hated on here and he could be the difference his statsvwhen Burnley went up are excellent. Appreciate your opinion without abuse.

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jonnysuave added 19:57 - Apr 27 We went up far too early, we needed time to improve and couldn't cope with the World class players and teams we have been up against. No-one should be blamed for that. We, as fans lucked out for a great season last year, this year was always a stretch - loaded against all three teams that came up. THE most disappointing thing, and it happens here too often, is fans turning on each other. Apart from the ones that turn up away again and again, generally our fans could do a lot better. Its likely we will have a good season next year. Everyone should be behind the efforts we make. Progress doesn't come easy, but it's progress we are making.

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norfsufblue added 08:09 - Apr 28 Theres a simple truth that after promotion last year the club was not in a position to buy the ready made players to help stayin the league. We just wasn't set up for it. I guess we had planned on getting promoted to the championship that it might take a year or two but our brilliant manager managed a minor miracle. Then the plan had to change obviously, we possibly had not been able to scout extensively enough to find those foriegn gems (who knows if the Greek fella might have been a star?) So i think we probably " stuck to the plan" and bought the best of the young Championship talent.... promotion just meant we could buy more of them!.... We are definitely not the same club as we were at the end of the Evans era butthe owners have done well so far yo retain the family feel and thats help us by and large to stay together as a fanbase with the Club. I dont expect sucess next year but i am absolutey sure we wont muck about with not trying to execute the plan which i believe was always a proper push for the Premier League in 2025/26. .

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