Town boss Kieran McKenna felt his players and fans could be proud of their efforts following their 2-2 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, despite the Blues having led 2-0 at half-time.

Although Town missed out on a first double of the season and a first over the West Londoners since 1978/79, McKenna’s side were given a rapturous reception by their 3,000-strong travelling support at the end.

“I think the reaction was deserved and I thought the players and the supporters did themselves proud,” said McKenna, whose 2-1 home loss to Wolves last week all but confirmed relegation back to the Championship after one season.

“We knew it was going to be a really difficult game. We knew we were coming into it in a challenging situation, not just league position and stuff like that, but availability and injury, and playing against a fully motivated and almost full-strength Chelsea, so it was always going to be tough.

“The scorelines didn’t always go with the flow of the game. In the first half, we certainly weren’t at our best with the ball and it probably looked like there was a bit of nervousness in there at the start of the game.

“But we were really, really clinical, took our moments fantastically well, executed in the areas that we wanted to execute in the game plan and we defended with a lot of resilience and probably a little bit of luck, to be honest.

“In the second half, I actually thought we played better than the first half. We had more chances and for lots of the second it was a pretty even game with both teams pushing for the goals.

“We were disappointed to concede right from kick-off [in the second half], that was a big setback, but I think the response to it was very, very good.

“And from that moment, where it could end up a really, really difficult second half, it was actually, until [Jadon] Sancho’s goal, a pretty even second half and we looked as likely to get our second goal as they did their second goal.

“Of course, a brilliant moment from Jadon to score and make it 2-2 and then both teams were going for the win.

“It took a couple of great saves from Alex Palmer, to be fair, but we had our moments going up the other end.

“It was a really good game and the players gave everything to it again and I think they can be proud of their efforts.”

McKenna felt a draw was a fair enough result: “I think Chelsea had the better chances over the game but I think that was always going to be the case.

“But I think for the number of chances we created and the quality of our chances for an away team, I think we deserved something from the game, and we could have won it at the end, we could have lost it at the end.

“I think for us to compete with Chelsea as we have over the two games is testament to the group.”

Despite the Blues, now 14 points off safety, being set for Championship football in 2025/26, with their demotion potentially being mathematically confirmed as soon as next week, McKenna was proud of the performance and taking four points off a club as big as Chelsea this season, Town having won 2-0 at Portman Road in December.

“I think we can take great pride in it,” he said. “I think the background of our team, our group today and the journey that a lot of those players have been on is huge.

“So to come here and compete, I’m really proud of them on an individual level, but you also look at the spirit and then organisation and the commitment that the group showed today.

“And that’s a group of players, some of them have been here through the promotions, some have arrived later this season, some are on loan, you’ve got some lads out of contract, some lads in contract at the end of the season, but you’ve seen a group that are there fighting for themselves, fighting for each other and fighting for their club and you can’t ask for too much more from them than that.

“In terms of competing in the game, I think we should be pleased. Our first half record in games this season, from where we’ve come from, is really, really good.

“That’s not something we’re going to take great satisfaction from in the summer, I’m not going to enjoy my holidays any better because we were really good in the first half, but it’s a real testament to the way that we work, the way the players commit to training, the way they commit to the game plans, the way that we’ve approached games.

“But the step up has been really, really big and there are lots of different reasons why we haven’t always been able to to turn performances and positions into points.

“That’s, of course, a disappointment but I know there’s a lot of good underlying work going on here at the club and in the group and if that continues then the club will be in a great position.”

Asked about the biggest challenges coming into the Premier League, McKenna was in no doubt: “It’s certainly a big jump, the biggest jump is the physical and the individual quality level of the players, that’s it. And that is a financial jump because that comes from the Premier League’s strength and the quality of the players that can be attracted and paid for.

“And that quality now doesn’t run at the very top of the league, it runs right down through every team who can establish themselves in the Premier League for one season.

“I think the strength of the league this season is very, very strong in terms of the depth of that strength across the league.

“It looks like it’s been too much of a mountain for us this season in terms of picking up the points we would have wanted, we’ve not been too far away from it, but it looks like we’re not going to be able to climb that mountain.

“The three teams [promoted last season, Town, Leicester and Southampton] competed in what was said to be the strongest Championship ever. Leicester were labelled the strongest team in Championship history, Leeds not far off of it, the biggest budget in Championship history, but the step for all three teams has been too big.

“For us, we know that our journey is very, very different to Leicester’s and Southampton’s but the three teams that competed at the very top end of that division last year haven’t been able to compete this year and the reason why in my opinion is the strength of the league and the strength of the players that teams can bring and can develop.”

Meanwhile, Ipswich Town Women all but confirmed the FAWNL Southern Premier Division title and promotion to the Women’s Championship for the first time with an 11-0 win at MK Dons. They are three points ahead with a goal difference 36 better than second-place Hashtag United’s with only one game to play, in the Blues’ case at home to Cheltenham Town in a fortnight’s time.

“That would be one to celebrate for them and for the club,” McKenna paid tribute. “A great result for them today.

“So that’s pretty much it done and it will be confirmed in a home game which I said to [manager Joe Sheehan] is always the best way to do it, to make sure he times it well, and I think he’s timed it well, so now he can enjoy the celebrations properly after a home game.”

TWTD

Dennyx4 added 17:55 - Apr 13 Good point, Johnson had a really good game. The togetherness is still there. Hope Jaden’s injury isn’t too bad. Point of note, we are only 14 points from safety, not 17 as stated.
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ITFCson added 17:59 - Apr 13 17 points off safety…maths isn’t a strong point then of whoever does the write ups
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ArnieM added 18:11 - Apr 13 West Ham on 35 pts...us on 21pts. That's 14 pts differential ...allowing for -GD wed needsnother 16 pts to be better points wise than West ham. Final game of the season is........... wet spam... not that it will be relevant by then, but what a 6 pointer that'd be lol
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grinch added 19:26 - Apr 13 Again we let a leadvslip and Mk says team did us proud...dont think so we let a half time 2 nil lead slip and were mihhty lucky Palmer was alert at end. MK game management this season has got us relegated. In previous seasons it was good but he has vost us more points than Muric and he jas been crucified fixle supports MK has not been upto the task. Today was the case again why was Davis playing it kills Clark why drop broadhead. Townsend been fine. MK deserves critisism in more ways than one

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BlueNomad added 19:44 - Apr 13 Grinch, I’m guessing you started “supporting” the club last summer!
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grinch added 20:05 - Apr 13 No Nomad but like any other job if you aint good enough then you should be gone..he earns 5million a year and has been pathetic since Oct really so no supported the club for more than 50 years and this season has been poor as and manager must take the blame. If they get rid now a new manager can then build his team for championship then an other season to build for premiership

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Tampa_Florida_Blue added 20:54 - Apr 13 Considering that most games this season we have had 5,6,or7 players on the field who 2 seasons ago was playing 1st division football for us, I feel we have over achieved this season. The quality and speed of play has stepped up considerably over those 2 years. I for 1 are extremely proud of those 1st division players and all the players.
10

poet added 21:44 - Apr 13 Great performance. Thought we should have won. Great support. Not such a great report, we are 14 points from safety, and not 17 as this report shows. Still, everyone makes typos.
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BlueNomad added 23:05 - Apr 13 Grinch, you clearly fail to take any of the factors affecting us as a result of our rapid rise, added to which have been the many injuries etc we have suffered. You see it purely in binary terms. Sorry but your 50 years have taught you little.
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Bazza8564 added 08:41 - Apr 14 You only have to look at Fulham and Bornemouth to see that adapting to the PL isnt a "one promotion" thing. Forest and Brentford did it by the skin of their teeth, but not from league one. The priority now is keeping a couple of the loanees, Jens and Julio if we possibly can, and using the money from the two who appear likely to depart, Delap and Davis to invest and go again. If we can do that, watch out championship next season because that core squad is really really strong.

5

FreddySteady added 08:46 - Apr 14 I’m not convinced too many clubs will come in for Leif at the end of the season now. His defensive skills have been found lacking at this level, at least in the role he’s been asked to play with us.
0

Motown added 08:58 - Apr 14 It may feel like small consolation, but the fact that we haven't panicked and sacked our manager is the reason we're going to finish best of the promoted teams, with a squad still fully committed and together and fans still united behind the whole club. I'm proud of that and it puts us in a great position for next season.
3

BobbyBell added 09:37 - Apr 14 I'm old enough to remember a young Bobby Robson learning his trade here. Many wanted him sacked in his early years but the Cobbolds stuck with him and allowed him to develop great sides that played great football. KM is young and learning and has the clubs backing. I believe that continuity and togetherness will reap rewards. The away support this season has been awesome and shows that the supporters still believe in a bright future for our club.

3

virginblue added 14:05 - Apr 14 Is Grinch related to Lee James?
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Leejames99 added 17:34 - Apr 14 @grinch Your absolutely right what your saying, Mckenna has no backbone to drop his faves, if Burns hadn't got injured I was waiting for him to start in goal. The league 1 lads (majority) are not Prem players by any stretch, having a 33 year midfielder jogging around pointing is joke, absolutely right re Davis he make J Clarke have to move in. As you have just found you are not allowed to say anything at all about the league one lads or Mckenna, some fans on here would rather we were in league 1 and keep those players than in Prem with new players. It's obvious Mckenna signings were bought for Championship promotion winning side but he also integrates these league 1/ Championship lads but they all be sold now as they will have profit on them, I'm counting days to be honest, yestday squad of 20 had 10 league 1 lads and that is simply not Prem standard. Yes they are legends but time to move on. If Mckenna is struggling without his faves a change will be needed. Id get Dyche, no nonsense manager knows how to get straight back up, straight talking. Mckenna had his free pass now.

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