admin“It will be biggest achievement”- “Kieran McKenna’s Defining Moment? Ipswich Legend Reveals What Could Be Coming!”
Ipswich Town’s Return to the Championship Off to a Rocky Start
Ipswich Town and manager Kieran McKenna have struggled to find form in their return to the Championship, following relegation from the Premier League last season.
Given the club’s transfer activity both last season and over the summer, Ipswich were widely tipped to be strong contenders for the Championship title. However, their current league position tells a different story.
The Tractor Boys sit 17th in the table, with just one win from their first five Championship matches. Their standing could worsen depending on the EFL’s ruling on the abandoned match against Blackburn Rovers at the weekend.
This disappointing start has prompted a reaction from club legend Alex Mathie, who believes Ipswich may have already blown their chances of automatic promotion.
Mathie: Reaching the Play-Offs Would Be McKenna’s Greatest Achievement
Former Ipswich striker Alex Mathie expressed his concerns during an interview with Radio Suffolk, as reported by the East Anglian Daily Times.
He suggested that if McKenna manages to guide the club to the play-offs, it would represent the greatest accomplishment of his managerial career to date.
“It’s going to take time for McKenna to shape the team into his vision,” Mathie said. “Getting this side into promotion contention would be his biggest achievement.”
“At this stage, I’d be thrilled with a play-off spot—but it’s going to be a tough challenge. A number of teams are already ahead of us, but you never know what can happen.”
He added: “I don’t see us finishing in the top two. We haven’t hit the ground running. But if we reach the play-offs, maybe we can hit form at the right time.”
Concerns Over Ipswich’s Defence
Heading into the season, defenders Jacob Greaves and Dara O’Shea were expected to form one of the strongest centre-back pairings in the Championship. However, their performances so far have raised concerns.
Mathie pointed out their lack of cohesion and suggested that Ipswich’s failure to sign Sebastián Cáceres in the summer may have contributed to their defensive frailty.
“They’re getting exposed too often,” he explained. “They push forward and leave one behind, which is exactly what happened with Blackburn’s goal.
One ball over the top beat us. They need to work better both individually and as a pair.”
“They’re both talented centre-halves, but as a partnership, they haven’t clicked yet.”
admin
