Ipswich Town’s brief return to the top flight ended with a whimper on Saturday. They endured a painful 3-0 loss to Newcastle United. This grief guaranteed their demotion, sending them down after only one season in the top tier. Kieran McKenna, the team’s manager, observed the match with resignation, aware that his side’s struggles had ultimately sealed their fate.
Ipswich could only pick up four victories all season long, finishing with just 21 points. The story of their performance against Newcastle was their togetherness, resilience and fighting spirit. Their defense held strong, despite an early blow when Ben Johnson was issued a red card on two yellows in the first half. This folly turned the tide of the match and highlighted the lack of discipline that for much of the season, mi…
Kieran McKenna acknowledged this issue, stating, “That’s five – I think we had one in my two and a half years before this season. To have five this season is a reflection of a lot of things.” The manager was visibly frustrated as he pointed out that these red cards had severely affected their campaign.
Though the result was disappointing, McKenna said he was thankful to Ipswich’s fans for their continued support throughout what has been a difficult season. They know the bunch has left it all on the floor and battled through all these contests. In the end we have come up short but it’s not for a lack of trying. They’ve been great and we’re very thankful for that support,” he said.
On the one hand, the match against Newcastle reinforced the narrative that this is a team brimming with world class players. They’re focused on clinching a place in next season’s Champions League. This divisive gap made the odds even harsher for Ipswich, who could rarely keep up at this new level competitively.
Reflecting on the final outcome, McKenna remarked, “We’ve been through it the last few weeks, we knew it was pretty likely, and we had conversations inside to focus on each game as they come.” This feeling sums up the team’s plucky spirit during a terrible season, as well as acknowledging that their relegation is a formality.
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