Kieran McKenna proud of Ipswich season despite missing out on title

By Sports Desk May 07, 2023

Ipswich missed out on the League One title but manager Kieran McKenna hailed his team’s “incredible” season after a final-game 2-2 draw at Fleetwood.

Substitutes Freddie Ladapo and Marcus Harness took runners-up Town’s final league goal tally to 101 and a 19th game unbeaten.

But a second-half double from one-time Ipswich academy product Jack Marriott denied the visitors a chance to rack up a century of points.

Ladapo and Harness scored either side of Marriott’s brace while Town finished with 10 men after Harry Clarke’s stoppage-time dismissal for his second booking.

“It wasn’t our best performance and we didn’t hit the levels we did across the large majority of the season,” said McKenna.

“We finished at home with a 6-0 (win over Exeter) which was such a wonderful day, probably the best day in a lot of the players’ lives.

“We wanted to hit those levels again but the players are only human.

“They and the staff work so hard and train to levels of intensity and professionalism that are really high.

“That is why performances have been at the consistent levels they have been.

“We didn’t have that same edge and intensity this week for obvious reasons.

“When we don’t we aren’t such a good team. It was a little reminder for everyone going into next season that what separates us is the intensity and focus that we work with day to day.

“That’s what we need to do many times over next year. But I have great pride in the season.

“We wanted to finish it off with a win but there is still an awful lot to be pleased about.

“It has been an incredible season in so many ways on and off the pitch. Everyone can take the next week to enjoy that.

“But after that we will be already starting to refocus for next season to be as ready as we can be.”

Fleetwood’s point saw them finish 13th, drawing both games with promoted Town.

“We need to make sure we push towards the play-offs (next season),” said manager Scott Brown. “Or as far up the league as we possibly can.

“Our budget won’t be anywhere near some of the teams in this league. But the chairman has ambition so I think we all must dream high.

“Over the two games against Ipswich we competed really well against a team who has been promoted.

“We knew they would come here expecting to win. But we didn’t worry about them and our performance typified our season.

“There was no pressure on us so we could go and show our talent and compete.”

Related items

  • Birmingham 3-1 Wrexham: Stansfield brace hands hosts Hollywood derby bragging rights Birmingham 3-1 Wrexham: Stansfield brace hands hosts Hollywood derby bragging rights

    Jay Stansfield struck either side of half-time to give 10-man Birimingham a huge 3-1 victory over fellow promotion hopefuls Wrexham on Monday. 

    A game dubbed the 'Hollywood derby' was given a blockbuster start when Jack Marriot smashed home the opening goal for the visitors with just two minutes on the clock. 

    But Birmingham's £10million recruit Stansfield soon levelled the scores, being the first to react to Alfie May's effort that was parried into his path by Arthur Okonkwo. 

    The hosts then took hold of the encounter as May and Taylor Gardner-Hickman went close, but the game entered the break finely poised at St. Andrew's.

    However, Blues' dominance prevailed seven minutes after the restart with Stansfield's header picking out the far corner following Alex Cochrane's pinpoint cross. 

    And the points were sealed just before the hour-mark in stunning fashion as Tomoki Iwata's strike from distance smashed in off the post, much to the delight of minority owner Tom Brady in the stands.

    A fiesty conclusion to proceedings saw Chris Davies' side end the game with a man less after Krystian Bielik was shown a second yellow card for a late tackle on Andrew Cannon, but Birmingham were able to hold on for the win. 

    Data Debrief: The American dream

    Much was made of Birmingham's approach to the transfer window after spending £25m in their attempts to return the Championship at the first time of asking, but their biggest investment proved his worth on Monday.

    Stansfield notched his first two goals for the club since his permanent switch from Fulham, but the Blues striker also played a starring role in the encounter. 

    He registered an expected goals (xG) tally of 1.12 to Birmingham's 1.3 total, while he also produced more shots on target (three) and touches in the opposition box (six) than any other player. 

  • Birmingham 3-1 Wrexham: Stansfield brace earns hosts Hollywood derby win Birmingham 3-1 Wrexham: Stansfield brace earns hosts Hollywood derby win

    Jay Stansfield struck either side of half-time to give 10-man Birimingham a huge 3-1 victory over fellow promotion hopefuls Wrexham on Monday. 

    A game dubbed the 'Hollywood derby' was given a blockbuster start when Jack Marriot smashed home the opening goal for the visitors with just two minutes on the clock. 

    But Birmingham's £10million recruit Stansfield soon levelled the scores, being the first to react to Alfie May's effort that was parried into his path by Arthur Okonkwo. 

    The hosts then took hold of the encounter as May and Taylor Gardner-Hickman went close, but the game entered the break finely poised at St. Andrew's.

    However, Blues' dominance prevailed seven minutes after the restart with Stansfield's header picking out the far corner following Alex Cochrane's pinpoint cross. 

    And the points were sealed just before the hour-mark in stunning fashion as Tomoki Iwata's strike from distance smashed in off the post, much to the delight of minority owner Tom Brady in the stands.

    A fiesty conclusion to proceedings saw Chris Davies' side end the game with a man less after Krystian Bielik was shown a second yellow card for a late tackle on Andrew Cannon, but Birmingham were able to hold on for the win. 

    Data Debrief: The American dream

    Much was made of Birmingham's approach to the transfer window after spending £25m in their attempts to return the Championship at the first time of asking, but their biggest investment proved his worth on Monday.

    Stansfield notched his first two goals for the club since his permanent switch from Fulham, but the Blues striker also played a starring role in the encounter. 

    He registered an expected goals (xG) tally of 1.12 to Birmingham's 1.3 total, while he also produced more shots on target (three) and touches in the opposition box (six) than any other player. 

  • Reggae Boyz winger Kaheim Dixon completes move to Charlton Athletic Reggae Boyz winger Kaheim Dixon completes move to Charlton Athletic

    Jamaica’s Kaheim Dixon officially joined Charlton Athletic on a four-year contract, as he was unveiled by the League One club on Friday.

    Dixon is now Nathan Jones' eighth summer signing and will wear the number 13 jersey at the London-based club, much like he did at Clarendon College.

    The talented winger, who was instrumental in Clarendon College’s two titles in last season’s ISSA schoolboys’ football competition, scoring 32 goals complemented by 17 assists, continued to make a name for himself with Jamaica Premier League (JPL) club Arnett Gardens before eventually breaking into the senior Reggae Boyz setup.

    Dixon, 19, was first identified by Charlton Athletic through their partner, Mount Pleasant Football Academy, after which his move from Arnett Gardens, for an undisclosed fee, was then assisted by Charlton Athletic’s strong ties to the Reggae Boyz, according to a release on the club’s website.

    This, as Dixon’s Reggae Boy teammate Karoy Anderson is a current member of the club, while another Reggae Boy, Michael Hector, recently left after his contract expired. 

    Dixon, who has two goals in eight appearances for the Reggae Boyz, expressed delight at his move.

    “I’m very happy to be here. My first opportunity to go professional is to be at the Addicks. It’s been very good to see Karoy [Anderson], another teammate from my country. I can’t wait to start playing with him,” he said.

    Charlton Athletic have won both League One games played so far this season against Wigan Athletic and Leyton Orient and sit fourth in the table.

    They host Bolton Wanderers on Saturday, where Dixon could possibly make a debut appearance.

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.