Ipswich Town Boss Kieran McKenna Focuses On Controlling Performance For Premier League Survival

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Kieran McKenna is focused on Ipswich Town's journey to secure their place in the Premier League. Currently sitting 18th, they recently clinched a 2-1 victory over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. Nathan Broadhead opened the scoring in the 34th minute, marking his first Premier League goal. Liam Delap then extended Ipswich's lead an hour into the game. Evanilson scored for Bournemouth, but Ipswich held on for their first league win of 2025.

McKenna expressed pride in his team's performance and resilience, especially during the tense final minutes. "Really proud, a bit of relief after the last 10 minutes when everyone is so desperate to get the result over the line," he told Sky Sports. He emphasised their hard work and defensive strength, noting that despite waiting for a league win, the team remained united and determined.

Looking ahead, Ipswich faces Wolves next in a crucial match. They trail Vitor Pereira's team by nine points, making this encounter vital for their survival hopes. McKenna stated, "We can only control us," highlighting their focus on delivering strong performances as they enter the season's final quarter.

The manager also praised Delap's contribution this season. Delap has netted 11 goals, accounting for 36.7% of Ipswich’s total Premier League goals this term. McKenna described Delap's latest goal as a standout moment at the Vitality Stadium this season.

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola voiced frustration over his team's defensive issues following their fourth loss in five Premier League games. Despite creating numerous chances and having a penalty overturned by VAR, Bournemouth struggled to find the net effectively against Ipswich.

Iraola remarked on their challenging period: "Now everything is costing us a lot. We need a lot of chances to score goals." The team had recently been knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester City, adding to their woes.

Iraola stressed persistence despite setbacks: "When you are in a bad turn of results like we are now, everyone goes against you." He acknowledged defensive lapses and emphasised the need for clean sheets if scoring remains elusive.

As Ipswich aims to climb up from relegation danger, McKenna remains optimistic about his squad's potential to make this season's final stretch their best yet. Meanwhile, Bournemouth must address their defensive frailties to improve results moving forward.