McKenna Eyes Top-Tier Challenge as Ipswich Face Swansea
Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna anticipates a stern test when his side welcomes Swansea City to Portman Road on Saturday. Following four consecutive away matches, the Blues return to home soil, aiming to maintain their promotion push in the Championship.
Home Advantage Fuels Ipswich’s Ambitions
Ipswich currently sit fourth in the Championship table, two points behind Millwall and within striking distance of the automatic promotion places. McKenna emphasizes the importance of focusing on each game individually, rather than getting caught up in league standings. He believes it’s premature to view the season as entering its critical phase, noting that a significant portion of the campaign remains.
“There is still such a long way to move,” McKenna stated. “It’s an awful lot of games and I don’t believe we are yet right in the spell of the last bit of the season.”
Portman Road has been a fortress for Ipswich under McKenna, with only Coventry City boasting a better home record in the Championship. This strong home form will be crucial as the Blues navigate a busy schedule, including upcoming matches against Hull City and Leicester City.
Swansea’s Recent Form and Matos’ Impact
Despite sitting 15th in the league, Swansea have shown signs of improvement under new manager Vitor Matos. McKenna has been impressed by their intensity and tactical approach, describing them as a “top-tier challenge.”
“I think they have had a really good start,” McKenna commented. “I’ve been really impressed watching them. Their last 10 games or so, they are the team who have run the most in the league in most metrics.”
Swansea have won three of their last five matches, demonstrating their potential to cause an upset. Still, their away form has been inconsistent, with only two Championship sides having collected fewer points on the road this season.
Burgess Returns to Portman Road
The match will see former Ipswich defender Cameron Burgess return to Portman Road as a Swansea player. McKenna expressed disappointment at Burgess’ departure but acknowledged his quality and wished him well, whereas also stating the team’s focus will be on overcoming him on the pitch.
“I spoke to him for a good bit in the tunnel after the game,” McKenna said. “We know what a good player Cameron is.”
Team News and Referee Information
Ipswich are expected to have a strong squad available, with Leif Davis set to return at left-back. Swansea will be without Adam Idah and Zeidane Inoussa due to injury. The match will be officiated by Anthony Backhouse, who has shown 94 yellow cards in 20 games this season.
FAQ
Q: What is Ipswich’s current league position?
A: Ipswich Town is currently fourth in the Championship table.
Q: What has McKenna said about Swansea City?
A: McKenna believes Swansea will present a “top-tier challenge” and has been impressed with their recent form.
Q: Is Cameron Burgess playing for Swansea?
A: Yes, Cameron Burgess, formerly of Ipswich Town, is now a Swansea City player.
Q: What is Ipswich’s home record like?
A: Ipswich has a strong home record, with only Coventry City having picked up more points at home this season.
Q: What is McKenna’s approach to looking at the league table?
A: McKenna prefers to focus on each game individually and will likely assess the league table more closely around the international break.
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