Ipswich Town coach praised the team after an impressive victory in the National Cup

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna was full of praise for his Tractor Boys after the Suffolk-based side impressively beat Wolves last night, in comments to the East Anglian Daily Times.

Being 2-0 down after 15 minutes could have seen Ipswich collapse and be eliminated from the EFL Cup, but goals from Omari Hutchinson, Freddie Ladapo and Jack Taylor helped McKenna’s side complete an incredible comeback 3-0 against an EFL Cup team. division above.

Jack Taylor’s strike was the best of the group, an inviting pass that eventually fell to the midfielder, who fiercely blocked a long-range effort past the Wolves substitute keeper , Daniel Bentley.

That means Ipswich have now won 10 of their last 11 games in all competitions, an extremely difficult opponent for whoever next lures the Tractor Boys into the EFL Cup.

As well as cup competitions, Ipswich have also taken to the Championship football league this season like a duck to water after being automatically promoted to the league last season. McKenna’s side are currently in second place, just behind Leicester City on goal difference with seven wins and one loss after eight matches played.

The Tractor Boys simply blow teams away with their all-round approach, scoring 17 goals this campaign, joint-high with Norwich City.

The recent victory over Blackburn Rovers saw Ipswich attack relentlessly, leading 3-1 after just 25 minutes of play. They would go on to win the game 4-3, with Massimo Luongo the late hero sealing victory at Portman Road.

Ipswich have also been impressive so far, with their only defeat so far this season coming at home. They showed their defensive steel on their away trip by scoring goals for fun, winning back-to-back 1-0 away wins in mid-September against Sheffield Wednesday and Southampton.

It remains to be seen whether they can maintain this form throughout the Championship season, but Ipswich will be delighted with the way they have started in a demanding league so soon after promotion.

Speaking after the comeback victory in the Cup, Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna was delighted with the character his team showed to win 3-2 on the night.

He said: “There is so much to be proud of in the performance, in the character and the quality that we showed.

Of course it was a difficult start to the game. I don’t think we started particularly badly, but the first attack they had we made a little mistake and we got punished – that’s the quality of the opponent, it can happen.

Then it’s a really good set-piece from them and that’s one area you can suffer a little bit from when you make a lot of changes (10) to the team.

It really tested us as a group. It tested our bravery to keep trying to play through the opposition. It tested our bravery off the ball to keep jumping and trying to press high up the pitch, defend big spaces and defend one-v-ones.

It was a great show of character from the group. We’ve been through similar situations with the players who have been playing more so in the league, but tonight other players have come into the team, having not got that same match rhythm and recent experience of being in that situation, and done the same. That’s a good reflection of the group.”

McKenna also commented on the winning strike from Jack Taylor, praising the midfielder who joined the Tractor Boys from Peterborough United this summer.

He added: “What a goal. He’s got some strike, he really does. You just want him to be the person that the ball falls to there.

We worked it through the pitch well and once you get Jack anywhere within 20-25 yards of the goal on his right foot you know he’s got a great chance of testing the keeper.

I thought his all-round game was excellent. I thought him and Lee (Evans) were excellent in the middle of the pitch. That was the best they’ve been this season.

Jack tops it up with a goal and Lee captains the side against the team he’s telling me released him makes it a great night for the two of them.”

Writer’s View 

Kieran McKenna’s pride in what his Ipswich Town side are currently achieving was evident in his post-match thoughts, a manager who is currently ecstatic with the group of players he has at his disposal. 

Many did predict that Ipswich could be a dark horse for promotion this season, and with how everything is going on the pitch currently from a Tractor Boys perspective, it’s clear to see why. 

McKenna will hope that his men are rewarded with a big Cup tie in the next round of the EFL Cup, a game in which they could play the role of giant killer.