Ipswich Town: How Kieran McKenna has made Portman Road a fortress

Liam Delap celebrates scoring in Ipswich Town's 2-2 home draw with Aston Villa last Sunday. (Image: PA)

THE BASICS 

Ipswich Town have played 60 home league games since Kieran McKenna took charge in December 2021. Remarkably, they’ve lost just four of them. 

Town’s overall record across those games reads: W39 D17 L4 F138 A53. 

The breakdown by season reads: 

2021/22 (League One): W7 D3 L1 F16 A3 

2022/23: (League One): W16 D6 L1 F60 A13 

2023/24 (Championship): W16 D6 L1 F59 A32 

2024/25 (Premier League): W0 D2 L1 F3 A5 

The home cup record under McKenna reads P11 W6 D1 L4 F23 A11. 

Joe Ironside's goal saw Cambridge United win at Portman Road in April 2022. (Image: © Copyright Stephen Waller)

EARLY SET-BACKS 

April 2, 2022 was the first time Town tasted home defeat under McKenna’s management. The Blues were below-par in a 1-0 loss to Cambridge United, which was settled by Joe Ironside forcing Dominic Thompson to put the ball into his own net.  

“Ipswich sit ninth with five games to go. They were ninth when Covid halted the 2019/20 season. They finished ninth last season too,” I wrote afterwards.  

“Perhaps this little reality check at this juncture might prove a blessing in disguise. For all the exciting progress of the last few months, it's a timely reminder there is still much work to be done. The good news is Town appear to have the right people in place to carry that out.” 

Town subsequently lost just one home league game on their way to finishing second in League One the following season.

That was 1-0 to Lincoln City on October 15, 2022. Ben Hause’s scruffy first half goal, after a dead ball delivery had ballooned up in the air, proved the difference. Ipswich had relentlessly attacked during a one-sided second half - finishing the game with 76% possession, 32 shots and 14 corners - but a combination of poor finishing and dogged defending saw them end up empty handed. 

"I think if we played that second half 10 times over we would score more than one goal maybe eight or nine times,” rued McKenna. “It was just one of those unlucky days.” 

Wes Burns reacts to a missed chance in a 0-0 home draw against Cheltenham back in February 2022. (Image: Steve Waller)

WINNING THE CROWD 

The first time points were dropped on Suffolk soil under McKenna was a frustrating Tuesday night 0-0 draw against Cheltenham on February 22, 2022. Town missed a hatful of chances and that allowed the visitors to cynically run down the clock at the end.  

“Their crowd were more interested in us than they were supporting their own team in the second half,” said Robins boss Michael Duff, referencing that evening’s chants of ‘boring, boring Cheltenham’.  

There was undoubtedly a time, towards the start of the McKenna regime, when the home crowd could get a little edgy. That’s because the scars of the past weren’t fully healed. 

Speaking ahead of last month’s game against Fulham, McKenna said: "What the fans can do is twofold. It’s about creating the atmosphere and the intensity that makes it difficult for the opposition and gives our players a boost. And it’s also about sticking with the team when things go against us.  

“I think over the two-and-a-half years I’ve been here we’ve built that. It maybe wasn’t there so much at the start, but through the way the group has performed, the way they’ve dealt with adversity, the resilience that they’ve shown, that’s given the crowd belief. In turn the crowd then give the players belief.” 

Conor Chaplin and Wes Burns celebrate during Ipswich Town's 3-2 home win against Portsmouth in October 2022. (Image: (C) Copyright Stephen Waller)

SIGNIFICANT SCALPS 

Bit-by-bit, the proverbial Portman Road fortress has been built. 

A 1-0 win against Plymouth, in March 2022, sticks in the memory as an important building block (Sam Morsy goal, Paul Mariner Day). It was clear then that this team was going to be fun to watch. 

A 3-2 victory against Portsmouth, in October 2022, was a big one at that juncture too. After Wes Burns scored the decisive goal late on, McKenna hit out at counterpart Danny Cowley’s ‘false kindness designed to trap and trick'.  

Another significant Portman Road win in the first half of that League One promotion season was 1-0 against Derby (Burns goal, black kit, Friday night). Those results were needed to blow away the narrative that Town choked in front of big crowds and were unable to get victories over the line against the better sides in the division. 

Under McKenna, Town have got confidence-boosting cup results against higher level opponents on three occasions at Portman Road. At the start of 2023, Championship strugglers Rotherham were beaten 4-1 in the FA Cup before second-tier champions-in-waiting Burnley were held 0-0 in the following round. Then, at the start of last season, Town came from 2-0 down to beat Premier League side Wolves 3-2 (Jack Taylor screamer). 

Jeremy Sarmiento celebrates his iconic late winner against Southampton at Portman Road back on Easter Monday. (Image: PA)

COMEBACKS AND ENTERTAINMENT 

Edging topsy-turvy goalfests, coming from behind and scoring late goals (often through subs) was Town’s calling card last season.    

There are far too many examples to list. Jeremy Sarmiento’s iconic 97th winner against Championship promotion rivals Southampton on Easter Monday this year will live longest in the memory. 

It became a self-fulling prophecy and, judging by recent comebacks against Southampton and Villa, that ‘running towards adversity’ spirit remains in place at Premier League level.

Ipswich simply don't know when they're beaten - and the home crowd knows it.

Maidstone United players celebrate their shock FA Cup win at Portman Road back in January. (Image: PA)

CUPSETS 

The only team other than Liverpool to have won at Portman Road this calendar year is Maidstone United. 

That was a freak result. The Kent non-league side, who were 98 places below in the pyramid at the time, scored two breakaway goals. Ipswich, meanwhile, hit the woodwork three times and had 38 shots. 

Rekeem Harper’s slack pass led to the only goal of the game when League Two side Colchester won a League Cup tie at Portman Road in August 2022. McKenna made 10 changes to his team for that tie.

To be honest, they were both defeats few lost sleep over. 

A bigger disappointment was losing 2-0 to Portsmouth in the last 32 of the Papa John's Trophy in November 2022. Town missed out on a major opportunity to play at Wembley during their four years competing in that much-maligned competition.

Leif Davis (right) battles with Liverpool's Mo Salah during a gallant 2-0 home loss to Liverpool on the opening weekend of the Premier League season. (Image: PA)

FEELGOOD DEFEATS 

Inside the opening month of last season, it was freshly-promoted Ipswich against fallen giants Leeds. Daniel Farke’s power-packed side boasted an attack of Luis Sinisterra, Wilfried Gnonto, Joel Piroe and Georginio Rutter that day. They scored three times in a devastating nine-minute first-half spell, but Ipswich refused to give in. The game ended 3-4. 

“There are so many things in the game that should give us confidence and belief in how we're working and the improvements we're making as a team, as players, as a squad and as a club,” said McKenna afterwards. "Rather than deflation, I think today should give us confidence to continue on that journey ahead of us."  

It would be almost a year before Ipswich suffered their next league defeat. This time it came on the opening weekend of a Premier League season against Liverpool. Diogo Jota and Mo Salah scored in quick succession just after the hour, and the damage could have ended up been greater, but this was yet another home defeat that boosted belief Ipswich could mix it at a higher level. A team that included seven starters from the League One promotion season had really made Liverpool sweat for the opening hour. 

“We gave a really, really strong team a lot of problems,” said McKenna. "I think the players all came away from the game feeling more confident in knowing they can compete and play at this level.” 

It means that out of the four league defeats in 60 at Portman Road under McKenna’s management, half of them have felt really positive!  

Portman Road is packed to its near 29,000 capacity every game. (Image: PA)

HOTTEST TICKET IN TOWN 

It’s crazy to think that as recently as 2018, attendances had regularly dipped close to 13,000. Town went more than 450 minutes without scoring on home soil in the latter stages of Mick McCarthy’s low budget, pragmatic management era. Anecdotally, many season ticket holders saw it as a chore to attend. I remember a man standing up at an AGM and saying his young son was pleading with him not to go anymore.  

Things were turning toxic when Paul Lambert’s men went into the Covid break off the back of successive 1-0 home losses to Oxford, Fleetwood and Coventry. Under Paul Cook, the Blues failed to beat Lincoln, MK Dons (twice), AFC Wimbledon (twice), Morecambe, Oxford and Rotherham on home soil. No wonder the crowd needed winning over.  

Now, Portman Road is the hottest ticket in town. It’s packed to its (roughly) 29,000 capacity every week. Ballot and loyalty systems have had to be put in place.  

Chairman Mark Ashton, who has long-term plans to expand the Cobbold Stand, has said that he believes the club could easily fill a 35/40,000 capacity stadium right now. 

Kieran McKenna wants players and fans to be at 'full throttle' in every Premier League home game. (Image: PA)

WHO’S NEXT... 

"I think if we’re all at full throttle at every minute of all of our home games, the crowd and players together, then we can get points,” said McKenna. 

"We have 19 home games in the Premier League this season and every one is to cherish, embrace and go and attack.” 

As a gauge, Nottingham Forest and Brentford both won five home league games last season to finish just above the drop zone. Based on the performances and atmosphere at Portman Road so far, that looks achievable for Town. 

The next two games on home soil do look big. Everton come to Portman Road on Saturday, October 19, with Leicester the next to visit on Saturday, November 2. 

KIERAN MCKENNA’S 71 GAMES AT PORTMAN ROAD 

Dec 29, 2021 (L1): W 1-0 Wycombe   

Jan 22, 2022 (L1): W 2-1 Accrington  

Feb 5, 2022 (L1): W 1-0 Gillingham  

Feb 19, 2022 (L1): W 3-0 Burton  

Feb 22, 2022 (L1): D 0-0 Cheltenham  

Mar 8, 2022 (L1): W 2-0 Lincoln  

Mar 12, 2022 (L1): D 0-0 Portsmouth 

Mar 26, 2022 (L1): W 1-0 Plymouth  

Apr 2, 2022 (L1): L 0-1 Cambridge 

Apr 19, 2022 (L1): D 2-2 Wigan  

Apr 30, 2022 (L1): W 4-0 Charlton  

Jul 30, 2022 (L1): D 1-1 Bolton  

Aug 9, 2022 (LC): L 0-1 Colchester 

Aug 13, 2022 (L1): W 3-0 MK Dons  

Aug 27, 2022 (L1): D 2-2 Barnsley  

Aug 30, 2022 (PJT): W 6-0 Northampton  

Sept 13, 2022 (L1): W 2-0 Bristol Rovers  

Sept 20, 2022 (PJT): W 2-0 Arsenal U21s 

Oct 1, 2022 (L1): W 3-2 Portsmouth  

Oct 4, 2022 (L1): W 3-0 Cambridge  

Oct 15, 2022 (L1): L 0-1 Lincoln 

Oct 21, 2022 (L1): W 1-0 Derby  

Nov 12, 2022 (L1): D 1-1 Cheltenham  

Nov 22, 2022 (PJT): L 0-2 Portsmouth 

Nov 27, 2022 (FAC): W 4-0 v Buxton  

Dec 2, 2022 (L1): D 1-1 Fleetwood  

Dec 10, 2022 (L1): W 2-1 Peterborough  

Dec 26, 2022 (L1): W 3-0 Oxford  

Jan 7, 2023 (FAC): W 4-1 Rotherham  

Jan 14, 2023 (L1): D 1-1 Plymouth  

Jan 24, 2023 (L1): W 4-0 Morecambe 

Jan 28, 2023 (FAC): D 0-0 Burnley 

Feb 11, 2023 (L1): D 2-2 Sheff Weds 

Feb 18, 2023 (L1): W 4-0 Forest Green 

Mar 4, 2023 (L1): W 4-0 Burton 

Mar 7, 2023 (L1): W 3-0 Accrington 

Mar 18, 2023 (L1): W 2-0 Shrewsbury 

Apr 7, 2023 (L1): W 4-0 Wycombe 

Apr 15, 2023 (L1): W 6-0 Charlton  

Apr 18, 2023 (L1): W 2-1 Port Vale 

Apr 29, 2023 (L1): W 6-0 Exeter 

Aug 9, 2023 (LC): W 2-0 Bristol R 

Aug 12, 2023 (Champ): W 2-0 Stoke 

Aug 26, 2023 (Champ): L 3-4 Leeds 

Sept 2, 2023 (Champ): W 3-2 Cardiff 

Sept 23, 2023 (Champ): W 4-3 Blackburn 

Sept 26, 2023 (LC): W 3-2 Wolves 

Oct 3, 2023 (Champ): W 3-0 Hull 

Oct 7, 2023 (Champ): W 4-2 Preston 

Oct 28, 2023 (Champ): W 3-2 Plymouth 

Nov 1, 2023 (LC) L 1-3 Fulham 

Nov 11, 2023 (Champ): W 3-2 Swansea 

Nov 29, 2023 (Champ): W 3-1 Millwall 

Dec 2, 2023 (Champ): W 2-1 Coventry 

Dec 16, 2023 (Champ): D 2-2 Norwich 

Dec 26, 2023 (Champ): D 1-1 Leicester 

Dec 29, 2023 (Champ): D 0-0 QPR 

Jan 13, 204 (Champ): W 2-1 Sunderland 

Jan 22, 2024 (FAC): L 1-2 Maidstone 

Feb 10, 2024 (Champ): D 2-2 West Brom 

Feb 20, 2023 (Champ): W 4-3 Rotherham 

Feb 24, 2024 (Champ): W 3-1 Birmingham 

Mar 5, 2024 (Champ): W 3-2 Bristol City 

Mar 16, 2024 (Champ): W 6-0 Sheff Weds 

Apr 1, 2024 (Champ): W 3-2 Southampton 

Apr 10, 2024 (Champ): D 0-0 Watford 

Apr 13, 2024 (Champ): D 1-1 Middlesbrough 

May 4, 2024 (Champ): W 2-0 Huddersfield 

Aug 17, 2024 (Prem): L 0-2 Liverpool 

Aug 31, 2024 (Prem): D 1-1 Fulham 

Sept 29, 2024 (Prem): D 2-2 Aston Villa