Ipswich Town

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Kieran McKenna spoke to Premier League productions after Sunday's draw against Chelsea: "I thought it was a really good game. Really proud of the group again. First half was difficult and our resilience was really good. Second half we played well, really even. It was a big blow them getting a goal so early in second half. It took an incredible strike from Sancho off the bench. We gave everything and showed our quality.

On defensive lapses: "We know our record in first half is better than second half. I don't think today we did a load of things wrong. We didn't defend the moment well from the kick off. We defended right up to Sancho's goal really well. Can we get out quicker? Yes, we were half a yard off it. A top player sticks one in top corner from a really difficult angle.

On Julio Enciso's perfomance: "Big credit to him. It's been unfortunate for Julio. He could have made a huge impact for us in of results. He could have been a difference maker for us. I think the spirit we showed from Julio and the rest of the players summed up the group.

On Alex Palmer's saves: "Some great saves. The one at the end with his right arm was top drawer. He's made a big difference for us in the second half of the season."

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Ipswich Town have lost more points from winning positions than any other team in the Premier League this season (27), winning just one of the six league matches they've led in in 2025.

Were you at Stamford Bridge or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Chelsea's performance

Ipswich fans, what did you make of their display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Four matches make up Sunday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Chelsea v Ipswich

• Liverpool v West Ham

• Wolves v Tottenham

• Newcastle United v Manchester United (16:30)

All kick-off times 14:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

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Ipswich defender Axel Tuanzebe says there is "still a positive energy" around the club, despite last weekend's damaging loss against Wolves.

The 2-1 home defeat left Kieran McKenna's side 12 points from safety with seven games to play and on the brink of relegation back to the Championship.

"There is still a positive energy," Tuanzebe said before Sunday's visit to Chelsea. "There's still seven games where we can affect our future and we're optimistic about that.

"Playing with freedom, expressing ourselves and that's when you see our best levels of football."

Tuanzebe's deal expires at the end of the season, but the former Manchester United player says there have not been discussions yet over his future.

"The club have got bigger things to focus on at the moment," he added. "Contractual situations, even for myself, have been put to the side and there's plenty of time in the summer to deal with that.

"Right now, the focus is on maintaining good performances, winning games and hopefully we can stay in the Premier League come next season."

Despite relegation looking likely, Tuanzebe believes there are reasons for Ipswich fans to be optimistic for the future.

"You can see the construction has begun for the new training ground, the club are really taking things seriously and the project is for the next few years," he said.

"I think it'll be one of the bigger clubs in England in the coming years. They really want to invest and push the team in the right direction and that message starts from the owners and goes all the way down to us players. We're all on board with it and all heading in the right direction."

Ipswich beat Chelsea at Portman Road earlier in the season so you cannot rule out them doing the double over Chelsea by winning at Stamford Bridge too.

Actually, I think you can. I'd love to back Ipswich to cheer up my daughter's teacher, Mr Fields, but I am done with predicting they will win. I am going to have to drop her off outside the school gates and let her walk in, because I can't risk going into the car park and seeing his sad face after another Tractor Boys defeat.

As we saw last week against Brentford, Chelsea are far from convincing in attack and can be flimsy defensively.

Cole Palmer is out of form too, but Chelsea should still have a host of chances here. If they take them, they will win comfortably.

Sutton's prediction: 3-0

Read the full predictions and have your say

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There are lots of different perspectives in of how you watch a game of football, and I think for the majority of time the people in the stadium get the best atmosphere, but the worst views of how a game has actually gone.

You don't really get the chance to see multiple replays and have discussions about things, because you just get caught up in the moment.

With the incoming semi automated offsides, they did promise it earlier in the season - but I think the caveat was they're only going to do it when it's ready.

It is a positive that they didn't do it when it wasn't ready.

One upside to to the new technology is some of the arguments disappear. Previously you could say 'but it looks like it's this to me' or 'it looks like it's that to me'. When it is presented now, there aren't many people that will then be looking at the animation, going back to the video, and then going down a proper conspiracy rabbit hole.

So, it ends more arguments, not all arguments, but more arguments.

I think people, as a consequence, will be more accepting of it.

But, I still do believe that there's things for people to understand, because it can't be used in every situation. There are certain decisions which can still be a little bit more complex, and there's certain times where human intervention will still need to be brought in.

I wouldn't say it's as clear as, say, goal line technology, but it's a step in the direction to where most people feel more comfortable accepting the outcome and the speed of it as well will be encouraged.

It's not to say that it's going to be instant. If you believe this is going to be perfect, and always extremely fast, ask yourself, why do you think that?

Unless somebody has told you that from PGMOL, then take it with a pinch of salt and you see how it goes.

I think it's something that many people have seen before so hopefully there will be fewer arguments.

But, because it's football, there'll always be something to argue about the end of the day.

Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Chelsea (kick-off 14:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• McKenna confirmed that his squad sustained "one or two knocks" from the loss to Wolves last week. Ben Godfrey is back training with the group but none of the club's long-term absentees are back yet.

• On his future: "I'm happy here. It felt the right thing to stay last summer and I wanted to take on the challenge of this Premier League season. This club has a fantastically bright future. Irrespective of a probable backwards step, there is potential to make big strides. I'm excited and proud to lead that."

• McKenna praised striker Liam Delap as he has done "fantastically well" for the club this season and believes there are "very few like him in world football". He reiterated that Delap is very happy at Ipswich and has missed training this week with a knock.

• McKenna said training has been good and that "good conversations" were had between his staff and the players. He added that "motivation is really high" and they are trying to control what they can control.

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Dutch club PSV Eindhoven are interested in a move for Ipswich's English winger Jack Clarke, 24, this summer. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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Ipswich have lost four of their six away games against London clubs in the Premier League this season (W1 D1); never before in their league history have they lost five matches in the capital in a single campaign.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

Ipswich's Kieran McKenna paced along the edge of the technical area, encouraging and clapping his side - calm and steady instead of panicking and nervous.

He was a near-permanent presence there, but when something happened - goals at either end, corners, good challenges, shots - he would watch the clip with the analysts for 10-20 seconds before returning to his position.

A raised fist followed Liam Delap's goal, but McKenna - 40 seconds late for the start of the second half - was dejected after Wolves' late winner.

Wolves manager Vitor Pereira - watching from media seats - and assistant Luis Miguel were suspended, so first-team coach Andre Monteiro took charge.

After Ipswich scored, Monteiro was a chalk-on-the-trainers boss, almost on the pitch, a few paces out of the area. On a few occasions the fourth official had to politely tell Monteiro to get back.

Monteiro was constantly in touch with Pereira, looking in his direction, making hand signals while talking via an earpiece.

When Wolves equalised, Monteiro was about to bring on striker Hwang Hee-chan, but after some hand waving in Pereira's direction, the decision was changed. Wolves' winner left Pereira hugging his coaching staff, with Premier League safety practically secured.

See what all the other managers did

Richard Woodward
Fan writer

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Saturday's defeat by Wolves finally extinguished any realistic hope that Ipswich Town had of surviving in the Premier League. While there is not an "R" next to our name yet, it is very much in the post unless something dramatically unexpected occurs.

As for the whys and wherefores for this disappointing campaign, Saturday's game highlighted another key learning point - competing for the full 90-plus minutes is essential. Whether it be a mental or physical challenge, Kieran McKenna's side have dropped a whopping 25 points from winning positions so far this season, with a good number in the latter stages of matches as on Saturday.

So what in hindsight could Mark Ashton and McKenna have done differently to give Town a better shot?

Some aspects of Town's transfer business would likely not be repeated. Failing to target physicality and athleticism in favour of technical ability and long-term potential has been a major criticism - although maybe it will be proved right in the coming seasons?

The local focus to Town's recruitment geography has also limited options and led to higher fees being paid - the English "talent tax".

Continuing the point on physicality, could pre-season have been more onerous in anticipation of the significant demands of the modern Premier League? Injuries throughout the squad have severely sapped any momentum accrued from winning one-off matches, as well as testing the reasonable bounds of our squad depth.

Ultimately though, as I have debated a few times in my pieces here, did Town have a fair chance to begin with? Double promotion after 22 years out of the top flight has clearly tested our reasonable capabilities on and off the field. But we are currently the "best of the rest" - it is of minimal comfort but should be acknowledged.

The hope now is that our collective experience this season gives enough insight to react better should we return, hopefully at the earliest opportunity.

Find more from Richard Woodward at the Blue Monday Podcast, external

How does a promoted team stay in the Premier League?

Is it about style? Or does over-spending become a tempting proposition in a bid to stay out of the bottom of three?

Is it all about unearthing transfer "jewels"?

Take a look at a clip below or listen to the Monday Night Club debate in full here

Everton and Brighton have ed the race to sign Ipswich and England Under-21 striker Liam Delap, 22, whose £40m release clause will become active if Ipswich are relegated from the Premier League. (TeamTalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Ipswich and Wolves.

Here are some of your comments:

Ipswich fans

Jonny: With defeat by Wolves, the slim hope of a "great escape" was well and truly put to bed. Most level-headed Town fans will now be preparing for another season back in the Championship. Our hope is that we can play the rest of the season without fear now that the pressure is off, and who knows, maybe even pick up a few more points to send us down with our heads held high.

Ben: Another predictable watch. Lots of effort but no real quality to transition from the back. The lack of Premier League experience is telling - the league needs to have a good look at how any promoted team stands a chance.

Paul: Unfortunately Ipswich do not have the players to survive in the Premier League just yet. They huffed and puffed to no real avail. It was quite an eye opener to witness the gulf in class between these two teams next to each other in the table. Another year in the Championship will help their development and they will have to add better quality players to their squad.

Terry: Good display in the first half but no response after half-time when Wolves were on top. No bite up front in the second half. There appeared to be no belief that Town would win after the equaliser.

Wolves fans

John: Good display after a shaky start. Joao Gomes and Andre were outstanding again and have a really good understanding together. Onwards and upwards, and hopefully Fosun will back us next season after the turnaround from Vitor Pereira.

Jen: ion, resilience and a sprinkling of class. Wasn't the prettiest but who cares! The players want to play for the shirt, the connection is back with the fans and we have a manager who gets it. Roll on the next few games!

John: Great result obviously against an Ipswich side that had not only beaten us already this season but who were absolutely desperate for points. I sitting in the pub five weeks ago and seeing the news of Matheus Cunha's red card against Bournemouth come through and thinking: "OK, no points until Leicester - it's going to get tight." But 10 points from a possible 12 without him and we're flying. Safe with seven games to go - could not have dreamt of that after the farce that was the Ipswich game at Molineux back in December.

David: Yet more evidence that we are a side transformed under Vitor Pereira, and for once we are finishing a season strongly. Three wins and a draw without Cunha. If all are match-fit, does Pereira put him in the starting XI v Spurs next Sunday?

Gary Lineker presents highlights and analysis from Saturday's five Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Crystal Palace 2-1 Brighton

• Aston Villa 2-1 Nottingham Forest