Kieran McKenna 'seething' in Ipswich dressing room v Nottingham Forest
03/15/2025 02:04 PM
Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna showed his anger with his side with his half time changes in their defeat to Nottingham Forest, Michael Dawson believes.
Following their promotion from the Championship last season, after coming up from League One just a year before, this has been a difficult return to the Premier League for the Tractor Boys.
McKenna‘s side went into their clash with Champions League chasing Forest knowing they needed a win was badly needed if to give them hope of getting out of the bottom three.
However, things did not go at all well for Ipswich in the first half of that game, leaving their manager scrambling for changes at the break.
Ipswich Town flop in disastrous first half
After a goalless first half an hour of the match, Nottingham Forest then scored three goals in just seven minutes before half time to put them 3-0 up.
The first came when Nikola Milenkovic fired home after Ipswich could only half-clear a corner, before Anthony Elanga fired in moments later.
Elanga then made it 3-0 after the hosts failed to clear a long ball forward, all but ending the game as a contest even before the break.
| Ipswich last five Premier League games | Results |
| Aston Villa (A) | Drew 1-1 |
| Tottenham (H) | Lost 4-1 |
| Man United (A) | Lost 3-2 |
| Crystal Palace (A) | Lost 1-0 |
| Nottingham Forest (H) | Lost 4-2 |
That prompted a response from McKenna at the break, with the Ipswich manager taking off Jacob Greaves to be replaced by Cameron Burgess as part of a change in system, before sending them out early for the second period.
Dawson suggested that was a reflection of just how unhappy the Tractor Boys boss will have been with his side’s performance in that first half.
Speaking on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday shortly after the second half of the game began, the former Nottingham Forest and Tottenham defender said: “Kieran McKenna will have been seething at half-time. They were out quick, let me tell you, for the second half at half time.
“They were out waiting for Nottingham Forest. They’ve come out of the blocks quite, you expected a response and they’ve done that.”
Kieran McKenna needs to get more from his side
Football Insider Verdict
To some extend the changes did work, as Ipswich produced a better second half performance, although they were still beaten 4-2.
Combined with Wolves’ 2-1 win over fellow strugglers Southampton, that means McKenna’s side are now nine points from safety with just eight games to play.
As a result relegation looks increasingly likely, and they will be going down without much of a fight as things stand, after takin just two points from their last ten Premier League games.
Of course, a return to the Premier League was never going to be easy for Ipswich, but the fact they are offering so little as they seemingly slide back to the Championship will be hugely disappointing.
It is not a great reflection on their manager either, with McKenna previously touted as a contender for the Man United job.
Those sorts of discussions feel a long way now, in what is a telling reflection when it comes to efforts and both McKenna and his team this season.
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