Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna delivered his verdict after the 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough
Kieran McKenna, head coach of Ipswich Town, applauds the fans(Image: 2026 Izzy Poles – AMA)
Kieran McKenna rued his side’s lack of a clinical touch as he described Ipswich Town as the ‘better team’ in Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Portman Road.
Ipswich dominated the first half of the game but didn’t work Sol Brynn enough. Boro were then much improved in the second half and, leading through David Strelec and Tommy Conway goals, looked on course for a massive victory in the automatic promotion race.
That was when referee Jarred Gillett controversially awarded Ipswich a penalty, with Adilson Malanda adjudged to have fouled George Hirst in the area, despite the Ipswich striker being nowhere near to getting on the end of the cross. Jack Clarke stepped up to convert the spot kick, meaning the two sides shared a draw in an entertaining Championship encounter.
“I think it was a really good game,” McKenna said after. “I thought for a lot more of the game, we were the better team. I thought in the first half, we were really dominant, a top performance against a good Middlesbrough side. Probably really disappointed that we weren’t ahead at half-time. I thought we had enough moments in their box, set plays, and a few opportunities where we weren’t clinical enough.
“And then the game changed in the second half. They’re a good team. I think they had a 15, 20-minute spell after they got the second goal where they were really on top and we had to hang in the game. And then at the end, I thought we were the team pushing to win it. So, look, two good teams, both probably feeling like they could have won it.”
With that in mind, asked if he felt a draw was fair, McKenna added: “Probably not, because I think we were that good in the first half. We should have been leading. And when you’re leading in a game like that, it changes the second half. The draw is what we both get, whether either team are happy with it or not.”
The penalty has caused most controversy. Boro players and fans were furious at full-time, with angry scenes on the pitch before Gillett was booed off the pitch by the sold-out away end.
Hellberg was a little more measured by the time he re-emerged to conduct his post-match media duties, though he too was clearly furious immediately following the game.
Asked his verdict, McKenna said: “I’ve not watched it back properly yet, but I’ve seen it back on the iPad on the touchline. It looks pretty clear. George is running through onto the cross and Malanda pulls him from the wrong side.
“It’s pretty clear to me. It’s very similar to the one at Watford with Darnell, where he’s just got on the wrong side. We didn’t get the one here against Leicester as well.
“I’ve not watched back at all the different angles, if somebody wants to say different, but on the first glance I had, it didn’t look overly contentious.”
The draw means Ipswich moved back up to second, above Millwall on goal difference. It’s costly for Boro, who now trail both sides by three points and only nine left to play for.
Ipswich have a game in hand and a superior goal difference too, offering them the advantage in the race to join Coventry in the Premier League next season. But they four games in under two weeks now to conclude their season and get over the line.
“It’s really tight up there, so let’s enjoy it,” McKenna said. “I really like how we went about today. It’s how you want to go about it. We know we’ve got a really tough week ahead now. Three away games in six days.
“You’re thinking there’s problems with the scheduling if that’s how you’re finishing up. It will take an incredible effort, we’re under no illusions. Hopefully we can bring it back here on the last day in a good position. That’s the focus now.”
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