Kieran McKenna praises Bristol City and Liam Manning profusely while sharing the secret to his success.

“Apart from probably the top, top sides and, to be honest, we’ve done an incredible job of the consistency we’ve shown but, apart from that, almost every team in the Championship is going to have periods where they win more and when they lose more and sometimes there’s a very thin margin between it. We’ve won six games in a row but before that we didn’t win too many, we were drawing a lot of games, but weren’t doing that many things differently.

“The competitiveness of this division is so high, so strong, that for me it’s really important for our football club, that we don’t react too much to a short spell of results and we focus on our plan, our pathway and where we want to get to and how we want to get there. That’s what we try and do, and every football club can do it how they want to do it.”

Even the dramatic final 10 minutes, during which Ipswich reversed a 2-1 deficit to clinch a 3-2 victory with goals from Conor Chaplin and Leif Davis, following Ali Al Hamadi’s missed penalty just moments earlier, showcases a strength and characteristic of this team that has been honed through hard work.

McKenna admitted that in the early stages of his tenure, Ipswich struggled to see out games, for various reasons. However, as his methods became ingrained and significant changes were implemented, they have become capable of producing late-game heroics, as demonstrated on Tuesday night at Portman Road. They’ve scored a league-leading 21 goals in the final 15 minutes of matches this season, with only Southampton, on 19, coming close to that figure.

“It’s not coincidental; it’s a result of fitness, tactics, squad development, and, of course, character, which plays a significant role,” McKenna emphasized. “It took us some time to cultivate these qualities. If you recall, during our first 12 months, it was actually a concern; we struggled to score late goals and often ended up with draws against deep defenses. However, in the latter half of that season, it wasn’t necessary because we typically had a lead and games were decided earlier. We’ve worked diligently to instill these qualities within the team, and this season, they’ve proven crucial.”

“I’ve reiterated it many times: every game is incredibly challenging. When we compete at a high level, the game becomes tight and competitive. It’s then about finding ways to tilt the margins in our favor. Late winners or avoiding conceding late goals become crucial in determining the points we gather by the season’s end. Thankfully, we’re doing well in that aspect, but we’re continuously striving to improve and learn.

“To miss a penalty so late in the game, especially after our hard work to come back, felt like a missed opportunity that could have sealed the win. In most football teams and stadiums, the hope would have dwindled at that point, with the feeling that the game was over.

“However, I didn’t sense that from the players, and certainly not from the supporters. There was still a palpable energy in the stadium, and a strong belief that we could push forward and create another chance. And shortly after, we did just that. Amidst all the ups and downs in those final 30 minutes, the reaction to the saved penalty was the moment to be most proud of.”

No two clubs are identical, and the unique blend of individuals, historical context, and emotional pressures makes each team distinct. Therefore, comparisons between different teams in the division have limitations.

Ipswich had a significant budget in League One that aided their journey to their current position. However, their spending since promotion has been relatively conservative. Instead of overhauling the squad, they have built upon the foundations laid in McKenna’s early seasons, with some notable additions made in January.

When McKenna first took over in December 2021, Ipswich failed to reach the League One playoffs, winning only two of their final nine games. While this might have been considered a setback given the club’s financial resources, signs of progress were evident, both on and off the pitch. This allowed McKenna the freedom to reshape the team, leading to emphatic improvement and automatic promotion the following season.

Manning inherited a settled squad from Nigel Pearson but has struggled to improve upon their 15th-place finish. Currently, Bristol City sits in 14th position, with Manning’s points per game standing at 1.09 over 21 Championship fixtures, compared to 1.28 prior to his appointment this season.

Despite a recent defeat and a disappointing finish in the final minutes of the game, Bristol City showed signs of progress after a string of lackluster performances. Ipswich, on the other hand, entered the match on the back of five consecutive wins, indicating they were not prepared to face a team lacking confidence or in a downward spiral.

Reflecting on the match, McKenna acknowledged the challenge Bristol City presented, particularly in their ability to defend in a mid-block. He praised their athleticism, discipline, organization, and threat on the counter, noting that they have demonstrated their quality against top teams in the division and even against Premier League sides in the FA Cup.

“We didn’t execute very well in that first 60 minutes, we struggled to get to the areas we wanted to get to and whenever we did get to those areas, our technical quality wasn’t of the level it needed to be to create more chances. So it was a difficult game.

“I thought they were a good team in October (a 1-0 win at Ashton Gate, when Pearson was in charge) as well; they’ve got good players, a good young profile of player, an athletic squad, they run right up there with anyone in the league and the system they played against us in October was actually quite similar in terms of a double pivot and how they defended.

“I believe Bristol City showcased their strengths particularly well in the first half. Their organization across all phases of the game, especially defensively against a possession-oriented team, was impressive. Their compactness and disciplined positioning made it incredibly challenging for us to penetrate or find the spaces that effective teams aim for.

“They covered the pitch effectively as a unit, making it difficult for us to play through them. Their performance highlighted the threat they pose. It’s evident to me the work they’ve been putting in and the direction they’re heading in. We’re pleased to have secured the win, but Bristol City is a club we hold in high regard, and I personally have a lot of respect for their manager.”