please log in to view this image please log in to view this image The boys from Suffolk return to Deepdale after a one year absence, the last two times we played them we lost 4-2 at Portman Road and won an epic clash at Deepdale 3-2, just about hanging on after being 3 up at half time. Didn't have the best of season in the money league, however possibly have a good chance of going back there again next season. https://www.itfc.co.uk/matches/ MANAGER Kieran McKenna (born 14 May 1986) is a professional football manager and former player who is the manager of EFL Championship club Ipswich Town. Born in England, McKenna was raised in Northern Ireland and played youth football for Enniskillen Town United and Ballinamallard United before joining Tottenham Hotspur in 2002, and had represented Northern Ireland at youth level before a hip injury curtailed his playing career. After studying sports science at Loughborough University, McKenna coached Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at under-18 level, and also worked as a first-team coach and assistant manager at Manchester United before being appointed as manager of Ipswich Town in 2021. please log in to view this image Good manager this fella RECENTS please log in to view this image INS AND OUTS please log in to view this image Team News Daniel Jebbison and Mads Frøkjær are being given a chance to return for this fixture, however manager Paul Heckingbottom said they will not be risked if they’re “touch and go”. PNE are still without a number of first team players, including Brad Potts, Jordan Thompson and Robbie Brady, who are all yet to feature this season. After such a positive performance last time out against Leicester, it’ll be interesting to see what changes, if any, the gaffer chooses to make on Saturday. The Visitors Ipswich Town have made a steady return to life in the second tier following their relegation from the Premier League, having drawn their opening two fixtures against fellow promotion contenders Birmingham City and Southampton. The Tractor Boys have gone from strength to strength under Kieran McKenna, achieving successive promotions in 2022/23 and 2023/24, although fell short in the top flight. While they’ve lost a couple of their key men from the previous campaign – the likes of Liam Delap and Omari Hutchinson – their squad still looks well capable of another promotion push, and they’ll be hoping to add to their ranks before the end of the window, too. Match Officials Referee: Matthew Donohue Assistant Referees: Andrew Fox and Jacob Graham Fourth Official: Dale Baines Matthew Donohue, who took charge of five PNE fixtures last season, will be the man in the middle on Saturday. The referee last officiated North End in the final home match of the 2024/25 campaign, against Plymouth Argyle. Matt likes a red card usually against us THE BOSS This Wednesday marked a year in charge for Paul Heckingbottom and he feels the side are in a better place than when he first took over, although the manager feels there’s still areas they can improve. It seems a long time ago that Hecky and Stuart McCall took charge of their first game – a 1-0 victory over Luton Town – and a year later, they’re getting ready for the visit of Ipswich Town. Hecky said: “It has gone quick, definitely. It does fly when you're working. The seasons roll into one, if you like. “Are we in a better place? Yeah, I think so. We are in lots of ways, but there's lots of ways where we still want to improve and make sure we do better. “So, for example, I've been really pleased with what we've done in the transfer market so far, but in my eyes, we've still got a lot more to do. You see that. Last year we had more bodies than we've got now. I think we need more numbers because we're behind on what we were last year. “But you don't want to do that at the expense of quality. I think for me, the last few players we bring in need to be at a level where we can feel the improvement, we can feel the value. Do you know what I mean? Not just collect them because we need an extra body. I’m pleased with the way things have gone so far this window but there's still more to do.” Those numbers which the manager talks about haven’t been helped by an injury list longer than he’d have liked. Some what you’d call key players have been missing at the start of the campaign, and the manager is hoping to see one or two return this weekend. Hecky said: “I would like a couple of them back. Obviously, say if you get to the Portsmouth game [next Saturday] and they’re touch and go then you're taking a big risk when they've been out for so long. “I think it's always better to err on the side of caution then give them that extra couple of weeks and train, when they've been muscle injuries in particular. “But I'm hoping it doesn’t come to that. Jebbo (Daniel Jebbison) is not far away now, potentially this weekend, again without risking him. Mads (Frøkjær) is probably similar. They’re back and fit and ready when they are, you know, there's nothing we can do about that.” There’s plenty of positivity in the North End camp following last weekend’s 2-1 victory over Leicester City, and Saturday sees another relegated side come to Deepdale. Ipswich Town have made a steady start to life back in the second tier with two draws so far and they’re very much expected to be right up there come the end of the campaign. Hecky said: “It's difficult because I never want to say too much because if I'm really honest here now, people say I’m disrespectful towards certain teams and others, but Ipswich have got different strengths in my eyes. “Things that we got away with against Leicester at the weekend, I don't think we'll get away with them against Ipswich and likewise things that we really had to focus on to stop against Leicester are less important against Ipswich in my eyes. “I think we just have to focus on taking that tactical element into account. I think we just have to focus on ourselves and delivering the same intensity of performance, the same mentality and approach to the game. If we do that, I'm always happy with us anyway.” MACS VIEW Good start, excellent last week, another tough game on Saturday, with a front three of Billie Jean(Take your time), Hirst and Clarke with Sammy playing in the hole, that is a cracking attacking line up. If they have a 16 year old wonder kid to bring on, we could struggle. Personal view only one change Offiah for Pol, suspect Clarke may have a field day aginst our Spaniard
What a game that was last time at your place! Kieffer Moore made an impression and seemed like a top quality player, if that’s any kind of marker of progress.
please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Attendance: 18,381 (4,430 Ipswich Town fans). Referee: Matthew Donohue. Seven points from the first three games, not bad at all given the mauling the Hoops got yesterday , possibly consider that two points dropped. Different type of win yesterday, had to do a lot of work without the ball, at the back we were supurb, can only remember a couple of shots Iversen had too save, one from Clarke in the first half and a late effort from Taylor, we were also bailed out by two great tackles by Storey and Small. Took the lead with an early penalty foul by Greaves on Osmajic, given it was Matt Donohue, it probably was the correct decision given Matt's record against us, Os sent Palmer the wrong way, from that moment our attacking intent largely disappeared, cannot attack without the ball. For a period of about 15 minutes in the first half it looked odds on that they would score, but we kept them out, they didn't seem as dangerous in the second period, as we started to run out of a bit of energy but we kept them out. Good win by a side who now seem to have a great work ethic and team spirit, amazing what bringing in fresh blood can do. Off the field the queues for Spud Brothers were massive, never has a potato been so popular Hollywood in the cup next followed by a trip to Portsmouth, can't wait. HECK Paul Heckingbottom hopes the fans are proud of the team for a “really strong” performance in the victory over Ipswich Town. A week on from the win over Leicester City, North End came out on top against another side recently relegated from the top flight, with Milutin Osmajić’s first-half penalty sealing the three points against the Tractor Boys. After going ahead early, the visitors pushed to get back level, but PNE put in an excellent, energetic display to restrict Kieran McKenna’s side to very little. Hecky said: “The fans should be proud of this group of players. I think you’ve heard me talking about people moaning about budgets and other teams spending and why aren't we spending? Forget that. We would have lost the game if that was important. “What's important is our group, how we play and we're going to be second best some days and come unstuck. The fans can't be prouder of the players today. They see what it means to win, they see how much they're willing to give for the shirt. “I think as a fan, as a coach, anyone connected with Preston needs to be really proud of the players.” The manager’s been talking recently about the mentality of his side and the kind of culture he’s looked to create, which has really shown in the two home matches in particular. They’ve taken on two sides tipped to be at the very top of the division come the end of the season but put in two strong displays which have resulted in maximum points. Asked for his thoughts on the performance against Ipswich, Hecky said: “Really strong against a very good side. We were under no illusions of what type of team we were playing against today. They’ve got very good individuals, you can see that with the bench and also with the players who didn't get on. “But they're a very good team without the ball as well, which you could see today. They're going to be up there without a doubt. “I’m delighted. We started the game really, really well, and went in front deservedly. It sort of sets the pattern for the game where then they take more risk, commit more bodies, and we have to defend well. “I thought we started the second half brilliantly as well, but then the pattern of the game set again and the only moment I was uncomfortable with was sort of the 15 minutes before we brought the subs on where I felt we needed energy and we'd ran out of legs a little bit and they were getting on top. “The subs came on then and we still had to defend, don’t get me wrong, but I felt we had the energy and the freshness then to see the game out.” The manager has talked this summer about his side needing some time to gel given the addition of 11 new players, yet on early showings they seem to be working well together. “I think they’ve bought in,” Hecky said. “We were really clear in the type of personality and character we wanted to bring in. I think that's been evident in the performances. But it's just about winning. “I said last season, so many of our performances merited a hell of a lot more. We've got over the line because we've got the character, personality in the group and we've had those big moments. Like I said, we don't win that game if we don't start the game as aggressively as we did and get on top. I'm really, really pleased with them. Really, really proud of them.” KM Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna speaking to BBC Radio Suffolk: "Really frustrated and annoyed by the result. Our supporters have travelled a long way; we wanted to get the win after a couple of hard-fought draws and we didn't do it, so that is the overriding emotion. "We gave away a goal which we can't concede at this level. We won't be successful if we concede goals like that. That is clear, the type of performance we are going to face we needed to be stronger in the few occasions we had to defend. "Before and after we had control of the game, there was some nice passages to our play, but we didn't create as many chances as we would like. "The connections in the team aren't strong enough. I knew it would be a difficult summer - we need to improve and quickly." Finally have to mention the referee, our Matt, first half did OK, then went card happy in the second period, hardly a bad tackle in teh game 7 bookings of which 6 were for us, mind you having seen the decisions at the Hawthorns, can't really complain
