Ipswich Town: Kieran McKenna on Fulham visit and integrating players

The Blues went toe-to-toe with Liverpool in their opener at Portman Road a fortnight ago, giving as good as they got for an hour before eventually succumbing to a 2-0 defeat.

Now, following a 4-1 defeat at Man City last weekend, the Blues are back on Suffolk soil to take on a Fulham side that finished 13th last season.

“I understand the thought process, but I don’t like the phrase ‘the season starts now’," said McKenna.

"Do we discount the Liverpool game? It was the club’s first Premier League game in 22 years, a fantastic performance for 60 minutes, the best atmosphere at Portman Road in possibly decades, 14 players making their Premier League debuts and so many things to be proud of. Do we discount that game because we didn’t win it? Do we discount going to Man City away, probably the best team in world club football, scoring a really good goal, showing resilience and learning so much?  

Conor Chaplin reacts during Ipswich Town's opening day 2-0 home defeat to Liverpool.verpool (Image: Ross Halls)

“If externally people want to say that staying up is our goal, then to finish 17th you win 9/10 games. So are we going to discount the 28 games that we don’t win as not being part of the season? They’re all part of the same journey. 

“I really want the group, the players, the staff and the supporters to enjoy every game. Of course getting points is really important, and there are some games that are harder to get points in than others, Man City away being one.  

“We feel like our home games are going to provide the best opportunities to collect points with the atmosphere we create and the football we know we can play. We have 19 home games in the Premier League this season and every one is to cherish, embrace and go and attack.  

“Going to Man City is a unique experience. They can pin back better teams than us. We now expect a different atmosphere, a different intensity and a different flow to the game tomorrow."

Sammie Szmodics put Ipswich Town ahead at Man City. (Image: PA)

Not that McKenna is underestimating tomorrow's visitors in any way.

“We have to respect every opponent. Fulham have spent 14 of the last 20 years in the Premier League, have invested massively whenever they’ve come straight back up, have strengthened again this season and have had a number of seasons now working with an excellent manager (Marco Silva).

"We’re not going to look at this game in any way as being any easier than any of the other games. They’re a super side and it’s going to be a big stretch for us, but every home game we play in we go into with full belief that we can take points. We’ll try and impose ourselves on the opposition."

Asked whether he needed to manage some supporters' expectations going into this fixture, the Blues boss replied: “I think most supporters are realistic and understand the years that Fulham have had in the Premier League, the investment that brings over a long period of time and the stability in the group that they have. They’ve been at this level, under this manager, for a good few years now and when you’re in that position you can add the top layer to the talented group that you already have. They’ve done that with signings like Emile (Smith Rowe).  

Marco Silva is now in his fourth season as Fulham manager. (Image: PA)

“We’re coming from a different position. We know the journey we’ve been on. We’ve had a summer where it was absolutely essential to make big developments to the squad. We’re in a process of improvement. That’s hopefully going to show some good signs tomorrow, but it’s also going to continue for the next weeks and months. We feel that will give us the best chance of being successful over the season. 

“I know the fans will be with us. Of course you want to get points on the board as soon as possible, some people will say this is our best opportunity to do so in the first three games, but we’re not looking at it like that. We’re just looking at each game as a challenge and an experience."

On the difference the home crowd can make, he said: “It's twofold really. It’s creating the atmosphere and the intensity that makes it difficult for the opposition and gives our players a boost which they've done so well over the last couple of seasons, and it’s also about sticking with the team when things go against us.

Kieran McKenna says the Portman Road crowd can really make a difference this season. (Image: PA)

"I think over the two-and-a-half years I’ve been here we’ve built that. It maybe wasn’t there so much at the start, but through the way the group has performed, the way they’ve dealt with adversity, the resilience that they’ve shown, that’s given the crowd belief. In turn the crowd then give the players belief.  

“I think they’ll be a fantastic atmosphere tomorrow at the start of the game, but we know, with the level of opponent and nature of football, that there will be things that go against us.

"I think if we’re all at full throttle at every minute of all of those 19 home games, the crowd and players together, irrespective of the score and the position in the league, then I really trust that will give us a great help in picking up points."

Six players - Conor Townsend, Dara O'Shea, Kalvin Phillips, Jens Cajuste, Chiedozie Ogbene and Jack Clarke - made their Town debuts in Wednesday night's Carabao Cup penalty shootout defeat at League Two side AFC Wimbledon.

On integrating several summer signings into his team, McKenna said: “It’s a fine balance between integrating new players who we think are going to help us and improve us, but also maintaining some of the cohesion that we had from last year.  

"We always knew that was going to be the case. It’s pretty well known that one of our big strengths is that we are a team, that players know their roles inside out and they know how to make each other more effective. Those things don’t come overnight. You saw that in the week.

“At the moment we’re missing Wes (Burns), George (Hirst) and Nathan Broadhead, who were three of our four most common starting front fours over the last two seasons, so that instantly changes those positions. 

“Of course cup games are different. In the league we’ll make decisions on that balance."