KIERAN'S POSITIVE AS HIS BLUES RESCUE POINT
The Football League Paper|December 31, 2023
BOTH managers insisted they were content after Ipswich salvaged a point in their blockbuster Boxing Day Championship showdown against Leicester with an injury time leveller.
John Lyons
KIERAN'S POSITIVE AS HIS BLUES RESCUE POINT

BOXING DAY ROUND-UP 

It looked as though the second-placed Tractor Boys were going to lose for the second time in four days when they trailed 1-0 to Stephy Mavididi’s fine curled finish on 24 minutes, but they got a stroke of fortune at the death.

Sam Morsy shot from range and the ball deflected off first Ricardo Pereira and then Jannik Vestergaard to leave goalkeeper Mads Hermansen wrong-footed.

It was a cruel blow for the Foxes but just what Ipswich needed in front of a 29,410 crowd at an expectant Portman Road.

The draw left Leicester six points clear at the top, while the Blues held a five-point advantage over third-placed Southampton.

“I thought it was a good performance, I enjoyed the game,” Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna told BBC Radio Suffolk. “It was two good teams and a really strong opponent for us to measure ourselves up against - and I thought we measured up well.

“It was nice to get the goal at the end to reward a lot of good work that went in. It’s a point at the end of the day but we’ll certainly take confidence from the performance and really try to build on that.”

His Leicester counterpart Enzo Maresca remained upbeat despite seeing a precious victory snatched away at BLU the death. “I’m not disappointed, to be honest,” he insisted. “Overall I’m quite happy. Playing every three days with the same intensity is not easy, so we knew that at some moment in the game we could drop a little bit.

Chances

Denne historien er fra December 31, 2023-utgaven av The Football League Paper.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra December 31, 2023-utgaven av The Football League Paper.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE PAPERSe alt
END OF CUP ROAD FOR EFL BATTLERS
The Football League Paper

END OF CUP ROAD FOR EFL BATTLERS

EFL interest in this season’s Carabao Cup came to an end in midweek, but it certainly wasn’t for the want of trying.

time-read
1 min  |
November 03, 2024
GOALS GALORE IN THE TROPHY
The Football League Paper

GOALS GALORE IN THE TROPHY

THE goals flew in from all angles as the Bristol Street Motors Trophy revved into action again in midweek.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 03, 2024
KEEPER GAFFE SINKS TOWN
The Football League Paper

KEEPER GAFFE SINKS TOWN

HUDDERSFIELD boss Michael Duff questioned his players’ mentality after goalkeeper Chris Maxwell’s bloomer handed NonLeague Tamworth a shock win.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 03, 2024
ACE SLEW & WILLIAMS SEE OFF REBELS...
The Football League Paper

ACE SLEW & WILLIAMS SEE OFF REBELS...

DECISIVE goals at either end of the game from Jordan Slew and Rhys Williams helped League Two Morecambe avoid a potential banana skin against National League South outfit Worthing.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 03, 2024
MATT'S MEN JUST HAVE ENOUGH GAS
The Football League Paper

MATT'S MEN JUST HAVE ENOUGH GAS

HONEST Bristol Rovers boss Matt Taylor has acknowledged his side were pushed all the way in their tie against Weston-super-Mare.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 03, 2024
'WHITES' ARRAY OF FIREPOWER WILL  GIVE THEM THE EDGE OVER RIVALS'
The Football League Paper

'WHITES' ARRAY OF FIREPOWER WILL GIVE THEM THE EDGE OVER RIVALS'

GARY Rowett says Leeds’ glittering arsenal of attacking stars will bring the Championship title to Elland Road.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 03, 2024
POMPEY'S GAME OF TWO HALVES
The Football League Paper

POMPEY'S GAME OF TWO HALVES

Murphy's in to deny the Tigers

time-read
2 mins  |
November 03, 2024
SET-PLAY PREP PAYING OFF FOR PELACH
The Football League Paper

SET-PLAY PREP PAYING OFF FOR PELACH

NARCIS Pelach admitted Stoke have been working tirelessly on set-pieces since his arrival – and he was pleased the hard work paid dividends with the winner against Derby.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 03, 2024
Robins lays marker to his Sky Blues
The Football League Paper

Robins lays marker to his Sky Blues

MARK Robins has challenged his Coventry City players to go on a Championship charge after the Sky Blues ended their wait for success on their travels with resounding victory against ten-man Boro.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 03, 2024
JUST FAB FOUR BAYO IS UNSTOPPABLE
The Football League Paper

JUST FAB FOUR BAYO IS UNSTOPPABLE

FOUR second-half goals in an incredible display from Vakoun Bayo powered Watford to a resounding victory at Hillsborough.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 03, 2024