"A lot more good than bad": McKenna after Ipswich suffer 4 - 3 home defeat to Leeds United

It brings The Tractor Boys unbeaten run of 21 games to an end

Author: PA Sport StaffPublished 27th Aug 2023

Ipswich Town's unbeaten run on their return to the Championship has come to an end, with Leeds United winning 4 - 3 during an action-packed fixture at Portman Road.

Town were on a record breaking run of 21 games without defeat before Saturday's game.

A dynamic opening 20 minutes at Portman Road saw four goals, all coming from Leeds players.

Joe Rodon netted an own goal to give Ipswich the lead, before the visitors replied with strikes from Georginio Rutter, Wilfried Gnonto and debutant Joel Piroe.

Ipswich kept the game alive when Nathan Broadhead netted for the Tractor Boys with virtually the last kick of a pulsating first half.

However, Leeds struck the killer blow in the 75th minute when Luis Sinisterra netted a fourth goal.

Although Conor Chaplin pulled one back for Ipswich in added time, they could not find an equaliser.

Speaking after full time, Town boss Kieran McKenna said: "I thought there was a lot more good than bad (from us), there are so many positives to take in the game.

"I thought we were the better and more dominant team in so many aspects of the game on and off the ball and there's lots to be pleased about.

"On another day the game could have went differently.

"There was of course things for us to improve, big lessons to learn. Of course disappointment with the goals that we conceded in the first half.

"But that's part of the adjustment about playing against a much better team, with much higher players - we'll improve and we'll learn from those mistakes and continue working to get better.

"I think overall there are so many things to give us confidence.

"It was a really intense start to the game ... we were competing and got the goal, we were in a great position to go on and take control of the game and if we had been able to do that for a little while we would have been able to build up a lot more momentum.

"I had a feeling that today would be a high scoring game."

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