Tractor Boys on the road to success with Kieran McKenna

The young head coach turns 38 later this month but already has one promotion to his CV with the Tractor Boys and is now in tantalising reach of an incredible back-to-back promotion success.

The Northern Irishman does not expect an easy ride after Ipswich moved a giant step closer to a Premier League return after more than two decades in the wilderness, following victory at Coventry City on Tuesday night.

Kieffer Moore’s early goal was cancelled out by Haji Wright’s second-half equaliser for Mark Robins’ side, but Cameron Burgess fired the East Anglians back ahead just minutes later to put Town on the brink of a place in the Premier League.

The victory means that a draw against all-but-relegated Huddersfield will secure Ipswich’s return to the top division for the first time since 2002.

In winning promotion, McKenna’s team could become just the fourth team to be promoted – two seasons running – from League One to the Premier League since it was rebranded in 1992. Only Watford, under Graham Taylor, arch-rivals Norwich City and Southampton have achieved that feat.

“I’ve got belief in them and a lot of belief in what we’ve done, the consistency that we’ve shown,” McKenna said after the win in the Midlands.

“How we prepare for games, how we concentrate throughout games and how we get our identity out there on the pitch gives us a great chance to win games.

“Anything can happen, I don’t expect it to be smooth sailing. There’s going to be tension in the game for sure as there is when you’re fighting for things but it’ll be about doing enough of the right things to help us keep on top of that.”

Under the guidance of manager McKenna, Ipswich are a club transformed after so many years of stagnation.

The former Manchester United coach has reinvigorated the place and he has shown real strategic acumen in a division that is notoriously hard to escape.

There has been a genuine consistency to performances and, when there was the hint of a minor dip in mid-season, the players stepped up once more to confound the doubters.

Given their resources, compared to Southampton and Leeds United in particular, it is remarkable that McKenna’s side go into today’s final day fixtures as firm favourites for automatic

promotion.

With just six defeats all season, there can be no questioning the side’s staying power in this marathon campaign. If the promotion from League One was impressive, this has been a whole new ball game.

McKenna took charge in December 2021 with the Tractor Boys in 11th position in League One.

Despite the improvement in form, Ipswich were unable to make up the ground required to reach the play-offs, eventually finishing in 11th place in the table.

The following season was very different, though. Ipswich hit the ground running and were the stand-out team in the division, securing automatic promotion with an impressive 98 points while scoring more than 100 goals in the process.

McKenna is a fine tactician and he has used his resources cleverly. The team can seamlessly alternate between a back three and a back four according to each game’s requirements.

That flexibility offers defensive stability while also providing options further forward, allowing Ipswich to retain possession and create scoring opportunities.

Full-back Leif Davis has become a key provider of goals with his forward bursts and crossing ability.

McKenna’s go-to formation is 4-2-3-1 but, as with all systems, they are in essence just numbers on a tactics board until the game kicks off.

Ipswich have balance in the midfield ahead of their defensive structure and can quickly press from defence to attack.

This comes in a variety of forms, excitingly when pressing high and forcing turnovers to disrupt their opponents or via a long ball or two to January signing Moore.

The former Bournemouth man was a key signing at just the right time, adding an impetus and physical presence to the attack.

His goal at Coventry after just eight minutes set the tone for the evening. He brings promotion experience to the side and his nous when holding the ball up at just the right time is invaluable when his team-mates need to catch a breath.

There will be a phenomenal atmosphere at Portman Road today. Promotion would make the wider football community sit up and take notice of a club on the up.