Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna believes last season’s Championship double over Southampton means little ahead of this weekend’s Premier League match at St Mary’s.
Omari Hutchinson’s goal secured a 1-0 victory on the south coast last September, followed by Jeremy Sarmiento’s dramatic 97th-minute goal in a 3-2 comeback win at Portman Road on Easter Monday. These victories were crucial in helping Ipswich Town edge out Southampton for automatic promotion, while Russell Martin’s team ultimately secured their spot via the play-offs.
Since then, Southampton has revamped their squad, signing 16 new players, while Ipswich has added 12 in preparation for the top flight.
Reflecting on last season, McKenna noted, “The first game was early in the season, our first big midweek away game against a newly-relegated side, and we were missing a few players. But we got a clean sheet and won a tight match, which set a great foundation for our season.”
He added, “The home game was a wonderful moment that will be remembered by everyone. That victory is now part of the club’s folklore. However, we won’t dwell on those past games. This is a new match, a new season, and new squads. We’ll approach it with fresh eyes.”
Despite their struggles, Southampton has yet to earn a point this season, losing to Newcastle (1-0 away), Nottingham Forest (1-0 at home), Brentford (3-1 away), and Manchester United (3-0 at home).
“They’ve caused problems for every team they’ve faced,” McKenna emphasized. “They troubled Manchester United for half an hour last week and had 19 shots against Newcastle but couldn’t break down 10 men. Even in the Brentford match, they created issues before Brentford capitalized on set pieces.”
McKenna acknowledged Southampton’s possession-based approach, stating, “I’m not surprised by their style; Russell is vocal about it and will stick to it.
Southampton challenges every opponent in how they control the ball in deep areas, and we’ll need to respond to the questions they pose. It should be a good game, and we’ll need to showcase the strong qualities we’ve displayed in our first four matches.”
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