Ipswich Town suffered their second consecutive Premier League defeat, losing 1-0 to Crystal Palace on a cold evening at Portman Road. The game was decided by a stunning Jean-Philippe Mateta goal, as he weaved through Ipswich defenders before delicately lifting the ball over Arijanet Muric.
Manager Kieran McKenna was left hoping for a moment of magic from his team, but his side delivered a lackluster performance, with several players falling short of expectations.
Ipswich’s Underperformers
Even striker Liam Delap couldn’t spark a revival, with all three of his shots failing to trouble Dean Henderson. Omari Hutchinson also struggled in the number ten role, losing possession 19 times and contributing little to the attack.
While Jacob Greaves impressed defensively, winning 12 duels, his efforts weren’t enough to prevent Ipswich from dropping to 19th in the league. McKenna might need to make bold changes in his lineup to extract better performances from his squad. One such player in question is Wes Burns, who endured a frustrating evening against Palace.
Burns’ Disappointing Display
Wes Burns struggled on the right wing, failing to create meaningful chances. His poor delivery in the final third saw him complete just one accurate cross out of eight attempts. Additionally, his 33 touches were fewer than goalkeeper Muric’s 51, highlighting his limited impact on the game.
Burns’ Performance in Numbers:
– **Minutes played**: 66
– **Goals scored**: 0
– **Assists**: 0
– **Shots**: 1
– **Accurate passes**: 8/13 (62%)
– **Accurate crosses**: 1/8
– **Possession lost**: 15
– **Duels won**: 2/3
His struggles didn’t go unnoticed, with local journalist Alex Jones rating Burns a 5/10 post-match. Despite being a fan favorite for his contributions last season, the Premier League appears to be testing his limits.
What’s Next for Ipswich?
With AFC Bournemouth up next, McKenna may need to consider replacing Burns to inject fresh energy into the side. After their back-to-back losses, Ipswich will be desperate to rediscover their form and climb out of the relegation zone.
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