Opposition briefing: Everything you need to know about Ipswich and Kieran McKenna

Match previews

7 Jan 2025

Crystal Palace welcome Ipswich Town to Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon (15:00 GMT) – so ahead of matchday, here's the full lowdown on our latest opponents…

Factfile

Manager: Kieran McKenna
Current Position: 18th
Nickname: The Tractor Boys / The Blues
Ground: Portman Road
Founded: 1878 (147 years ago)

What’s the story?

What a journey it has been for Ipswich Town. A good number of players in their squad have experienced the entire journey – from 22nd in League One on 12th September 2021, to now enjoying life back in the top-flight for the first time since 2002.

Ipswich's rise under Kieran McKenna saw them beat heavily-favoured Leeds United to automatic promotion last season, earning a reputation for attractive football and dramatic late goals – the 97th-minute winner against Southampton last April just one example.

Now, though, they cannot merely bask in the glory of back-to-back promotions. Locked in an intense battle for survival, the focus is on picking up points to make their return to the Premier League more than a short-lived affair.

A first Premier League victory away at Tottenham Hotspur was followed by a crucial win at Wolves before Christmas to give McKenna’s side genuine hope of avoiding an immediate return to the Championship.

But form at Portman Road has proved an Achilles heel. The Tractor Boys have taken maximum points at home just once so far this season: a 2-0 win over Chelsea just before the turn of the year.

The boss

Ipswich had to fight off interest from the biggest clubs in the country – including, reportedly, Chelsea and Manchester United – last summer to convince McKenna to sign a new contract at the club and lead them in the Premier League. His record tells you why.

After joining the club in 2021, having most recently managed Manchester United's Under-18s before becoming a part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's coaching setup, he has transformed them from League One strugglers into a Premier League outfit, playing with style along the way.

Boot in both camps

Plenty of players have represented both clubs, from Darren Ambrose to Damien Delaney, Shefki Kuqi to Conor Wickham, Jonny Williams to Jonathan Parr.

Trevoh Chalobah has enjoyed loan spells at both clubs, having played 44 times for Ipswich during the 2018/19 season, and spending the first half of this season with the Eagles.

Former Palace winger Andros Townsend also enjoyed a brief spell on loan at Portman Road earlier in his career.

Forward Marcus Bent played for both clubs, scoring 14 of his 40 Premier League goals for either the Eagles or the Tractor Boys.

Record against Palace

The Eagles won the last meeting between the two in early December, which was the first Premier League meeting between the pair in 29 years, when Jean-Philippe Mateta grabbed the only goal of the game just before the hour mark.

Prior to that, the previous meeting was a tight League Cup encounter in August 2017, with James McArthur scoring both of the goals at Selhurst Park.

Ipswich last tasted victory in this match-up back in April 2013, with Palace losing 3-0 at Portman Road – although the Eagles did win the Selhurst Park encounter in November 2012 in the same season, thrashing Ipswich 5-0 with Glenn Murray scoring a hat-trick.

Did you know?

Ipswich have three stars on the back of their shirt, formerly at the top of their badge before being moved in 2022.

The three stars represent the three major trophies won by the club, all claimed under legendary managers who also led England to great success: the FA Cup in 1978 and the UEFA Cup in 1981, both under Sir Bobby Robson, and the league title in 1962 under Sir Alf Ramsey.

Match details

Saturday, 8th March
15:00 GMT
Selhurst Park
Live audio commentary on Palace TV+

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