Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna was not too bothered by the penalty decision that led to their 1-0 loss against Nottingham Forest. Despite feeling that a draw would have been a fair result, McKenna acknowledged that the penalty was a crucial moment in the game.
Former Ipswich loanee Chris Wood converted the penalty in the 49th minute after Sammie Szmodics was deemed to have fouled Jota Silva. McKenna believed it was an ill-advised challenge by Szmodics, even though the contact seemed minimal. The VAR upheld the decision, sealing Ipswich Town’s fate.
McKenna admitted that the team missed opportunities to score in the first half and felt that the first goal would be decisive in the game. He emphasized the importance of not giving the referee the opportunity to make such decisions, especially away from home.
The game against Nottingham Forest was more physical compared to their previous matches against Tottenham and Manchester United. Despite the physicality and numerous set pieces, McKenna felt that the team competed well in those aspects. However, he noted that the game lacked flow and quality, with both teams struggling to create scoring chances from open play.
While Ipswich Town had threats from set pieces, they failed to capitalize on those opportunities and conceded a soft goal from their perspective. McKenna highlighted the need for discipline in defending set pieces and expressed disappointment in not converting their chances.
Overall, McKenna accepted the outcome of the match but stressed the importance of learning from their mistakes and improving in future games. Despite the loss, he remained optimistic about the team’s performance and their ability to bounce back in the next fixture.
