Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna has admitted that too many mistakes cost them in an entertaining 2-1 defeat at Middlesbrough last night.
The Tractor Boys had recovered from a slow start to the season in recent weeks and travelled to the Riverside Stadium unbeaten in 5 games. It was a run that included a trio of wins that had seen them rise into the top half of the table, and similar success would have taken the Suffolk-based club into the top three.
The first half showcased two of the best teams in the Championship in what became an open encounter from the off. Both teams enjoyed a series of chances, with goalkeepers Sol Brynn and Alex Palmer in inspired form.
Middlesbrough Take Advantage Of Ipswich Errors
Ipswich were unlucky not have been awarded a penalty when Boro defender Alfie Jones handled in the box, but the away side were awarded a spot kick minutes later. George Hirst saw his effort saved by Brynn and the hammer blow came two minutes into first half stoppage time when Cedric Kipre bundled into his own net.
As is Sol Brynn! How is this game 0-0?!#Boro #ITFC https://t.co/9vk6GrldKZ
— The Real EFL (@RealEFLSocial) October 17, 2025
McKenna Has No Complaints But Bemoans Mistakes
It’s a case of another missed opportunity for Ipswich, who are yet to win away from Portman Road this season. Speaking after the game, McKenna admitted he accepted the result but it came at the doing of his own players:
“I don’t have too many complaints about the result because I think we made too many mistakes to win a tough away game like this against a good team in form.
“And we also didn’t manage the difficult phases of the game well enough. In that, I mean the end of the first half when it got really chaotic.
“Of course, we had a big moment with the penalty to go 1-0 up and the night could have been really different, but you can’t go in 1-0 down from that situation, so we need to be stronger.
“And then the same at the start of the second half and in and around the second goal. It’s not like us, too easily played through, we didn’t stay together, stay strong enough defensively in that moment when it was really tough.
“Other than that, there wasn’t much in the game. We had plenty of chances through the night, Middlesbrough had chances as well. We allowed the game to be too open.
“But I feel we’ve made too many mistakes and we haven’t managed the difficult moments in the game well enough to come and get a win or a result in a place like this.”
Continuing, the former Manchester United coach looked despondent at more dropped points on the road:
This game shows why the Championship is one of the best leagues in the world. What a fantastic advert for the division. ❤️ https://t.co/fetQzsaMrh
— The Real EFL (@RealEFLSocial) October 17, 2025
“I think the game changes completely at 1-0 and that’s been the story of our away games so far.
“I don’t think we’ve had the lead in an away game and if you go through them all we’ve had big moments in every game to go 1-0 up
“When you give the opposition and the crowd that energy, one, by missing the penalty and, two, by giving away a really poor goal right before half-time, it completely altered the game.”
Writer’s View
Ipswich were the pre-season favourites to secure promotion to the Premier League and they really need to sort out their away form if they are going to stand any chance of pushing for a top two finish. They had looked to have turned a corner in recent weeks and this is undoubtedly a set back.
Despite that, it was one of the most entertaining games in the Championship so far and it could have gone either way. This was perhaps two of the best teams in the division fighting for an advantage. Football is a game of moments and last night showed just that.
