Kieran McKenna hails Ipswich for taming Tigers and climbing league table

Kieran McKenna accepted Ipswich were far from perfect but he praised their perseverance as the Tractor Boys moved up to fourth in the Sky Bet Championship with a 2-0 win at Hull.

Ipswich subdued a Hull side who had scored in their last 13 matches but lacked a cutting edge of their own until former Tigers forwards Jaden Philogene and Chuba Akpom were introduced after 66 minutes.

With his first touch, Philogene’s dipping cross allowed an unmarked Marcelino Nunez to head home, while Akpom bagged his first Ipswich goal moments later as the Blues claimed a third successive away win.

After his side extended their unbeaten run to six matches, McKenna said: “We showed the qualities you need on nights like this on a difficult pitch – both teams really struggled to get to grips with it.

“In those times when it’s not perfect and we didn’t really get the control we wanted to, you have to stay intense and stay together. Our defensive organisation was excellent.

“We improved in the second half, found some rhythm on the ball, adjusted to conditions and confidence grew after the first goal. From that moment on we looked like we could score any number of goals.”

Ipswich sit just three points adrift of second-placed Stoke but McKenna insisted he was paying no attention to the standings with the bulk of the season still to go.

McKenna added: “Of course we’d rather be top of the league and have won all of our games but it doesn’t make a difference to me or the group where we are for now.

“I look for the progress elsewhere, I think we’ve been progressing, not always linear, a long way from perfect, lots to do but we have to stay together and clear-headed and looking to improve in every area.

“Definitely, the run we’re on now, from a mental point of view we’ve made some great strides about what it takes to be successful in the Championship.”

Hull, who slipped to a third defeat in four matches and to eighth in the table, had enjoyed the better chances until Nunez scored, which Sergej Jakirovic was a hammer blow to his side’s chances.

Jakirovic said: “The crucial moment was their goal, this is something we must defend, it was not a sharp cross. We train for those situations so this is even more painful for me.”

Hull are yet to win a penalty this season and Jakirovic felt they should have had a spot-kick when Kyle Joseph and ex-Tigers defender Jacob Greaves tussled in the area in a race for the ball.

Both players fell to the floor but Greaves was awarded a free-kick, and Jakirovic said: “This is something that I am very concerned about because when it is 50-50, it is on the opposite side.

“We haven’t had a penalty yet – and we have reached 17 rounds. I have a few examples for a clear penalty. I am concerned about that because I know football rules very well.”