Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich show ‘confidence and composure’ to down Coventry

Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna felt his side fully deserved their 2-0 victory over Championship leaders Coventry.

McKenna’s side started the evening 13 points behind the Sky Blues and five behind second-placed Middlesbrough.

But Jack Clarke and Wes Burns were on target to hand Frank Lampard’s Coventry their first home defeat of the season.

McKenna said: “It was a really good performance. In the first half there was a real confidence, a composure. We took the game on, controlled the game and had some really good chances.

“We knew at half-time that the whole game wouldn’t be like that against a team this strong with the home record they have.

“You’re not going to have a period of pressure and set plays, you’re going to have to stay strong and we managed to do that in the second half, and we got the goals clearly that the performance deserved.

“The boys knew what they needed to do and everyone was really happy when the first goal goes in and from there we were in a great spot.”

Burns’ goal was his first since May 2024 in just his second appearance since a cruciate ligament injury suffered against Liverpool in January.

McKenna added: “Brilliant moment, one of the best moments of the season, maybe my time here to be honest.

“Delighted for Wes, for his family, delighted for the staff, medical team who worked really hard with him, really nice for the supporters and for his teammates.

“As a manager you enjoy all wins, all goals, but one like that’s a little bit special and one to really cherish.”

Lampard’s league leaders had been beaten by the same opponents 3-0 at Portman Road earlier this month.

Sky Blues boss Lampard said: “We didn’t play as well as we normally do and we came up against a good team, a strong team in this league.

“They played well so sometimes you have to credit the opposition and I think we were off it a little bit in probably energy, in bravery to play like we normally do.

“And they got a feeling in the first half of the game of having a lot of control of it. We pulled that back a bit in the second half when we had a bit more momentum.

“I wanted to shake the lads out of that (at half-time) to remind themselves at that point we’re 13 points ahead of Ipswich, who are a really strong team. We’re top of this league, play like it, and I didn’t think the lads really had that sort of belief.

“We were off it tonight and we lose the game because we’re playing a good team. That’s it in simple terms.”