Kieran McKenna, the manager of Ipswich Town, expressed his belief that his team was denied a penalty in the dying moments of a dramatic 2-2 draw against Middlesbrough. This result keeps the Tractor Boys in second place in the Championship.
“I’m a bit surprised by the number of questions regarding the penalty,” McKenna commented during an interview with BBC Radio Suffolk.
Advertisement
“In my view, as the ball was moving across the face of goal, [Adilson] Malanda pulled back George Hirst as he was making a run in.”
The match ultimately saw its fate decided in the 87th minute when Jack Clarke successfully scored from the penalty spot, leveling the match in a game marked by significant momentum shifts.
“We had a really strong first half, dominating against a team that has been impressive in their recent outings,” McKenna remarked.
“The second half started alright, but I was disappointed when they scored and gained the momentum for about 15-20 minutes.”
Advertisement
“I definitely wouldn’t have accepted a point in the first half or prior to their second goal, but at 2-1 and given the match conditions at that moment, I might’ve been willing to take it,” he added.
Looking ahead, Ipswich will face Charlton on Wednesday (19:45 BST) followed by matches against West Bromwich Albion and Southampton. They will wrap up their season at home against Queens Park Rangers, concluding a hectic stretch of four games in 11 days.
“We understand that we are entering a crucial phase, and while we are in a strong position, facing three away games in six days at this point in the season will be challenging,” McKenna noted.
“Although we are positioned well, it’s going to require an extraordinary effort from us moving forward.”