Ipswich Town

Richard Woodward
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

What an evocative experience it was visiting Goodison Park as an away fan on Saturday (even if my view from the away end was compromised by steel rafters and pillars!).

The pre-match scenes were exactly what I hoped for, and while the buoyant atmosphere amongst the home fans waned as Town got themselves back in the game, you could easily imagine what a vibrant place it could be for a bigger match.

While the new stadium will lack the character of its predecessor, the key is to ensure the existing fanbase give it a soul by creating a new shared history. Stuffing it full of corporate hospitality and pricing out generations of supporters that made Goodison special would be a huge error by the club.

As for Ipswich, Saturday's game very much had the feeling of looking ahead to next season. While Julio's Enciso's worldie rightly drew the headlines, it was great to see the likes of Jack Taylor, Conor Chaplin and George Hirst in particular make key contributions – all of whom will likely be key players in 2025-26.

While Taylor hasn't necessarily shown that he has the influence to be a regular midfield starter in the Premier League, his second half against Everton gave some insight into what Kieran McKenna sees in the former Peterborough man. The hope is that he can dominate more a level down.

Hirst meanwhile demonstrated once again his abilities to lead the line in a way that brings others into the game. His impressive towering header to earn the point was the least his efforts deserved.

After a taxing second half of the season, it was great to see us demonstrate the kind of resilience and determination on Saturday that this club has shown consistently in the EFL under McKenna. It will be needed back in the Championship if we are to bounce back at the first time of asking.

Find more from Richard Woodward at the Blue Monday Podcast, external

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We asked for your views on Everton's Premier League game against Ipswich.

Here are some of your comments:

Everton fans

Oliver: The full-backs simply weren't up to standard. Vitaliy Mykolenko offers solid defensive cover but lacks the quality or confidence going forward, while Nathan Patterson contributes more in attack but is too often caught out defensively. Strengthening the full-back positions will surely be high on David Moyes' agenda this summer.

Mike: Jekyll-and-Hyde performance once again from Everton. Second half we just didn't turn up but credit to Ipswich who were good value for the draw. On far too many occasions this season, a two-goal lead has been squandered. Moyes knows this is not good enough and a major overhaul is needed in the summer.

Harry: I can't believe how sluggish and lazy we looked. On a day, when the fans made such an effort to give the Old Lady the beginning of a memorable send-off, the players thought they'd just go through the motions. Fifteen draws and counting.

Anton: Extremely frustrating result. Clearly too many players thought that 2-0 up after 35 mins at home to an already-relegated side equated to three pts. They'd better not produce this kind of performance against Southampton. This summer is going to be extremely interesting, not frustrating...we hope!

Ipswich fans

David: This was one of very few games this season where I felt we matched the opposition and weren't outclassed.

James: Where have those performances been hiding?! Great resilience to come back and get a point. My concern is how many of those players are going to be there next season.

Steve: The team have not given up - a good sign.

Robert: A fighting display to get the draw but sadly too little too late. My greatest worries are whether the manager will stay if approached by other clubs, how many players will move on and, if we sign new players, how long will it take them to gel together. We need to be on the front foot from the very start of next season.

Everton are prepared to rival Manchester United for the signature of 22-year-old Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap. (Teamtalk), external

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Highlights and analysis from Saturday's Four Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from Friday's game between Manchester City and Wolves.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Everton 2-2 Ipswich

• Arsenal 1-2 Bournemouth

Image source, PA Media

Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna spoke to Premier League productions after Saturday's draw against Everton: "I'm really proud. It was always going to be a tough game for us.

"I don't think it had been a 2-0 game, but the group responded really well. It took a great goal to get us back into it, but the group stuck together and I think we deserved at least a point.

"It's been a challenge [this season]. We knew everything would have to go right, and it hasn't. We know injuries has been a part of that. There's frustration in there, but it is what it is. The boys who have been available have given their all pretty much every week.

"The motivation hasn't been hard. A lot of the boys are playing in the Premier League for the first time. The only hard bit has been pulling them together as a group. I think you can see that they're still really fighting for the club."

On Julio Enciso's goal: "That's what he's capable of. We'd have liked to have him available for more of the season because that individual difference can get you points in this league."

Bobbie Jackson
BBC Sport Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

On a day when the headlines were all about Everton's final Saturday 15:00 kick-off at Goodison Park before moving to new stadium Bramley-Moore Dock, Ipswich ensured they had a big role in the story.

In any other season a game in early May between a club already relegated - Ipswich - and a team set for a bottom half finish - Everton - would likely be overlooked by many, however, the occasion added a much-needed layer to encounter.

Everton were undoubtedly lifted by the atmosphere, with flags, banners and ticker tape greeting them on to the field, and it wasn't long until they led 2-0 through Beto and Dwight McNeil.

However, it might have been a case of throwing too much into the opening stages for the hosts as they soon started to fade and Ipswich found a foothold.

Julio Enciso was the catalyst for the comeback with a stunning 30-yard strike shortly before half-time.

George Hirst's header with 11 minutes remaining drew Kieran McKenna's side level but Ipswich were unable to find a winner.

Ipswich are playing for pride at this point and it was a performance their fans can be proud of as they make the long journey back to Suffolk.

Image source, Getty Images

Ipswich overturned a two-goal deficit to gain a result in a Premier League game for the first time since October 2001 against Southampton (3-3).

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Everton's performance

What did you make of Ipswich's display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies.

Five matches make up Saturday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Aston Villa v Fulham (12:30)

• Everton v Ipswich Town - BBC Radio 5 Live

• Leicester City v Southampton

• Arsenal v Bournemouth (17:30) - BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

I am covering this game for BBC Radio 5 Live and I am really looking forward to going to Goodison Park again.

Everything points towards a home win, despite Everton losing their previous two games.

Ipswich are definitely down now and, while they won't throw in the towel, they might be a little less spirited now they know they are relegated.

Their confidence has been sapped over the course of the season and, after watching them recently, I can't back them to get anything here.

They were flimsy against Arsenal, then well beaten by Newcastle, and it would be a shock if they scored at all, let alone break my record for the fastest goal scored by an away player at Goodison.

Everton have stuttered in the past couple of weeks but I don't think that is a bad thing for David Moyes.

He has over-achieved since taking charge in January, when the reality is that he has got the same group of players as his predecessor, Sean Dyche, and there needs to be a lot of work done on improving that squad in the summer.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Listen to Everton v Ipswich on BBC Radio 5 Live at 15:00 BST on Saturday

Image source, Getty Images

Earlier, we asked you to name the current Ipswich player from a series of clues.

The correct answer is Sam Szmodics.

Alex Fletcher
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

With just four games to go in the Premier League this season relegation has been decided.

For the second season in a row, all three promoted clubs have been sent straight back down, and 14 points separates those in the relegation zone and 17th placed West Ham.

Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town have just 10 wins between them this season, and there is still a chance that the Saints finish the campaign as the joint-worst Premier League team of all time.

But where did it all go wrong?

A struggle to survive

According to Opta, this is the worst combined points total of any group of promoted sides at this stage of the season in Premier League history

The three teams have only managed to get 50 points between them - after just 34 games - and are 14 points behind the previous record which was set last year by Sheffield United, Burnley and Luton Town.

While Leicester and Southampton have seen changes in the dugout this season, Ipswich have stuck with Kieran McKenna, but this has not changed their fortunes.

Between them, they have picked up just 21 points at home, with Southampton and Ipswich winning just once in-front of their own fans.

Promoted sides face 'more of a challenge'

And things look set to get even more difficult for those coming up from the Championship.

According to Opta, five of the lowest eight Premier League points totals for promoted sides after 34 games have come in the last eight years. Southampton are currently on the joint-lowest points total ever at this stage of the season, alongside Derby County.

Speaking before his sides relegation, Ipswich boss McKenna said the gap between the Premier League and the Championship "is getting bigger" and that "it's been getting more of a challenge for clubs to be able to bridge that".

Image source, Getty Images

Ipswich Town midfielder Jack Taylor believes the club's difficult Premier League season has given him the "hunger" to improve.

Last weekend's defeat to Newcastle marked relegation for Ipswich but Taylor thinks there is plenty to take out of the season.

"It's not the outcome we wanted but the club is on an incredible journey. I've loved it and I'm really proud of where I've got to," he said.

"Looking at the bigger picture, If you take all the lessons that we've learnt this year in to next season, we can hopefully bounce straight back up."

Taylor has started just two league games this season, but believes the adversity has made him improve.

"I've overcome so many things personally, from missing out on squads at the start of the season, before finally getting a chance," he said. "You've got to become a better- player.

"No matter whether you are coming on for 30 minutes or just for one, you want to be positive. I've set a mentality for myself to use it as an opportunity to impress the manager.

"If I get the opportunity to start again, it's an opportunity to play in a Premier League football match and I want to show the best version of myself."

Guess the current Ipswich player from these three clues:

• I began the 2024-25 season playing in the Championship.

• My first goal for Ipswich was scored against Manchester City.

• I played twice against England in the Nations League earlier this season.

Come back to this page at 17:00 BST for the answer

Alex Fletcher
BBC Sport journalist

Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Everton (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• The team face "a lot of late judgement calls" in terms of availability.

• Nine players missed their match against Newcastle and McKenna said: "It's not very dissimilar this week. Certainly in two games time we'll be much, much closer to where we'd want to be in terms of availability."

• Wes Burns, Nathan Broadhead, Aro Muric, Jaden Philogene, Kalvin Phillips,

• Chiedozie Ogbene, Sammie Szmodics, Conor Townsend, and Axel Tuanzebe all missed the Newcastle match through injury while Jens Cajuste and Omari Hutchinson were unused substitutes after recent problems. Leif Davis is serving a suspension, and Ben Johnson will also be banned this weekend.

• On what he can take from the final four games: "It's not about that, the summer is a reset. We want to finish the season as strongly as possible in our first season back in the Premier League for 22 years, especially for our supporters."

• On relegation: "There is no doubt that the injury and availability hasn't helped in the second half of the season but I don't think it's ever about one moment. We know that we've come up short and we are where we are."

• McKenna believes the club have learnt "lots of lessons".

• On David Moyes' career as a Premier League manager: "It's hard not to admire. It's becoming less common to have a career with his longevity at the highest levels of the game and he's doing a good job at Everton."

• On facing Everton at Goodison Park: "We expect a tough match, they've been really stable since he [Moyes] went in there and their strengths are clear. We know the context of it with Goodison [Park]. They will want to finish off their last home games well and make it a party atmosphere."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Image source, Getty Images

Everton have conceded a higher share of their Premier League goals in the second half of games than any other side this season (66% - 27 out of 41). However, Ipswich have scored fewer second half goals both overall (12) and as a percentage (36%) than any other side this term.

Ipswich have won their past two away league games against Everton, beating them 3-0 in September 2000 and 2-1 in February 2002.

Everton are among the clubs interested in 22-year-old Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap, with the English forward believed to have a £30m release clause. (The i Paper, external)

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