Ipswich Town

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Ipswich have the belief to do something that "nobody will think we can do" against Manchester City, says boss Kieran McKenna.

When the two side first met in August, the newly promoted Tractor Boys took a surprise early lead, before Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne turned it around for a 4-1 home win.

"One of biggest takeaways from [the defeat] was that we weren't able to handle negative momentum away from home," McKenna said.

"Their first goal came from our mistake really - they took the game away from us really quickly and we weren't able to deal with that. We have improved in that aspect of the game, particularly in tough games away from home.

"We have learned to manage negative momentum better than that day."

McKenna's side are facing a different City team to that match, with Guardiola's side sitting sixth in the table having seen their form plummet in November and December.

Despite the defending Premier League champions' inconsistency, McKenna does not feel his team need to change their approach.

"We need to go in with humility, respect the opponent, have belief in ourselves to go and do something nobody will think we can do. We want to make it a really competitive game and to get a result.

"We respect the opponent, everything they have done the past few seasons. They are still a top, top team. We will prepare for that as best as possible but need to find a way of competing and make it as difficult a game for them as possible.

"We have Liverpool and Manchester City in the next two games, we have to enjoy that challenge, we have to go into it with a positive mindset."

The Ipswich boss also confirmed that new signing Jaden Philogene will be in the squad, but they will have to "wait and see" how many minutes he can play.

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Kieran McKenna says Ipswich remain open in the January transfer market for any players that "can add quality to the starting eleven or can help from the bench" as they continue to fight for Premier League survival.

Ipswich completed the signing of long-time target Jaden Philogene from Aston Villa on Tuesday, their 15th signing of the season, but there could be more reinforcements on their way.

"We'll try to, if we can find quality that can improve us," said McKenna. "I think our depth is pretty good now.

"If we can get everybody back fit, our depth is fine.

"But if we can add quality that can help the starting eleven, or quality that can help from the bench, then we'll certainly aim to try and do so - but only if the right players are available that can really push us on."

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We asked for your thoughts after Thursday's Premier League game between Ipswich and Brighton.

Here are some of your comments:

Ipswich fans

Matt: Yet again when we have a chance to pull away from the bottom three we put in a rubbish performance like this. Many of the League One/Championship players are simply nowhere near good enough at this level. Hope Jaden Philogene can do well. This was a rare chance to get three points and leapfrog Everton but we blew it. I am starting to feel that we can't do it when we need to.

Paul: Outclassed and never looked like scoring tonight. With Manchester City and Liverpool up next, then it's likely we are heading deep into relegation territory. The gulf in class is startling.

Robert: Not at the races - too many sloppy passes and kept losing the ball. We need to improve fast and start our run up the table before we start running out of games.

Tim: Poor in possession and lightweight up front. Why Cameron Burgess is not playing defeats me. Perhaps the truth is we are just not up to it. Plus, why put on strikers with only 10 mins left?

Brighton fans

Steve: Great win as we finally dispatched a team in the bottom half of the table. A much better second half and FabianHurzeler seems to be getting to grips with those at his disposal now. Onwards and upwards from here.

Tim: The sort of thoroughly dominant performance from Brighton that we've got used to seeing but usually we glean one measly point from. A well-deserved three points, while at the same time bossing the game, snuffing out what little Ipswich offered, and actually making them look pretty ordinary which, barring a couple of players, they are.

Anthony: We have lost only four league games so far this season, a record beaten only by Liverpool and Arsenal. With all our injuries, this is a tremendous comment on the strength of our team and the way in which it is set up.

Maurice: Relief. Hopefully we have turned a corner but there are many twists and turns ahead. I trust Kaoru Mitoma is returning to goalscoring form

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

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After a home victory against Chelsea in their last Premier League game at Portman Road, Ipswich fans would have been confident of beating a Brighton side that had not won in eight league matches.

And Kieran McKenna's side should have taken the lead, only for Bart Verbruggen to make three fine saves to keep out efforts from Nathan Broadhead, Liam Delap and Omari Hutchinson.

Those stops, and Wes Burns' failure to hit the target from 12 yards out when well placed early in the second half, proved costly.

Poor defending allowed an unmarked Kaoru Mitoma to put Brighton ahead, but Ipswich never looked like getting back in the game, before substitute Georginio Rutter was allowed time and space to shoot from deep inside the penalty area to make it 2-0.

In the end, this game was another tame loss, similar to those against Everton and Crystal Palace earlier in the season, in a home match they would have targeted as must-win.

Worryingly for Ipswich fans, McKenna said his side "didn't find the belief and conviction that the game was still there for us" after conceding the first goal and he challenged his team to show more fight in their next matches.

It will not be an easy task with reigning champions Manchester City at Portman Road on Sunday before a trip to Anfield to face league leaders Liverpool the following Saturday.

Ipswich have shocked Tottenham and Chelsea this season and will need more surprise results if they are to haul themselves back out of the relegation zone.

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Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna, speaking to Match of the Day: "It was a really even game until the first goal.

"In the first 60 minutes we were the more threatening side, we had the better opportunities and got into the better areas but it was a poor first goal and then the game went away from us.

"We lost belief in ourselves on the pitch, they brought on better subs and pushed on and they were the better side in the last 30 minutes.

"We didn't defend well enough to stop the goal and we have to find a better response, but we didn't manage to do that today."

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Ipswich have lost four of their last five league games at Portman Road (W1).

Only Southampton (8) and Wolves (7) have lost more home Premier League games this season than the Tractor Boys (6).

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Ipswich's performance

What did you make of Brighton's display?

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

There are two Premier League fixtures on Thursday and we will bring you every moment.

• Ipswich v Brighton (19:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Man Utd v Southampton (20:00) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Follow all the action and reaction here

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BBC Radio Suffolk's Ipswich Town commentator Brenner Woolley spoke to BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast before the trip to Portman Road on Thursday:

"Ipswich have looked more cohesive since they were at Amex Stadium [in September]. The new players have had more training sessions, know exactly what McKenna wants and have seen more of what the Premier League has to offer having played every side once. They have been more competitive in the vast majority of their games.

"They have a bit of momentum off the back of the win against Chelsea, the draw with Fulham and then the win in the cup against Bristol Rovers."

On the performances of striker Liam Delap: "Delap's performance against Chelsea was good as I've seen from a centre-forward for Ipswich in a long time and was almost unplayable.

"He's strong, physical, loves the battle and will run all day. He's absolutely crucial to Ipswich Town."

Listen to the full podcast here

I really don't want to say I am loving what Ipswich are doing - but I am!

I mean, I would not move there or anything, but I am definitely becoming something of a fan of Kieran McKenna's side.

I love watching The Traitors on BBC iPlayer and I don't feel like I am being a traitor myself here, but my old club Norwich's past two attempts to stay in the Premier League have been pitiful. We were not quite as bad as Southampton this season, but we were not far off it.

In contrast, Ipswich are really giving it a go at staying up. They scrap for everything, but they have organisation and quality too and I am really enjoying Liam Delap's displays up front.

It goes without saying their home form has not been great but, after beating Bristol Rovers on Sunday they have now won their past two match at Portman Road, which will give them a bit more confidence for this game too.

I am still going with Brighton to win this though, and do the double in East Anglia this week.

The Seagulls put four goals past the Canaries at Carrow Road in the FA Cup at the weekend - I was right about that prediction even if it pained me to say it - and I have a feeling their eight-game winless run in the league ends here.

Brighton are going to find it harder against Ipswich - they drew with them at Amex Stadium in September - but they showed how good they can be against Arsenal last week, and their form is going to turn again soon.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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We asked for your views on new signing Jaden Philogene, who joined late on Wednesday night for a fee in the region of £20m from Aston Villa.

Here are some of your comments:

Edward: Very glad this has been completed, good to see that interest carried through separate windows and Ipswich is seen by players as a growing club. I still want to see backup for Delap get sorted, but confident that the recruitment team have plans underway.

Hamish: Great to get this one over the line. Coming up two divisions in two seasons has made the full transition more challenging. McKenna is proving his talents at this level in developing the squad as needed to compete in the Premier League without upsetting the balance in the process. A win this evening over Brighton gives us some insurance over the next two very challenging games against Man City and Liverpool. Amazing times again for the club.

Neil: I'm really thrilled with the signing, he is going to be a very important link in McKenna's new vision in how we stay in the Premier league. I am excited to see his impact.

Brad: Good signing. If the team doesn't survive the season then we will have one hell of a squad for the Championship.

Nick: Could we see a future forward line for England of Philogene, Hutchinson and Delap? All talented, young, improving, players who have played together for the under-21s and find themselves together again in the Premier League.

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This is Ipswich's first home league game against Brighton since a 0-0 draw in the Championship in September 2016, and first in the top-flight since a 2-0 win in January 1983.

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Jaden Philogene says he wants to "play as much as possible" after completing a permanent move to Ipswich.

The 22-year-old has joined from Aston Villa on a four-and-a-half-year deal for a fee in the region of £20m.

Philogene came through Villa's academy, making his senior debut in 2020-21, and enjoyed loan spells at Stoke and Cardiff before securing a permanent transfer to Hull in September 2023.

He returned to Villa in the summer and has made 11 Premier League appearances this season with his last appearance coming on 7 December.

Speaking to the club website, Philogene said: "I'm excited to be here and I know there are great players in the squad," .

"I just want to play as much as possible. As a player I like to dribble and link up play and provide goals and assists. I'm looking forward to it."

What do you make of the new signing, Ipswich fans? Excited to finally see the deal done?

Let us know

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Premier League game against Brighton (kick-off 19:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• McKenna confirmed there are no new injuries since their last match and said it is "not impossible" that Omari Hutchinson could feature. He added that Conor Chaplin is still a few weeks from returning, while Axel Tuanzebe is "not far away".

• On the situation with Jaden Philogene, the Ipswich boss said it was "fair" to provide an update and confirmed he is a "player that we're talking to" and "if it's possible to bring him to the club, we'd like to do so".

• He continued: "I think what's really important in all this is that Jaden is really keen to come to the football club. It's been a slightly longer process than we would have wanted, but that's been steadfast within all that. Jaden believes in the project here [and] he's shown a desire to come here - not just now, but in the summer as well."

• On why the signing had been delayed: "It's a complicated deal for the football club to do because, of course, he's a young player who's just signed a five-year contract at Aston Villa in the summer. That's not an easy deal for Ipswich Town to do. Aston Villa have to get the best deal possible for their club. The player's representatives have to get the best deal and make sure the security is right for the player. For us, it's very important that every deal we do is right for the now, but also protects and helps the progression of the football club in the longer term."

• In terms of outgoing, McKenna is "not sure" if a deal is "possible to be done" between Ipswich and Middlesbrough for George Edmundson, but thinks there are "discussions that are going on that I have not been involved in".

• He said that getting the first home league win against Chelsea "changes the narrative a little bit" as that will have continued to be the "question" asked before every home match: "It took a bit longer, but nice to not have that question now. When we get the second win will be the next question."

• Finally, McKenna said "every journey is unique" when asked if Ipswich can use Brighton as an example: "I'm not sure there is a reference for us or a shining example that we can [follow]. In some ways that is challenging but in other ways it is exciting that there are no rules going from League One to Premier League in two years and making a real good fist of it. We are trying to make decisions that are right and we are going on our own journey."

Catch up on all of Wednesday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to full commentary of Ipswich v Brighton from 19:30 GMT on Thursday on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Seb Brown
Fan writer

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"Brave, bold but never reckless".

That has been the message from Ipswich Town chief executive Mark Ashton before the past couple of transfer windows. With three weeks left of the January window, what do Ipswich need before it 'slams shut'?

One early arrival looks another shrewd acquisition. Ben Godfrey joined on loan from Atalanta and provides Premier League experience, physicality and pace. His arrival solves a problem position for Town given the injury woes of Axel Tuanzebe.

The attention must now shift to the forward line. Twenty goals scored so far is the third-fewest in the league, as is an average of just 10 shots per game. Ipswich need to improve these numbers in the attacking third if they are to stay up.

At the time of writing a deal for Jaden Philogene remains in limbo. Many fans were expecting the transfer to be completed by now and assuming it goes through then Philogene will provide pace, trickery, ball-carrying ability and will improve the chance creation statistics.

The key position in need of improvement before the window opened was centre-forward. Liam Delap has proven to be a revelation this season and his eight league goals show how dependent Town are on him staying fit.

His natural back-up George Hirst has only managed 180 minutes this season as two separate injuries have disrupted his campaign. It is vital Ipswich can secure another striker to help Delap and Hirst share the workload before the season ends. Delap's all-action playing style takes its toll and the drop in quality when he is substituted is apparent.

The past two January windows have proved masterstrokes from the Ipswich owners and management, providing the springboard for remarkable second halves of the respective seasons.

The recent upturn in league form has given hope that Ipswich can stay in the Premier League, so it is time to be brave and bold again.

Find more from Seb Brown at the Blue Monday Podcast, external

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Former Ipswich midfielder Dominic Ball thinks the progression at the club is "incredible" and believes the Tractor Boys have enough to avoid relegation this season.

Speaking on the latest episode of BBC Radio Suffolk's Final Whistle, Ball, who was part of the Ipswich side that achieved back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League said: "I fully believed before the start of the season that Ipswich would stay up - I still believe that.

"You can see the progression since the manager came in. The fact the lads are now performing in the Premier League at the level they are, I think they've got a very good chance."

"The patterns and the style of play have had continuous progression. Even around the stadium, the club has continued to improve and progress.

"To do that in the space of two-and-a-half years since the manager has been here is incredible."

"To do what the club and players have done is rare, but knowing what goes on with manager, the staff and the players and what they put in - it doesn't surprise me."

Ipswich comfortably beat Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup on Sunday and Ball was keen to praise boss Kieran McKenna for his influence on the team.

"He has that calming, humble attitude which I think goes through every player," Ball said. "I learned a lot from him - I think he's brilliant.

"You can see the respect that the players have shown and the way the manager and coaches prepare. Every game means everything and the FA Cup for Ipswich this year will be massive - he knows that."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's FA Cup game between Ipswich and Bristol Rovers.

Here are some of your comments:

Tim: Very comfortable and completely in control for the whole match. Nice to see that with all the personnel changes, we didn't miss a beat and kept a great formation. We haven't been used to this much possession this season and it was somewhat reminiscent of the last two years. We played 'keep ball' extremely well and Rovers struggled to get a foothold. A great performance.

James: Kalvin Phillips is clearly a confidence player. Hopefully, this goal will give him a boost and we can start to see the best of him.

Pete: Good all-round performance. With a capable striker, it would have been a lot more. Phillips was class and Ben Godfrey had a great debut. Arijanet Muric showed why he's slipped down the order and Ali Al-Hamadi showed why he needs to go out on loan. Jack Clarke's best game in a Town shirt. Brighton & Man City next - confident of four points!

James: As Kieran McKenna said, this was a very enjoyable performance, with lots to like from an all-changed team. We got off to a strong start, scored three good goals (albeit one which was very suspiciously offside!) and made the second half something of a procession. Too often in cup competitions in recent years, no-one in Town's colours has staked a claim for more regular minutes, but McKenna has at least been given food for thought with impressive cameos from Godfrey, Conor Townsend, Phillips and Clarke in particular. Another winnable tie in round four against Coventry, should give the fringe players more chance to shine as we look to build momentum in league and cup.

Thomas: Good solid performance from the reserve team - let's hope they can kick on and beat Brighton on Thursday.