McKenna must now unleash Ipswich “animal” who’s his own Kerkez
While many fans dread the international break, it likely came as a welcome relief for Ipswich Town supporters.
Kieran McKenna’s team has shown flashes of great football this season, but they’ve also endured a tough run, losing their last five matches across all competitions and sitting 18th in the Premier League with just 17 points.
That said, although it’s a monumental challenge, there is still a slim chance that Ipswich can close the nine-point gap between them and 17th-place Wolverhampton Wanderers.
To make that happen, however, McKenna’s side needs to start picking up victories, beginning with tonight’s away match against Bournemouth. To give his team the best shot, McKenna should look to unleash Ipswich’s own version of Milos Kerkez.
Ipswich’s Record Against Bournemouth
Since their first meeting in September 1936, Ipswich has faced Bournemouth 39 times, winning 14, drawing 13, and losing 12.
While their overall record against the Cherries is decent, recent encounters have not been as kind. In fact, four of the last five matchups have ended in draws, with their most recent meeting seeing Bournemouth win away earlier this season.
That game was especially tough for Ipswich. They took the lead in the 21st minute thanks to Conor Chaplin, but Bournemouth equalized in the 87th minute through Enes Unal, denying Ipswich their first home win of the season. And to make matters worse, Dango Ouattara’s 95th-minute goal sealed the victory for Bournemouth.
It’s safe to say the Blues will be seeking revenge tonight. To help his team get the best result, McKenna should deploy Ipswich’s answer to Milos Kerkez.
Ipswich’s Answer to Kerkez
Bournemouth has several key threats to watch, such as Justin Kluivert, Antoine Semenyo, and Evanilson, but the full-back Kerkez is another player who can’t be allowed too much freedom.
The Hungarian left-back has been one of the standout full-backs in the Premier League this season, tallying two goals and six assists in 29 games, which has earned him interest from top clubs like Liverpool.
While Kerkez will certainly be a player to watch, McKenna has his own weapon in Leif Davis, who can cause problems for Bournemouth’s defense.
Though Davis might not yet be receiving the same level of attention as some of his counterparts, he has proven to be an exceptional attacking full-back since joining Ipswich. The former Leeds United player has contributed six goals and 38 assists in 118 appearances, averaging a goal involvement every 2.68 games.
This season, despite playing for a newly promoted team, Davis has scored once and provided three assists in 28 games—an impressive tally.
Beyond his direct output, Davis also boasts strong underlying statistics. FBref ranks him in the top 4% of Premier League full-backs for key passes, the top 7% for shot-creating actions, and the top 10% for crosses per 90 minutes.
While Ipswich are heavy underdogs going into this match, with players like Davis in their squad, they certainly have the potential to grab all three points and begin their push for survival.
