Ipswich Town

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Ipswich boss Gary O'Neil has been speaking to the media before Friday's Premier League game against Nottingham Forest at Portman Road (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Sasa Lukic is still sidelined with a groin injury. The midfielder, who was rested as a precaution against Manchester City, should "definitely be back with the squad for a decent part of next week" before the trip to Hull City. O'Neil explained: "We could have tried to push minutes on him this weekend but it would have carried a risk. We are hopeful he will be fully fit and ready to go next weekend."

• On whether leaving Etihad Stadium with a feeling of disappointment is a good sign for a promoted side: "Nobody is getting carried away. It was a decent effort against a good side. It didn't give us any points but it did give us some belief that we can be competitive. We are seven games in with nine points on the board, but there is a lot of work ahead of us."

• On whether any pressure has turned into excitement after racking up nine points in seven games: "We are under pressure every week - that's the nature of football. I hear pressure used as a negative term but I believe it is a privilege to be responsible for ensuring we finish as high up the Premier League table as we can."

• The squad's culture and togetherness is the best he has ever been around and he feels it gives them "a fighting chance" when the "tactical or technical stuff" isn't quite working.

• All of the summer additions have done a "good job" of dealing with the "robust test" of the Premier League so far this season. He highlighted that Emersonn is "yet to play 90 minutes but working hard with the fitness coaches", while Abdoul Ouattara is "still getting used to the speed and physicality".

• Exequiel Palacios, who signed from Bayer Leverkusen for an undisclosed fee, has lived up to O'Neil's expectations so far. He added: "I knew he was going to be good, but he is exceptional. He is going to be a big player for us this season. We just need to make sure we use him correctly."

• Nottingham Forest will pose a "very different but equally difficult test". He added: "They have performed better than their points tally would suggest. They have lost games on scorelines, but if it was a boxing match you definitely wouldn't have had them losing some of those games."

• Oliver Glasner's style is "incredibly difficult" to play against. The Austrian looks to play "low-risk, direct and transitional" football, defending in a "pretty low block with a back five that can jump pretty aggressively".

• When it was pointed out that O'Neil has never lost to Nottingham Forest in his managerial career, he jokingly cited "luck" as the reason.

Graeme McLoughlin
BBC Radio Suffolk sports editor

Image source, Reuters

Late in 2021, Ipswich Town could barely give Barrow a game and were deservedly dumped out of the FA Cup at the hands of a then League Two side, who drew 0-0 at Portman Road before finishing off the job less than a fortnight later.

Without wanting to disrespect the Bluebirds, it was one of the lowest periods in Town's entire history. At the time, it also came as no surprise at all.

Fast-forward to now, and Ipswich are confident they can give anyone a game.

Despite the eventual outcome, I still stand by the opening 40 minutes at Old Trafford being their best spell of the Premier League season so far, and they also had Manchester City supporters worried towards the end of Saturday's match at the Eithad.

A fight-to-the-end mentality - something that became a key trait of Town under former manager Kieran McKenna - lives on.

The Northern Irishman took over shortly after the Barrow debacle, and his team's never say die attitude was never more on display than during the Blues' first run to the top-flight during his tenure in 2023-24.

Despite the recent change in the dugout, the late shows have continued. Zian Flemming's penalty at City was Ipswich's eighth goal this campaign that arrived in the 88th minute or later.

Not bad for a side that has only played nine matches in all competitions since the beginning of the season.

This statistic is undoubtedly one of the reasons a caller to our post-match phone-in at the weekend dared to speak the words: "We all love Kieran for what he did for Town, but Gary O'Neil is a step-up."

In the days that have followed, club legend Terry Butcher has also heaped praise on McKenna's successor, adding: "He's shown he is a very good leader who is willing to change the system. There is a bit more purpose and understanding."

It is high praise, and it is deserved praise, but given all of McKenna's achievements, I'm not ready to rate one boss above the other just yet.

I can, however, rate Town's latest Premier League squad against the one McKenna worked with two years ago, and it is much stronger in all departments.

O'Neil's clever formation tweak against the current leaders only highlighted that further. I suspect he'll opt to return to a back four when the Blues line-up against Nottingham Forest on Friday night.

It's a fixture Ipswich can go into with huge belief, and victory would move them up to sixth in the table going into the weekend.

That infamous cup loss in Cumbria may have been less than five years ago, but it feels like light years.

Join Graeme Mac for The Matchday Preview every Friday from 18:00 and subscribe to the Ipswich Town page on BBC Sounds - plus, listen to BBC Radio Suffolk for full commentary of every Tractor Boys game.

Ipswich Town legend Terry Butcher has told BBC Radio Suffolk that the Tractor Boys' players "understand the "power" of the Premier League this time around.

Under former boss Kieran McKenna, Ipswich struggled on their return to the top flight, and only picked up four points from the first seven games in 2024-25. The 2026-27 version have earned nine points and sit 10th in the table.

"The players can play any system from what I see. There is more steel, grit and power; a lot of resilience and a lot of fight," said Butcher.

"It was very interesting last week to see Gary O'Neil employ a different system and I think it worked very well.

"Flexibility is so important in football. With McKenna, it was same old, same old.

"There is a great blend and combination all throughout the team. O'Neil has tried different players and he has settled now with a back four.

"We were hit by the power of the Premier League [during the 2024-25 season]. I think they understand the power now, and they have got power themselves.

"[Forward Julio] Enciso's first spell was OK. Now he is brilliant and the match-winner for us."

Hit play above to hear more from Butcher or listen on BBC Sounds here

Image source, Getty Images

Ipswich fan Lucas says the change in system from Gary O'Neil to play three centre-backs alongside two full-backs gave the team "a lot of stability" in Saturday's narrow 3-2 defeat at Manchester City.

Despite leaving Etihad Stadium empty-handed, O'Neil's side delivered a determined, collective effort which saw them pushing for an equaliser right until the final whistle after.

"There was a lot to be proud of," said Lucas when phoning into The Blue Hour with Brenner Woolley on BBC Radio Suffolk.

"You go to these places hoping for points but when you put in a performance like that in a game you have to look at as a free hit for a team trying to stay up then you can take a lot away.

"Against that sort of opposition I wouldn't be opposed to seeing that system again, it gives us a lot of stability. It might not help us out as much going forward but having that extra body at the back definitely helps."

O'Neil was full of praise post-match for summer signing Exequiel Palacios, who looked assured and calm on the ball in midfield.

"He played really well and showed he is comfortable at the level," Lucas added on the Argentina international's performance.

"Looking back at the squad we had in that game a few seasons ago, I don't think many were. He showed he can play and thrive at this high level."

After the Deadline Day signing of Zian Flemming, he and Emersonn are now battling it out for O'Neil's starting striker role. Emersonn started at the weekend, but Flemming scored a penalty off the bench and now has two league goals despite not yet starting for his new side.

"It depends on the type of game," Lucas explained.

"In a game like Man City away Emersonn gives you more in holding the ball up and bringing the full-backs into the game more. But, when you're going for a game, like Friday night against Nottingham Forest, I'm not against Flemming starting either.

"You look at our next three games and I think we can really get two wins. I don't think that is out of the question and would be great going into the next international break."

Listen to the full episode of The Blue Hour below on BBC Sounds here - and subscribe to the dedicated Ipswich Town page to get all Tractor Boys audio content.

A new edition of BBC Radio Suffolk's The Blue Hour is now available on BBC Sounds.

Brenner Woolley is the host as we reflect on Ipswich Town's 3-2 defeat at Manchester City, plus a lookahead to the game at Portman Road on Friday, when struggling Nottingham Forest are the visitors.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and subscribe to the dedicated Ipswich Town page to get all Tractor Boys audio content.

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Manchester City and Ipswich Town.

Here are some of your comments:

Man City fans

Michael: Unbelievable performance by the players with everything that hangs over their heads. They are not being distracted by everything off the pitch. This will be a very surreal season for every City fan.

Geoff: Marc Guehi is not comfortable in the back line, a great prospect but needs more time and experience to harden up his game. Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandes are great buys, what energy.

Stephen: Another poor defensive display but at least City got the three points. Where did they get the 12 minutes of added time?

Harry: With a B team for most of the game and two mistakes to give away two goals, still winning in those circumstances is fantastic. What isn't fantastic is that our injury list means that our winning streak ends against Aston Villa.

Ipswich fans

Robert: If we put in those kinds of performances throughout this season, we are going to be OK. Gary O'Neil is savvy enough to keep us up, as shown by the set-up of the team against Man City.

Nick: Not a game we expect to win and to score two goals. The game shows we have come a long way this season. The next two games are vital.

Paul: I was expecting a thrashing but this Ipswich team had other ideas, so I am proud we got two goals. We will survive this season, and we will be a dominant force next season.

Peter: Exceeded expectations. Tireless. Never say die. Totally different from two seasons ago when we lost 10-1 on aggregate over the two league games.

Ipswich manager Gary O'Neil speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "We did have a go. Few things we need to do better. Fine margins in a game like that.

"Proud of the group, not what we came for, and we thought we could take points, so we're disappointed we haven't. But the players gave everything. The second goal I'm not happy with and then there's a few bits that are fine margins.

"A couple of offsides which are never offside, which is mad. You only get five or six attacks at the Etihad, so for them to be offside is crazy. It's a good effort but disappointed not to take anything.

"We worked on some stuff this week that we've managed to put in the game. It's difficult coming here. Last time the lads were in the Premier League it was a tough season, so I hope today shows them we're here and we mean business. It just took us a little while to get that today. Very proud to stand at the front and represent that team today. Proud today, but we leave on nine points, which is what we came with."

On summer transfers: "The business has helped us so far, but I don't want to split the group too much. Chuba Akpom has been brilliant. He didn't get many minutes last season, but he has dug in and fought for his place and there's a few who have done that. But the lads who have stood up should be proud. But the league is tight, and we have a lot of games to go, so we need to get ready for the next one."

Ipswich captain Dara O'Shea speaking to Sky Sports: "Disappointed not to come away with a point today. The aim was to come here and cause them problems and get points, but it wasn't the case. For how we played, especially at the end, we felt we were the team that was pushing. We know City's qualities. We didn't play the football we play normally, but I'm really happy with the group.

"A lot has happened since the last time we were in the league, a lot of different players, there's a lot of confidence. We're giving ourselves a great platform to score goals in games. Difficult to come here and keep a clean sheet, but we have to score goals too and we did that today. Pleased with parts of our game today and parts that need improving.

"Massive belief, definitely one of the characteristics of the group. When you have success late in games, we know we have that. We want to get points on the board as quickly as possible. As long as we're pushing at the end of the game.

"A lot of decisions I wasn't too happy with today, but that's football. You can't dwell too much on that."

Did you know?

• Ipswich have lost nine of their last 10 Premier League away games in the North West (D1), since a 2-1 win at Everton in February 2002.

• Among players with at least 10 Premier League goals, only Marc Guehi and Stern John (80% - 8/10) have seen a higher percentage come away from home than Ipswich's Zian Flemming (76.9% - 10/13).

Listen to more from O'Neil below or on BBC Sounds here

Harry Poole
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Ipswich Town arrived in Manchester having won half of their opening six games in an encouraging start to their top-flight return.

Crucially, in the context of their bid to survive, those victories have come against teams they would expect to be in the bottom half of the league this season.

Although Gary O'Neil's side left empty-handed, this determined, collective effort ensured their momentum was not significantly damaged following a win against Fulham and before key meetings with Nottingham Forest and Hull City.

Town refused to wilt under sustained periods of pressure and a gritty second-half display ensured they remained in the match.

While City peppered Christian Walton's goal with 19 attempts, big second-half chances for Emersonn and Zian Flemming, and a series of marginal offside calls that enraged O'Neil, meant Ipswich kept City on edge until the final whistle on 103 minutes.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Man City's performance

What did you make of Ipswich's display?

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Monday for a selection of your replies.

There are five games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Everton v Chelsea (12:30)

• Brentford v Liverpool - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Fulham v Hull City

• Manchester City v Ipswich Town - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Newcastle United v Aston Villa (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated.

Follow all of the action and reaction here

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Manchester City will have learned a lot from their defeat by Paris St-Germain.

I was there for BBC Radio 5 Live and I thought City's second-half display was a magnificent response.

For those teams to meet at this early stage of the Champions League it was always going to be a good game, but it was never going to be tense because neither side were going to be knocked out.

PSG showed how good they are in the first half hour, but City will have gained a lot of confidence from their response. If they end up playing PSG again later in the competition, that second half will have done them the world of good psychologically.

There is obviously a lot of noise around City at the moment but in that game and against Liverpool last week, you could see the unity in their team.

They played with such intensity in the second half against PSG that I wonder how much that has taken out of them, but they will want to keep their foot on the throttle.

Fair play to Ipswich for coming back to beat Fulham the way they did, but I don't see them getting anything here.

We know Gary O'Neil's side will have a go and I really like their approach this season, but City will have too much quality for them.

Sutton's prediction: 4-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

BBC Sport examines some of the key themes before Saturday's match (15:00 BST), with Manchester City looking for a seventh consecutive league win as they host Ipswich.

Seven up for City?

Manchester City may have been humbled by Paris St-Germain on Wednesday, but their Premier League record under Enzo Maresca remains flawless. Victory on Saturday would give them seven wins from seven, their best start to a league season in 129 years and the first time they have achieved the feat in the top flight.

The only previous sides to win their opening seven Premier League games were Chelsea in 2005 and Liverpool in 2019, both of whom went on to win the title comfortably.

For Maresca's team, however, the prospect of punishment for breaching Premier League financial rules between 2009-10 and 2017-18 leaves uncertainty over what their fast start may ultimately count for.

But City's performance in last weekend's 3-0 victory at Liverpool suggests the threat of a severe penalty is unlikely to distract them in the short term, and anything other than a home win on Saturday would be a major surprise.

They are unbeaten in 31 league games against newly promoted opposition, winning 28 of those fixtures, and scored 10 goals in their two meetings with Ipswich in 2024-25. Their last defeat by the Tractor Boys came in May 2001, when a 2-1 loss at Portman Road confirmed City's relegation.

Ipswich's late shows

Ipswich's last victory away to Manchester City came at Maine Road in November 2000, but supporters making the long trip to Etihad Stadium will be buoyed by their dramatic win over Fulham. The result gave the Tractor Boys their third league victory of the season, just one fewer than they managed in total during their most recent top-flight campaign in 2024-25.

Manager Gary O'Neil said his side "looked fitter" than the Cottagers in the closing stages, with Abdoul Ouattara striking in the 88th minute and Dara O'Shea heading an injury-time winner. Late goals have been a recurring feature of O'Neil's tenure, with victories over Sunderland and Crystal Palace also secured in dramatic fashion.

Before this season, Ipswich had played 240 Premier League games and scored a 90th-minute winner in only three of them. They have already matched that tally in six matches this term and are one short of the competition record for a season.

Recent trips to Manchester, however, have ended with the Tractor Boys on the receiving end of comebacks. They took the lead after seven minutes at the Etihad in August 2024 but were 3-1 down by the 16th minute and eventually lost 4-1.

The Suffolk side have scored first in their past three games away to Manchester City or Manchester United but lost on each occasion, conceding 12 goals in total.

Image source, Getty Images

Ipswich Town goalkeeper Christian Walton says Manchester City away is a fixture he has "looked forward to" every season the club has been in the Premier League - and he is ready to do battle if the "outstanding" Erling Haaland plays this weekend.

The 30-year-old, who initially joined the club on loan in August 2021, has managed to keep his starting position this season despite Gary O'Neil bringing in two new goalkeepers in the summer transfer window.

"Manchester City away is a good test for us all and I'm looking forward to the opportunity to play against them," Walton told BBC Radio Suffolk.

"Erling Haaland is obviously an outstanding striker. There were a few questions around whether he could do it in the Premier League at the start, but he has done it year on year now and blown that out of the water.

"He is able to score every type of goal really, and I think that separates him from other strikers out there.

"It isn't just him I need to look out for, though. There are a number of other players that have good quality in their squad, as with every other Premier League team."

On the noise surrounding Manchester City, who were recently found guilty of breaching the Premier League's financial rules, Walton added: "It doesn't make a difference to our game and it isn't going to make a difference to their game.

"We go there full of belief. They will be coming up against a good Ipswich team, with the full squad raring to go. Whoever is selected will be ready to put on a performance and do their job."

Listen to the full interview by pressing play below or on BBC Sounds here

George Booth
BBC Sport journalist

Ipswich boss Gary O'Neil has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• O'Neil confirmed some players need "checks" but he "envisages being full strength" against Enzo Maresca's Manchester City side.

• The Tractor Boys' boss said his side would take "belief" from the 2-1 victory against Fulham: "When the opposition starts to tire, we do look strong. We look strong, especially in front of our crowd, so that was a good win for us."

• Although Ipswich have won three of their opening six games, O'Neil wants his side to not get "carried away" as the season progresses, adding: "The Premier League's tough, every win feels so important and is so hard."

• Manchester City will play their second game at home since their guilty verdict for breaches of financial rules, but O'Neil said the situation is "so far away from a priority for me to even know or care about".

• However, the Ipswich head coach added: "Everyone involved in the competition wants it sorted because we want everything to just be decided on the pitch."

• On what his side need to do to challenge City: "We need to defend well. We've worked all week on that, and making sure that we're still a threat. I don't think many teams manage to go there and keep Manchester City out, so we're going to need to score goals."

• On opposition striker Erling Haaland, who broke a Champions League record by scoring against Paris St-Germain in the week: "Physically incredible. He loves scoring goals, he's just always around it. When he misses the chance, he's disappointed for a second, but then he's straight onto the next one."

Find more from O'Neil's news conference by pressing play above or on BBC Sounds here

Listen to full commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra as Man City host Ipswich Town from 15:00 BST on Saturday

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

Graeme McLoughlin
BBC Radio Suffolk sports editor

Image source, Getty Images

On this page a couple of weeks ago, I wrote of slight disappointment when it came to Ipswich Town's points return going into the international break.

I felt Gary O'Neil's side had been worthy of more after an undeserving loss at Everton. Fast-forward to now and Saturday's late heroics against Fulham at Portman Road have certainly lifted spirits.

Town continue to look far from a team here to make up the numbers, and they have had their moments in every fixture.

What's more, the manager appears to have unearthed a couple of gems who would almost certainly not be at the club had he not returned to the UK from France during the summer.

Striker Emersonn is one of those. It is possible the 22-year-old may have first appeared on O'Neil's radar after netting the winner against his Strasbourg side in a Ligue 1 fixture in May, but Abdoul Ouattara was already there, having been a part of the squad inherited from Liam Rosenior.

O'Neil is clearly a fan of the young Ivorian and told us a few months back he had a specific role in mind for the player despite his obvious versatility.

Well, it appears Ouattara has very quickly staked a claim to be first-choice right-back, having shone in that position since making his full Premier League debut at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

While players at other clubs who cost up to six times what Outtara did struggle with the pace and physicality of the English game, the 20-year-old has had no such issues - and has now proved he has a special goal in his locker as well.

You sense the player will be relishing what is likely to be his biggest test since joining Town this weekend.

There is so much uncertainty surrounding this season - largely because of the noise surrounding Manchester City, Town's opponents on Saturday - but from an Ipswich perspective, I am loving the campaign.

The three wins on the board are just one fewer than the Blues managed during their previous stint in the top flight, and Town have got to nine points after six games, having required 12 to reach that tally last time around.

If they have hit double figures in points come 5pm on Saturday, do fans dare to dream about far more than just survival?

Listen to reaction to more Ipswich Town reaction from club legend John Wark below or on BBC Sounds here

Join Graeme Mac for The Matchday Preview every Friday from 18:00 and subscribe to the Ipswich Town page on BBC Sounds - plus, listen to BBC Radio Suffolk for full commentary of every Tractor Boys game.

Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

Imagine a world where Manchester City had not used "sham contracts" to build a team capable of winning three Premier League titles, one FA Cup and three EFL Cups.

If City were the winners, then there had to be losers - and not just those teams who finished runners-up or lost cup finals.

The potential impact runs much deeper and includes missed Champions League qualification, relegation and Premier League prize money.

Thirty-five other teams played in the English top flight between 2009 and 2018.

And every one could in some way claim to have been left financially out of pocket.

Learn more about how the numbers were calculated here

BBC Radio Suffolk's Brenner Woolley brings you the latest on Ipswich Town following their dramatic late win over Fulham at Portman Road.

He speaks to fan Andy about the victory that lifted the Tractor Boys into the top half of the Premier League.

"It was one hell of a last five or six minutes," Andy said.

"The substitutions really made the difference - [Exequiel] Palacios and [Jack] Clarke especially. It was a lovely little cameo from [Chuba] Akpom, so that's the big difference.

"We have a better starting XI and we've got a better matchday squad than we had two years ago.

"So far, we're able to overpower and show more resilience against teams we need to beat to stay up. Those last five minutes were absolutely unreal."

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and subscribe to the dedicated Ipswich Town page to get all Tractor Boys audio content.