Town get what could be a vital week under way when they visit AFC Bournemouth on Wednesday evening targeting three points to reduce the gap to safety (KO 7.45pm).

The Blues, still looking for their first league win of 2025, remain 18th, but now 12 points behind Wolves ahead of them following their 1-0 victory over West Ham with the Molineux club having a much superior goal difference.

Following the visit to the Vitality Stadium, the Blues, who have taken only one point from their last nine games and are without a win in 10, host Wolves at Portman Road on Saturday.

Town therefore have a chance to close the gap by picking up points at Bournemouth and then completing their first double of the season against the Old Gold at the weekend.

“Yes, it's an important week for us,” McKenna said at his press conference. “Of the nine remaining games, we've got two in three days, so they're going to come around really quickly.

“We know it's a big week in terms of everything. In terms of trying to get points on the board, in terms of the response to a disappointing day last time out at Nottingham Forest [the visitors winning 4-2]. 

“But in terms of the next game in our Premier League season, we know what that means to everyone and we want to make the very, very best of each game, and we've got a chance to do that on Wednesday night.”

The Cherries are 10th in the division only five points behind Chelsea in the final Champions League position.

“A really strong opponent,” McKenna reflected. “A really clear identity and strength. It's clear what they do.

“They're obviously a very high energy, really aggressive team off the ball and they attack really, really quickly whenever they win the ball, and they've done that maybe better than anyone else in the league this season. So, we know they can be a big threat and that they can do other things as well.

“They've got some very, very talented individual players and a lot of pace and power and athleticism in the team, but they've also got some pretty clear strengths and principles as a team.

“We need to stand up to that and find the right balance between imposing our strengths and dealing with their strengths as well.

“They win the ball in the opposition half more than any team in Europe, so they've done that really well this year.

“But on the other hand, if you go away from home and you don't impose yourself on the ball for any part of the game, then you're waiting for things to happen.

“So we have to go and impose ourselves in the right way, but also know that they're very, very good with their high pressure in certain areas and we need to be clever in terms of how we use the ball. 

“We know they're very good in the transition, so we need to be clever in terms of our position whenever we have the ball and, find a way to go and hurt them and limit their threats as well as we can.”

Despite their good season overall, the Dorset side are without a win in 90 minutes in six matches in all competitions with their only victory in that time an on-penalties FA Cup success against Wolves.

In addition to that match and Sunday’s 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final defeat at home to Manchester City, the Cherries have lost three and drawn one of their last four league games.

Those defeats include home Premier League losses to Wolves, 1-0, and Brentford, 2-1 a fortnight ago, and before that they were beaten 1-0 by Liverpool at the Vitality Stadium. But prior to those three home league losses on the trot, they hammered third-placed Forest 5-0 just over two months ago.

Bournemouth have picked up more points away from home, 23, than they have on their own turf, 21, with their record at the Vitality Stadium impacted by their recent run of defeats - won six, drawn three and lost five.

Given their comparatively disappointing form of late, McKenna anticipates that the Cherries will be very much up for Wednesday’s match, while their weekend cup tie against City could be either a positive or negative for them.

“No doubt,” he said. “We know it's a strong opponent and you're always expecting to face the best of the opposition. 

“They had a cup game on Sunday. Sometimes when you have a long pause you can look at that either way. Sometimes it's good to have had a game, sometimes a team might prefer to have had the extra bit of rest - we know we've got a really, really quick recovery between Wednesday and Saturday. 

“We're controlling what we can control. We've trained well over the last few days since the boys came back and we're hopefully going to be ready to hit the ground running on Wednesday night.”

He added: “It’s a good challenge for us. They’re having a very good season and they're only a few points out of the Champions League places. 

“Like every game for us this year, it's a big, big challenge, but it's an exciting one. It's a tight little ground, a nice pitch, a night game and we haven't played for 17 days, which is a really long time for us, so, it's going to be exciting to get down there and get on with the game.”

McKenna has been impressed by the job his Bournemouth counterpart Andoni Iraola has done since taking charge in June 2023.

“They’ve done very well, no doubt about it,” he continued. “They've done very well as a club over the last couple of seasons and the recruitment's been excellent, and he's done very well in his time there. 

“He's modelled the team in the way that he likes his teams to play. They've got a really clear identity and they've got players who fit the profile really well for the style of play that they play. 

“So it seems like a really good fit and it's no surprise when you have that that they've had a good season.”

At Portman Road in December Town came within three minutes of defeating the Cherries before a late, late fightback saw the visitors to a 2-1 win.

“It's definitely one that you put in that category of games that we probably felt that we could have and should have got something out of, and we ended up taking nothing in that game, which was an even worse blow,” McKenna recalled.

“We watched it back this week. I think it was also the game where we got the goal disallowed from the set play at 1-0 [a Cameron Burgess header].

“We’ve seen that block on the goalkeeper [by Liam Delap, who was penalised] 100 times this season and there’s not been many times I've seen it given as a free-kick.

“That would have made it 2-0. We had a big chance for Sam Szmodics and the rebound almost falls to Liam.

“So lots of ifs and buts where we could have got a 2-0 lead and won that game, and then we gqve away a poor goal to let them back into the game. But we competed well on that day, as we have on many days.

“Bournemouth’s strength and strength off the bench certainly had an impact on the end and we need to be ready for a really strong opponent, but one that we've already showed earlier in the season that if we compete really well, if we're 100 per cent committed and focused and we impose our strengths as a team, then we can compete with them on a given day.”

The Team

McKenna said at his press conference that there are players who will be judged or assessed ahead of Wednesday’s game, among them Conor Chaplin, who had just returned to training following a knee problem, Axel Tuanzebe, who is also back involved having had a hamstring issue and while out underwent surgery on his earlier thumb injury, and Kalvin Phillips, who suffered a gash to his foot against Nottingham Forest which required 20 stitches and was still to get back to training as of Monday lunchtime.

Alex Palmer is set to continue in goal with Tuanzebe at right-back if he is considered ready, however, it may well be that the DR Congo defender is given a few more days and returns against Wolves on Saturday.

That would probably see Dara O’Shea continue on the right with Luke Woolfenden at right centre-back.

Cameron Burgess may return to the XI alongside Woolfenden having replaced Jacob Greaves at half-time against Forest and also having been drafted into the side which started the home game against the Cherries. Leif Davis will continue at left-back.

In central midfield, Phillips seems unlikely to start, so skipper Sam Morsy will come back into the team alongside Jens Cajuste.

Assuming they’re all fit, McKenna may stick with the same trio ahead of them, although could start with Omari Hutchinson on the right, Julio Enciso in the middle and Jaden Philogene on the left, the way they began the second half against Forest, Hutchinson having lined up in the middle in the first half with Enciso on the left and Philogene on the right.

Delap, on nine bookings with a 10th leading to a two-match ban if it comes before the end of the Chelsea match a week on Sunday, will continue as the number nine.

History

Overall, Town have won 14 (10 in the league) games between the sides, the Cherries 12 (12), while 12 (10) have been draws.

Town’s only league win at Bournemouth was a 3-2 victory under Scott Duncan in Division Three South in September 1953, while George Burley’s Blues won a Coca-Cola Cup tie 3-0 in September 1996, courtesy of Alex Mathie, James Scowcroft and Mick Stockwell.

In December at Portman Road, late goals from subs Enes Unal and Dango Ouattara saw Bournemouth come from behind to claim a 2-1 victory over the Blues in the first ever top-flight meeting between the teams.

Conor Chaplin gave Town the lead with his first Premier League goal on 21 to put the Blues in front, but Unal levelled on 87 and Ouattara grabbed the winner five minutes into injury time.

The teams most recently met in Dorset in November 2014 when Teddy Bishop and Daryl Murphy were on target as Town twice came from behind to claim a 2-2 draw in the Championship with Bournemouth on their way to the title and Town to the play-offs.

Yann Kermorgant put the Cherries in front with a spectacular second-minute overhead kick, Bishop equalised with his first senior goal five minutes after the break, Matt Ritchie restored the home side’s lead four minutes later and Murphy levelled in the 76th minute.

Familiar Faces

Town left-back Davis was on loan at Dean Court from Leeds in the 2021/22 season, making 10 starts and five sub appearances in all competitions as Bournemouth returned to the top flight after finishing second in the Championship.

Bournemouth U21s coach Alan Connell was an U18s striker with the Blues in the early 2000s, joining the Cherries as a player following his release.

The Officials

Saturday’s referee is Rob Jones, his assistants Ian Hussin and Simon Long, and the fourth official John Brooks. The VAR official will be Graham Scott and his assistant Dan Cook.

The Merseyside-based official’s most recent Town match was the 1-1 draw at Aston Villa when he red-carded Tuanzebe for two bookable offences, video evidence subsequently showing that the defender had won the ball in the challenge which resulted in his first booking. In addition, he yellow-carded Greaves, Phillips, Hutchinson but no home players.

Before that, his last Blues game was the 3-0 defeat at Millwall in October 2018 just prior to Paul Lambert taking charge in which he booked only Matthew Pennington.

Jones was also in charge of the East Anglian derby against Norwich City in September the same year in which he cautioned Luke Chambers, Jordan Graham and one Canary.

He refereed three Town matches prior to that, the 1-0 defeat at Brentford in April 2018 when he yellow-carded Jonas Knudsen, Callum Connolly, Cameron Carter-Vickers and two Bees.

Before that he was the man in the middle for the 1-0 victory over Leeds in January 2018 in which he dismissed Eunan O’Kane for head-butting Knudsen in the 37th minute. He also booked Dominic Iorfa, Connolly and two Whites players.

Jones was also the man in the middle for December 2017’s 2-0 defeat at Middlesbrough when he showed two yellow cards to home players before being replaced by fourth official Geoff Eltringham at half-time.

Squad From

Palmer, Walton, Slicker, Davis, Townsend, Johnson, Tuanzebe, Godfrey, O’Shea, Woolfenden, Burgess, Greaves, Morsy, Cajuste, Phillips, Luongo, Taylor, Philogene, Clarke, Hutchinson, Enciso, Chaplin, Broadhead, Delap, Hirst.

TWTD

muccletonjoe added 18:14 - Mar 31 The rhetoric is we are not giving up. The performances in the games say the opposite
10

Leejames99 added 18:35 - Mar 31 If after saying all that he sticks with same formation we will get hammered, they are so quick on attack they will just exploit the gaps left like every other team has this year, Kluivert and Serynamo will have a feild day! Why can't we play a right back Johnson in right back. Enciso in midfield with Cajuste, Phillogene right, J Clarke left, Hutch in 10 and Delap. Play Townsend we have 4 defenders don't play him and we have 3 which is crazy. Morsy is far too slow to go up against Bournemouth. The selection is crucial now "no doubt about that" no more fine margins play who we signed to play and play them in the positions you signed them to play in.

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Crinkle59 added 21:00 - Mar 31 At least if KmK leaves in the summer we look like we have A replacement ready Who knows it all!
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TimmyH added 21:29 - Mar 31 Bournemouth will be looking for a big win on Wednesday night considering they've lost the last 2 at home...I can only see this going one way.
3

bobble added 07:37 - Apr 1 Us and hammers win its a 6pt gap with us to play wolves at home may be a 3pt gap with a lot of games to play...
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Alphawhiskey added 08:47 - Apr 1 We need at least 4 wins from our remaining games. We haven't won a single game in 2025. We have trouble scoring and scoring more than one goal. We have trouble defending and keeping a clean sheet. We still have to play Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle. No its not impossible, Yes there are still 27 points to play for. By the end of this week we could be 3 points behind Wolves or 15 points behind them. For us to stay up we need a miracle and need to start sparking. At least by Monday next week we will know and can start planning for next season. This season has been pretty poor to say the least and too many individual errors and cost us so many points. COYB. Whatever the outcome, we are so much stronger than we were two seasons ago!!

3

dieselmorris added 16:03 - Apr 1 knock knock who's who's there, could this be lee james that's calling. by the way he is right on some points and i go every home ,game didn't muric save us from a massive defeat in that game oh no he didn't play a blinder.
2

Leejames99 added 16:40 - Apr 1 @dieselmorris You been on the diesel? What game you on about, if it Bournemouth yes he made the clanger to equalise but he also saved the 2nd but we weren't marking and Davis got taken yet again, Muric saved 4 out of 6 shots on target and stood up to 13 corners. If its Wolves again they dominated with shots but Muric saves kept us in it to go and win. But if you want to play silly - Knock Knock - Who's there? - Left Back Leif, Left Back Leif who? Left back back leif who should be left back in Ipswich for Bournemouth game (in my opinion) Knock Knock- Who's There?-Captain Morsy-Captain Morsy who?- Captain Morsy who the morsy he plays in Prem the Morsy we lose. (In my opinion)

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blueboy1981 added 16:49 - Apr 1 Cannot see us ruffling too many Bournemouth feathers to be honest, with more of the same expected.
5

chepstowblue added 18:11 - Apr 1 Four days that will determine whether we finish 18th or 19th !! At 58 It's hard to get overly excited about anything, which is probably why my wife left me !!
6

Tedray added 18:14 - Apr 1 LeeJames99 - I suppose Murics case for gross misconduct between the sticks - will be up next. Who ever signed him and why. He has embarressed the club (?) is the time honoured practise of obtaining a character reference unfashionable in todays climate...........
5

DifferentGravy added 18:46 - Apr 1 Doesnt have to be from the start or even throughout the game but please try something different! Get players in the box, get the ball in the box, try two up front, anything! As it stands Town are going down. That isnt any embarrassment as it was always going to be a tough ask jumping two leagues. But lets at least give it a go because THIS year we have disappeared without even a whimper. COYB

5

BlueSkies added 19:46 - Apr 1 Perhaps we could try having a shot or two at goal as well. Apparently that's how you have a chance of scoring.
5

churchmans added 20:15 - Apr 1 @crinkle59 absolutely hilarious comment! Qaulity mate lol
-1

Leejames99 added 20:19 - Apr 1 @Tedray Good banter! I think Muric has been over criticised, yes he made 5 blunders that led to goals but not losses, 2 of those mistakes were in 4-1 losses. We got 12 out of our 17 points with him in goal and goal difference was alot lower. He was signed because he was keeper of the year in Chamionship when Burnley went up, is a Kosovo international, a great shot stopper and still really young for a keeper but our own fans only saw the mistakes and blamed him for every game. Walton and Palmer get no critique nor does Davis yet nearly every goal conceeded this season has been from gaps left at back and the keeper Walton concerded 16 in 5 - 3.4 that's shocking and Palmer 13 in 5 - 2.6 Muric 31 in 16 -1.9 29 goals in 10 games between Walton and Palmer and if not their fault and Davis and Mckenna untouchable then whose fault is it? End of the day Muric is an Ipswich Town player with good pedigree from the Man City academy with Championship experience, international experience and still young and learning, as fans he has been treated terribly for a young man coming from a war torn country on his own and chastised from his very first game onwards for making mistakes, some fans should be ashamed really. Now Wolves gone 1-0 up dam it

0

ArnieM added 20:31 - Apr 1 All empty words for me now I’m sad to say. I’m sat here watching a Wolves side giving West Ham a real tough game. Their players show up to their must win games, and they play with physicality and purpose. They will almost certainly beat us on Saturday, as they are a much better squad. But what really disappoints me is McKenna’ s reluctance to change his approach , when his current one up front and no Delap and Hirst in the same team has never been tried. We can’t score goals , and concede all too easily. I’m sick of hearing the same old “ well learn from this “ ….. well we don’t learn do we, and more importantly McKenna has demonstrated HE doesn’t learn. We all knew this season would be a hard call , but it’s the way we’ve gone about things. No doubt we will attack Bournemouth tomorrow night. Keeping to our “ethos and identity”, and we’ll get picked off on the counter attack. Roll on next season….. because I’m truly sick of the so called Premier league.

9

armchaircritic59 added 23:42 - Apr 1 Chepstowblue, that made me chuckle, but your first line is a virtual certainty, especially after Wolves win tonight. As for the last line, well just be glad you're not 70, but at least I don't have a wife!
0

bluebullet29l added 06:12 - Apr 2 Same old drivel..it's over mate...its been over for weeks
2

PhuketPete added 06:47 - Apr 2 Not related to topic but why did Phil not allow a comments section on Aro’s driving conviction? My comment would have been “Since when do idiots who drive w/o insurance whilst illegally using a mobile phone not yet a driving ban??” Incredible
0

ArnieM added 09:03 - Apr 2 I think it's got something to do with legal matters.
0

Motown added 12:19 - Apr 2 I agree with DifferentGravy - it would be good to see a bit of flexibility in our play, for instance pushing Davis further forward (with Townsend at left back), having both strikers on and going a bit more direct if needed with balls into the box from Davis/Hutchinson. At least Morsy will be back tonight - for all Phillips' qualities I think the captain drives us forward more (as he did in the Forest cup game) and makes the team more joined up.

1

Northstandveteran added 12:39 - Apr 2 I think he's had enough stick on this site Pete. The TWTD boys probably feel he doesn't need anymore.
1

Ebantiass added 12:48 - Apr 2 Cant see us getting anyhting from Bournmouth away Im afraid. The gaffa does seem pretty set in his ways. I would love to see us get bodies behind the ball and defend for our lives really frustratiing them like we did at Brighton ......it can be done by us we also looked good at Brentford away in the beginning until we gave the game away. Best of luck and hard work lads and to the fantastic travelling bluearmy.

1

blueboy1981 added 18:25 - Apr 2 No time for continuous ‘niceties’ - McKenna HAS been found out at this level, and has the job now of proving himself (again maybe ? ) at Championship level. I hope he succeeds in his Career, but I have seen Negative traits this season times more than a few. Can’t see too many Clubs chasing him to be honest, if there are, then I wish him and them success. The Gloss has Dulled somewhat I believe, lets hope he has LEARNED from this much less than satisfactory season - wherever he finds himself.

0

Leejames99 added 18:37 - Apr 2 Line up out, dear me, mish mash again, at least Townsend in but Morsy eek But looks solid defensively let's go COYB
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