Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Nigeria

Former Man Utd coach Kieran McKenna takes charge of first Ipswich game

mirror.co.uk, 29 December 2021, 22:42
A look at Wednesday night's EFL talking points including Rovers sealing a sixth consecutive victory thanks to a 2-1 win over Barnsley as their superb form continues

The football usually comes thick and fast this time of year.

However, Covid outbreaks at clubs have meant that many games were sadly postponed.

No fewer than 19 matches bit the dust this evening across the EFL's three divisions. It meant just nine games got the green light, similar to Boxing Day when only a portion of matches went ahead.

Some teams are in the situation where they have not played for the best part of three weeks whilst others have played twice in the space of just a few days.

Let's hope that the bizarre, lop-sided scheduling clears itself up - and quickly.

Nevertheless, here, we look at some of the talking points to emerge from Wednesday night's games.

McKenna off the mark

Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna sealed a 1-0 win over Wycombe to get off to a victorious start to life in management.

The Northern Irish coach swapped Old Trafford for League One earlier this month but tonight was his first taste of the dugout.

The Tractor Boys have under-performed all season and this win over one of the division's high-flyers will make people sit up and take notice.

With more than 26,000 inside Portman Road, McKenna will hope Town's revival can now properly begin as they look to make an assault on the play-off places in the second half of the campaign.

Blackburn the real deal

Blackburn Rovers' outstanding renaissance shows no signs of letting up.

They entered tonight's visit of Barnsley having won their last five - with five clean sheets to boot.

The struggling visitors cancelled out Joe Rothwell's opener on the stroke of half-time, with Carlton Morris netting for the Reds.

But Rovers bounced back from conceding their first goal in 551 minutes. And it was the man-of-the-moment Ben Brereton Diaz who scored what proved to be the winner.

The Chile international struck home midway through the second half to bring up his 20th league goal of the season. His outstanding exploits in front of goal have got plenty of Premier League sides sniffing.

But Tony Mowbray's men will be hoping to hold on to him as they chase an unlikely promotion.

This win takes them to 45 points and up to third - level with second-placed Fulham and just a point behind leaders Bournemouth.

These truly are halcyon days for Rovers fans.

Teen's night to remember

Millwall pulled off a superb 1-0 win at Coventry in the face of plenty of adversity.

The Lions were unsuccessful in their attempt to get the fixture postponed. As well as Covid-19 cases, Millwall have a string of injuries to contend with.

But they ploughed on and their depleted resources were evident, with boss Gary Rowett having to name 15-year-old Zak Lovelace on the bench.

They made a mockery of their predicament with Tom Bradshaw scoring a late winner to move the Lions within three points of the play-offs.

Rowett rounded off a memorable, if testing, night when he handed Lovelace an unexpected debut as a substitute in stoppage time.

The other Championship game saw plenty of drama with Middlesbrough strengthening their grip on a play-off spot with a dramatic 2-1 win at Blackpool, with both sides scoring in stoppage time.

League Two bore draws

Only two games survived in League Two.

And it's fair to say that Barrow against Oldham and Swindon versus Stevenage will not live long in the memory for those in attendance.

Both games finished 0-0 and did little to aid the four sides' respective promotion and relegation aims.

Top News

20 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking a first major trophy since 1963, Atalanta BC will try to conquer 'invincible' German champions Bayer Leverkusen in Wednesday's Europa League final, which takes place in Dublin. 20 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich and Al-Nassr have reportedly expressed an interest in signing an out-of-favour Tottenham Hotspur defender this summer. 20 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk An exhilarating and captivating 2023-24 Premier League campaign has come to a close and Manchester City have been crowned champions for an unprecedented fourth season in a row, finishing two points clear of their nearest challengers Arsenal in second place. 20 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Still undefeated this season, Bayer Leverkusen can complete the second leg of a memorable treble by emerging victorious in Dublin this week, as they take on Atalanta BC for the right to be crowned Europa League champions. 20 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A talented youthful striker apparently wanted by Arsenal is now believed to be the subject of interest from the Saudi Pro League. 20 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have confirmed the appointment of Feyenoord manager Arne Slot as their new head coach to replace Jurgen Klopp. 20 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Following 51 games without defeat, Bayer Leverkusen put their unbeaten record on the line in Wednesday's Europa League final, when Atalanta BC attempt to finally halt the German champions. 20 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe may reportedly not be involved in the Coupe de France final. 20 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly set an asking price for one of their more experienced players ahead of the summer transfer window. 20 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has expressed his pride after winning a second successive Premier League Golden Boot. 20 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Serbia's preliminary squad for Euro 2024 has been named by head coach Dragan Stojkovic, who has called upon an initial 35 players for the national team training camp before their flight to Germany. 20 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk West Ham United are reportedly set to announce the appointment of David Moyes's successor as manager 'later this week'. 20 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brasileirao Serie A side Corinthians take on Serie D America de Natal in the second leg of the Copa do Brasil third round at the Neo Quimica Arena on Thursday morning. 20 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has issued a fresh update on the futures of in-demand trio Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta ahead of the summer transfer window. 20 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United and Bayern Munich are reportedly among a number of clubs interested in signing Red Bull Salzburg centre-back Oumar Solet. 20 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City midfielder Rodri has claimed that Arsenal lacked the 'mentality' to win the Premier League title and has criticised the Gunners for not wanting to beat them at the Etihad Stadium earlier this season. 20 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk ADO Den Haag and SBV Excelsior will be looking to boost their chances of playing Eredivisie football next season when they square off in the first leg of their playoff semi-final on Wednesday. 20 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The final chapter has closed on a captivating 2023-24 Premier League season, one which saw Manchester City earn another slice of English football history as the first team to win four Premier League titles on the spin. 20 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The final chapter has closed on a captivating 2023-24 Premier League season, one which saw Manchester City earn another slice of English football history as the first team to win four Premier League titles on the spin. 20 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa may reportedly be prepared to be creative in a bid to sign Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher. 20 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly made the decision to part ways with Ryan Sessegnon on a free transfer. 20 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly decided on an asking price for winger Jadon Sancho ahead of the summer transfer window. 20 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England Under-17s manager Greg Lincoln has named his 21-man squad for the upcoming European Championships in Cyprus, with the inclusion of two highly-rated North London products. 20 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk No coronavirus-enforced stoppages. No matches behind closed doors. No schedule-conflicting World Cup breaks over the Christmas period. 20 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Botafogo can qualify for the last 16 of the Copa do Brasil for a third successive campaign with a win or draw in the second leg of their third-round tie against Vitoria on Wednesday at Estadio Manoel Barradas. 20 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides in early relegation danger in their respective domestic competitions will be seeking a place in the last 16 of the Copa do Brasil as Atletico Goianiense welcome Brusque to Estadio Antonio Accioly on Wednesday. 20 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Needing at least a two-goal victory to have any hope of advancing beyond the third round of the Copa do Brasil, Sampaio Correa face a tall task when they head to the Maracana on Wednesday to battle Fluminense. 20 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The season is over and while the transfer window doesn't technically open until June 14, clubs across the UK and Europe are free to get deals in place ahead of next season. 20 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Salernitana vs. Hellas Verona (Monday, 5.30pm) Hellas Verona travel to rock-bottom Salernitana on Monday evening, hoping to secure their Serie A status for another season. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk On Tuesday, England Under-17s will kick off the European Under-17 Championship with a tricky game against last year's runners-up France Under-17s.