Ipswich latest: Why transfer business boosted PL survival prospects

2026-09-09 · Sky-PL

Ipswich boss Gary O'Neil believes his side were "punished" by "clinical" Arsenal in their 4-2 Carabao Cup third-round home defeat.

O'Neil on Arsenal loss: We were punished by a very good side

Ipswich boss Gary O'Neil believes his side were "punished" by "clinical" Arsenal in their 4-2 Carabao Cup third-round home defeat.

He told Sky Sports:

> "We got punished badly. They didn't have many shots. When they did, they all went in. > > "We got punished for a couple of mistakes. They showed a couple of moments of quality, and without there being too much in the game, we were four behind. > > "The lads had to dig in and responded really well. We knew there were goals there for us. We created loads of opportunities and didn't get our shot off or missed the last pass. It always felt like we carried a threat. > > "We scored a couple towards the end, which the lads deserved; it was never a 4-0 game, so for it to end up a bit closer was good. We got punished by a very good, clinical side."

Dowman dazzles with double as Arsenal cruise past Ipswich

Max Dowman shone in his first appearance of the season by scoring twice as Arsenal eased to a 4-2 victory over Ipswich Town in the Carabao Cup third round.

Ipswich make 10 changes vs Arsenal

Jacob Greaves is the only Ipswich player to keep his place from their 3-2 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Christian Walton starts in goal, with Darnell Furlong captaining the side at right-back in a defence that also includes Cedric Kipre, Greaves and Abdoul Ouattara.

Florentino Luis and Marcelino Nunez are in midfield, with Kasey McAteer, Anis Mehmeti and Jaden Philogene supporting striker Zian Flemming.

Webb wants handball law change after Maguire controversy vs Ipswich

Pro Ref chief Howard Webb says he wants to change the law on attacking handballs after an incident involving Manchester United defender Harry Maguire against Ipswich.

Jacob Greaves turned Maguire's wayward shot into his own net after the ball had hit the United player's arm.

The goal was given on-field and checked by VAR, who deemed Maguire's shot was not on target and therefore would not have resulted in a goal.

Webb said Maguire did not handle the ball intentionally, but is not a fan of the rule.

Speaking on Match Officials Mic'd Up, Webb said:

> "It can’t be right, can it? It’s a bit of a nonsense that he strikes the ball beautifully into the top corner, the goal gets disallowed. He skews his shot, it becomes an own goal and it’s awarded. > > "It’s all to do with the way this aspect of the handball is written. It’s an attacking handball, and it’s for those situations when it comes off a player’s arm accidentally, and then they score immediately. > > "The law says that can’t happen, even if the arm is tucked right in, it cannot be allowed to stand and the VAR has to look at it. I think the law should change away from that idea. > > "In this situation, the officials deem the shot by Maguire was not a deliberate handball and he has not made himself deliberately bigger. I don’t think he has done either and it hits the right arm that’s close to his body. He’s not made himself bigger and it would have hit his body anyway. > > "But because it’s hit his arm, he cannot go on to score immediately and we have to disallow it, but he skews his shot and it’s an own goal, so the goal is allowed to stand – unless the officials believe that when the ball hits his arm, it’s a normal handball offence. > > "But they don’t think that’s the case – I agree with them – but now we’re in this ridiculous situation where the ball is allowed to stand and because it’s an own goal. > > "You also get officials trying to figure out if the shot is on target, was it not? > > "The worst-case scenario for us is the officials deciding the ball is going wide and it’s an own goal, but then later, the goal is attributed to the players whose arm it hit. > > "We ought to look at this and allow the officials to determine if it’s a handball offence, did he make himself bigger and deliberately handle the ball? I don’t think he does in this situation."

O'Neil urges Ipswich to harness Protman Road energy

Ipswich boss Gary O’Neil wants his side to harness the energy of Portman Road under the lights as they look to topple Arsenal in the Carabao Cup third round.

O’Neil feels the Tractor Boys missed the chance to use the home crowd during their Premier League defeat to Liverpool earlier this month after conceding two early goals.

Ipswich returned to winning ways with Saturday’s last-gasp 3-2 success at Crystal Palace and will go toe-to-toe with Mikel Arteta’s Premier League champions on Tuesday, live on Sky Sports.

“Arsenal are tough to beat, even if you do everything right,” said O’Neil told the Ipswich Star.

> “I’ll make some changes to my team, I’m sure Mikel will make changes to his team, but it’s a game we want to win. I want to get as far in the cups as we can. > > “We’re going to give it our best go at home under the lights. We missed the opportunity against Liverpool. We played well, but it was already 2-0. > > “We missed the opportunity to use the energy of Portman Road under the lights against a big side. > > “On Tuesday, we can correct that. We can start the game well. We can take the fans with us on an attempt to beat one of the best sides around.”

O'Neil explains why he took Emersonn off at Palace

Ipswich manager Gary O'Neil has explained why he took Emersonn off after 62 minutes of the 3-2 win over Crystal Palace.

The striker - who scored his second Premier League goal since a summer move from Toulouse - was replaced by Zian Flemming, who went on to score the winner.

"He's got a tight quad," he said in his post-match press conference.

> "No one thinks it's too bad, but with just quick checks after the game, it's hard for me to be too accurate. > > "We don't see there being a problem for Everton (next weekend). > > "I'll probably rest him in the week (against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup). I probably would've rested him anyway, without his tight quad."

O'Neil went on to praise the Brazilian's start to life in an Ipswich shirt

> "I thought he was excellent today - I'd hate to play against him! He bashes people around, he runs in behind, he looks after the ball, he's a threat. Really pleased with how quickly he's taken to the league. > > "The coaching staff work really hard with him on his technical stuff because it was a problem for him before and he's getting better very, very quickly. > > "I thought it was another excellent No 9 performance from him today."

O'Neil: It wasn't perfect, but winning away is tough

Ipswich manager Gary O'Neil:

> "I'm pleased. Winning away in the Premier League is tough, (especially) against teams playing in Europe this season. Really pleased to have two wins on the board after four matches. It's a big plus for us. > > "I'm really pleased with the group, what they gave; lots of emotion, lots of having to respond to set-backs, respond to positives. It wasn't perfect, but we won. We found a way to win, we deserved to win as well, which is important. > > "We happily take the three points and send the fans back up the A12 happy and get ready for a big week, with Arsenal and Everton coming next."

Hull not the only newly-promoted team going well

Analysis by Sky Sports' Dan Long at Selhurst Park:

When they first returned to the Premier League in 2024/25, it was 16 games before Ipswich had recorded two wins.

This time around, it has taken just four.

They beat Sunderland on the opening day, took the lead against Man Utd at Old Trafford the following week - before an eventual 5-2 defeat - and recorded a higher xG than Liverpool in the 2-0 loss last time out.

And against Crystal Palace, both Emersonn and Leif Davis' headers were all too easy. Axel Disasi's sending off gave them an extra boost, but they took advantage when opportunities presented themselves.

When Palace's equaliser made it 2-2, they did not go all out, desperate for the winner; they just waited, exercising patience, with the belief the winner would come, which it eventually did.

While taking three points at Selhurst Park was impressive, equally - if not more so - was the fact it was the third time in the four games they have played that they have conceded less than 0.70 xG.

Fellow newly-promoted side Hull are taking all the plaudits for their start on their return to the Premier League, and rightly so - but, out of the spotlight, Ipswich are going well, too.

O'Neil excited to have Philogene back

Gary O’Neil is excited to have Jaden Philogene back in contention for Ipswich ahead of Saturday’s trip to Crystal Palace.

Philogene starred during the Tractor Boys promotion from the Championship last season, but suffered an ankle injury during the summer.

Tricky winger Philogene is available and Azor Matuswia (thigh) is back to boost the options available to O’Neil.

“We have everyone back in full training now apart from Jack Taylor (knee),” O’Neil told a press conference.

> “Azor and Jadon are both back fully training with the group. > > “We’ve had a tough pre-season, some tough games, a cup game in the middle, so to go to Crystal Palace with basically a fully fit squad is a testament to the work that’s been done by the players to get themselves in good shape and by the medical and fitness team. > > “It’s been a frustrating one to not have Jaden around it, but he’s looked up to speed this week. He’s been very, very impressive in training. Fitness-wise, he’s in a good spot. If we decided to start him tomorrow, it would be no problem. > > “He’d be able to start the game, whether he’d get through the whole 90 without some fatigue towards the end, I’m not sure, but the fitness staff and everyone has cleared him to start so that’s good news. He gives us extra competition on that side.”

Jones Knows: Back the draw!

Sky Sports' betting expert Lewis Jones:

Ipswich's defeat to Liverpool may actually have hidden a reasonably encouraging performance - it certainly left boss Gary O'Neil very positive.

And, despite winning at Fulham, Palace were comprehensively second best across all the major performance metrics. Taking away the Glasner defensive structure is a concern for me, eight goals conceded in three games can't go on. This line of thinking does make the 10/11 quotes for a home win look really easy to pass up. Whether this Ipswich side are quite trustworthy enough to become a betting proposition yet is another matter. The draw it is then at 23/10.

Ipswich games with Chelsea and Coventry on Sky during festive period

Ipswich's home clash with Chelsea on Wednesday December 30 will be shown live on Sky Sports, kicking off at 8.15pm.

The home game with Coventry City on Wednesday 6 January, will also be screened live, kicking off at 7.30pm.

LISTEN: The latest Transfer Talk podcast!

On the latest Transfer Talk Podcast, Pete Graves is joined by Sky Sports senior football journalist Peter Smith and Sky Sports' Dougie Critchley.

They discuss Ipswich's huge summer spend, Fulham's poor start to the season plus Manchester United's defensive issues, Alexis Mac Allister's bombshell quotes about his contract situation at Liverpool, and Everton's lack of options in attack.

KMI Panel backs decision to allow Man Utd goal after Maguire handball vs Ipswich

The decision to allow a Manchester United goal against Ipswich after an apparent handball by Harry Maguire has been backed by the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents Panel – though one panellist felt the handball was deliberate.

The ball appeared to come off Maguire’s hand as he controlled it just outside the penalty area during the match on August 30. He then unleashed a shot, which was going wide before being deflected in by Jacob Greaves in United’s 5-2 win.

The handball was deemed to be accidental by both referee Craig Pawson and VAR Jarred Gillett, and because Maguire’s shot did not go in directly, that meant the goal was allowed to stand.

The KMI Panel is an independent group comprised of three former players or coaches, one Premier League representative and one from Pro Ref. Panel findings on key incidents in every game-week are being published this season for the first time.

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