McKENNA’S REGRET AS TRACTOR BOYS SLIP
KIERAN McKenna believed his Ipswich Town side’s lack of a killer touch proved costly in their draw at battling Morecambe.
Ipswich dominated the game for long periods, but a goal from Aaron Wildig after an hour gave Morecambe the lead and Derek Adams’s side looked set for the three points until Wes Burns levelled the scores three minutes from time when he squeezed a close-range shot under Morecambe goalkeeper Trevor Carson to deny the Shrimps.
McKenna said: “We were excellent in all our attacking play, but we didn’t make the most of the chances we created.
“It’s something we are looking at and working at. There were a few games when I came here where I didn’t think our penetration was good enough, but I don’t think that was the case today.
“I thought we played to a high standard and I don’t think there are too many teams in this league or even the league above who could play as well as we did today on that pitch.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t make the most of that play and that has happened too often now. It is an area we need to improve on.’’
The visitors enjoyed the greater share of possession in the first half and created a number of chances, with James Norwood firing over from close range and Sone Aluko and Sam Morsy both forcing Carson into fine saves.
The second half saw Morecambe hit back with Cole Stockton coming close, before substitute Wildig headed Adam Phillips’s cross home from six yards out.
Carson made two excellent saves from Bersant Celina, before Burns finally breached the Shrimps’ defence with a shot on the turn from eight yards out.
And there was no denying Carson, who had earlier made great saves from Aluko and Celina, guaranteed a point for the hosts as he produced his best block in the final moments from Janoi Donacien’s closerange effort to ensure both sides shared the spoils.
Returning Morecambe boss Adams, who replaced Stephen Robinson in midweek, said he was proud of his players after picking up a vital point.
He said: “We knew it was going to be a tough game against an Ipswich side on a great run but we battled superbly.
“They had a lot of the ball in the first half but we changed things at half time and it paid off when we took the lead with a really well taken goal and I thought we were going to hang on but they scored right at the death.
“Ipswich created a lot of chances but we defended stoutly and our keeper had a great game and I am happy with the point as it gives us a platform to build on for the end of season run in.’’