Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna says Blues will ‘attack’ game against Fulham but will not be taking their threat lightly

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna says his side will ‘attack’ the game against Fulham but will not be caught taking the challenge of facing the Cottagers lightly at Portman Rod tomorrow (3pm).

The Blues head into their third Premier League match of the campaign looking to get their first points on the board, having come up short at home to Liverpool (2-0) and away to Manchester City (4-1).

But despite their ultra tough start to their first season back in the top flight in 22 years, McKenna is not subscribing to the view that ‘their season starts now’ believing Marco Silva’s side, who knocked them out of the Carabao Cup last season in Suffolk, will provide a stern test.

“I understand the thought process,” the Blues boss said at his pre-match press conference.

“I don't like the phrase, the season starts tomorrow, because for us, do we discount the Liverpool game, the first Premier League game in 22 years at Portman Road?

“It was an Incredible atmosphere, fantastic performance for 60 minutes of the game, best atmosphere possibly in the stadium in decades, 14 players making the Premier League debut on the day.

“So many things to be proud of. Do we discount that game because we didn't win it?

“Do we discount going to Man City away for the first time in how many years against the best team probably in world club football, scoring a really good goal, showing resilience, learning so much?

“We can't discount the experiences. You know, if externally people want to say that staying up is our goal, to finish 17th, you win maybe nine, 10 games.

“So are we going to discount the 28 games that we don't win as they're not part of the season? It's all part of the same journey. And I really want the group, the players, the staff, the supporters to enjoy every game.

“Now, of course, getting points is really important. Of course, there's some games that are harder to get points in than others. Man City away being one of the games that you know is very unlikely to get points.

“We feel like all of our home games will be really important for us and will be better opportunities to get points with the home record we have, with the atmosphere we create and the football that we know we can play at home.

“We feel like those games are going to be our best opportunities to collect points. But as you said at the start of your question, we have to respect every opponent.

“You know, Fulham have spent how many years in the Premier League now out of the last 10 years, 20 years?

“Of course, they dropped to the Championship very briefly, but came back up, invested massively when they came back up, have strengthened every season, have strengthened again this season.

“They’ve had a number of seasons now working with the same manager, with an excellent manager and with a fantastic group of players. So we're not going to look at this game in any way as being any easier than any of the other games.

“They're a super side and it's going to be a big stretch for us.

“But every home game we play in especially, we're going in with full belief that we can take points and we'll try and impose ourselves on the opposition and try and give ourselves the best chance of getting a performance and performance over the course of time gives you a chance to get the points.”

Fulham head to Portman Road with three points already on the board having followed up a 1-0 away to Manchester United on the opening Friday – courtesy of Joshua Zirkzee’s 87th minute goal – with a 2-1 home wn against last season’s Championship title winners Leicester City on Saturday.

Emile Smith-Rowe, the club’s record summer signing from Arsenal, having joined for a reported initial £27 million, opened the scoring in the 18th minute with his first in their colours with the winner coming from Alex Iwobi, another former Gunner, 20 minutes from time after Wout Faes had provided a first-half equaliser.

And the game against the Cottagers is one McKenna’s side will be looking to attack as they bid to bounce back from what was a third straight defeat this season, having exited the Carabao Cup on penalties at AFC Wimbledon, following a 2-2 draw at Plough Lane on Wednesday.

“We are looking at each game as a challenge, each game as an experience, each home game even more so an opportunity to go and attack the game,” said McKenna.

“This one will be no different and we are really looking forward to it.

“They are a really well organised side – they are a team I admire in that way. I would say they are good on all phases, they can build with the ball but also go a little more direct.

“They have good structure in and out of possession, they are good on transitions and set plays. You can tell they are well coached.

“Of course, we have looked at different ways we can hurt them. And of course, playing with good width is an important part of our game anyway and something we look to do against every opponent.

“We have identified the errors where we think we can exploit and we know the areas that they are dangerous. We will try and deliver a good performance and see where it takes us.”

The Town boss had no fresh injury concerns and a host of new players to give him a selection headache with Kalvin Phillips, Jens Cajuste, Jack Clarke, Dara O’Shea and Chiedozie Ogbene all in contention to make their Premier League debuts.

Fulham go into the game having had an extra day’s recovery and preparation time, having won 2-0 away at Birmingham City in their Carabao Cup tie.