There’s a reason why Kieran McKenna is revered among Ipswich fans and up there with the greatest managers in the club’s history Sir Alf Ramsey and Sir Bobby Robson.
The Northern Irishman has taken the Tractor Boys to unimaginable heights, leading them from mid-table in League One back to the Premier League after a 22-year absence in a period that has been accompanied by several remarkable late rescue acts.
Down to 10-men and 3-2 behind at Brentford having thrown away a 2-0 lead, Ipswich looked like they had completed one of their best yet when Liam Delap flicked home Leif Davis’ cross.
But as the clock ticked to 96 minutes, Bryan Mbeumo’s cross caused panic in the Ipswich defence before going all the way in, leaving McKenna cursing as his side ended on the wrong end of one of the most remarkable games in Premier League history.
For 44 minutes, everything had been going so perfectly for Ipswich. The Tractor Boys were on course for a first Premier League win of the season – and first since 2002 – back to a time when Tony Blair was Prime Minister and The Hindu Times by Oasis was top of the music charts.
They had played some of their best football yet and brilliant goals from Sammie Szmodics and George Hirst had the away end bouncing.
First, Szmodics, who once said he ‘always wanted to beat Ipswich’ during 17 years at their arch-rivals Colchester United, put them ahead as he netted with a sublime curling finish after good work from Kalvin Phillips and George Hirst.
No soon had Brentford taken a breath and they were 2-0 down, with Hirst scoring on his full Premier League debut with a smart dink, as the Bees’ defence was left all over the place, with Ipswich full of the attacking verve that saw them score 92 goals last season.
Brentford looked all at sea and Mark Flekken prevented an already irate crowd from exploding when he saved brilliantly inside the box from Szmodics.
But seven minutes later and a collapse for the ages had seen all of that good work undone as Brentford showed all of the resilience and quality they have developed under Manchester United target Thomas Frank to turn this game on its head.
Yoane Wissa netted on his comeback after good work from Keane Lewis-Potter, before a second effort from the striker was helped over the line by Clarke to leave the visitors kicking themselves and needing half-time.
Ipswich’s collapse was completed six minutes into the second half when Clarke pulled down Lewis-Potter. Referee Lewis Smith initially awarded a free kick, before VAR Peter Bankes recommended that a penalty be given instead, infuriating McKenna, as Mbeumo made no mistake.
Ipswich’s day seemed to be compounded when Clarke, a boyhood Blue, was then sent off on his full Premier League debut having already conceded a penalty and scored an own goal.
They understandably seemed demoralised but you can never write off McKenna’s men, and when Davis’ cross found Delap, they all looked set to pull off another one of those remarkable escapes they have become used to.
But football is brutal, and when Mbeumo’s cross left everyone in Ipswich’s defence looking at each other, it capped off one of the most remarkable games in Premier League history, although not before by Delap struck the bar with the last kick of the game.
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