O'Neil's Ipswich show 'steel, grit and power' - Butcherpublished at 18:02 BST
18:02 BST
Media caption,
Ipswich Town legend Terry Butcher has told BBC Radio Suffolk that the Tractor Boys' players "understand the "power" of the Premier League this time around.
Under former boss Kieran McKenna, Ipswich struggled on their return to the top flight, and only picked up four points from the first seven games in 2024-25. The 2026-27 version have earned nine points and sit 10th in the table.
"The players can play any system from what I see. There is more steel, grit and power; a lot of resilience and a lot of fight," said Butcher.
"It was very interesting last week to see Gary O'Neil employ a different system and I think it worked very well.
"Flexibility is so important in football. With McKenna, it was same old, same old.
"There is a great blend and combination all throughout the team. O'Neil has tried different players and he has settled now with a back four.
"We were hit by the power of the Premier League [during the 2024-25 season]. I think they understand the power now, and they have got power themselves.
"[Forward Julio] Enciso's first spell was OK. Now he is brilliant and the match-winner for us."
'Stability' and hope - a fan's viewpublished at 12:58 BST
12:58 BST
Image source, Getty Images
Ipswich fan Lucas says the change in system from Gary O'Neil to play three centre-backs alongside two full-backs gave the team "a lot of stability" in Saturday's narrow 3-2 defeat at Manchester City.
Despite leaving Etihad Stadium empty-handed, O'Neil's side delivered a determined, collective effort which saw them pushing for an equaliser right until the final whistle after.
"There was a lot to be proud of," said Lucas when phoning into The Blue Hour with Brenner Woolley on BBC Radio Suffolk.
"You go to these places hoping for points but when you put in a performance like that in a game you have to look at as a free hit for a team trying to stay up then you can take a lot away.
"Against that sort of opposition I wouldn't be opposed to seeing that system again, it gives us a lot of stability. It might not help us out as much going forward but having that extra body at the back definitely helps."
O'Neil was full of praise post-match for summer signing Exequiel Palacios, who looked assured and calm on the ball in midfield.
"He played really well and showed he is comfortable at the level," Lucas added on the Argentina international's performance.
"Looking back at the squad we had in that game a few seasons ago, I don't think many were. He showed he can play and thrive at this high level."
After the Deadline Day signing of Zian Flemming, he and Emersonn are now battling it out for O'Neil's starting striker role. Emersonn started at the weekend, but Flemming scored a penalty off the bench and now has two league goals despite not yet starting for his new side.
"It depends on the type of game," Lucas explained.
"In a game like Man City away Emersonn gives you more in holding the ball up and bringing the full-backs into the game more. But, when you're going for a game, like Friday night against Nottingham Forest, I'm not against Flemming starting either.
"You look at our next three games and I think we can really get two wins. I don't think that is out of the question and would be great going into the next international break."
Listen to the full episode of The Blue Hour below on BBC Sounds here - and subscribe to the dedicated Ipswich Town page to get all Tractor Boys audio content.
🎧 The Blue Hour - reviewing Man City loss with Forest up nextpublished at 09:43 BST
09:43 BST
A new edition of BBC Radio Suffolk's The Blue Hour is now available on BBC Sounds.
Brenner Woolley is the host as we reflect on Ipswich Town's 3-2 defeat at Manchester City, plus a lookahead to the game at Portman Road on Friday, when struggling Nottingham Forest are the visitors.
Michael: Unbelievable performance by the players with everything that hangs over their heads. They are not being distracted by everything off the pitch. This will be a very surreal season for every City fan.
Geoff: Marc Guehi is not comfortable in the back line, a great prospect but needs more time and experience to harden up his game. Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandes are great buys, what energy.
Stephen: Another poor defensive display but at least City got the three points. Where did they get the 12 minutes of added time?
Harry: With a B team for most of the game and two mistakes to give away two goals, still winning in those circumstances is fantastic. What isn't fantastic is that our injury list means that our winning streak ends against Aston Villa.
Ipswich fans
Robert: If we put in those kinds of performances throughout this season, we are going to be OK. Gary O'Neil is savvy enough to keep us up, as shown by the set-up of the team against Man City.
Nick: Not a game we expect to win and to score two goals. The game shows we have come a long way this season. The next two games are vital.
Paul: I was expecting a thrashing but this Ipswich team had other ideas, so I am proud we got two goals. We will survive this season, and we will be a dominant force next season.
Peter: Exceeded expectations. Tireless. Never say die. Totally different from two seasons ago when we lost 10-1 on aggregate over the two league games.
Man City 3-2 Ipswich: What O'Neil and O'Shea saidpublished at 18:09 BST 17 October
18:09 BST 17 October
Media caption,
Ipswich manager Gary O'Neil speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "We did have a go. Few things we need to do better. Fine margins in a game like that.
"Proud of the group, not what we came for, and we thought we could take points, so we're disappointed we haven't. But the players gave everything. The second goal I'm not happy with and then there's a few bits that are fine margins.
"A couple of offsides which are never offside, which is mad. You only get five or six attacks at the Etihad, so for them to be offside is crazy. It's a good effort but disappointed not to take anything.
"We worked on some stuff this week that we've managed to put in the game. It's difficult coming here. Last time the lads were in the Premier League it was a tough season, so I hope today shows them we're here and we mean business. It just took us a little while to get that today. Very proud to stand at the front and represent that team today. Proud today, but we leave on nine points, which is what we came with."
On summer transfers: "The business has helped us so far, but I don't want to split the group too much. Chuba Akpom has been brilliant. He didn't get many minutes last season, but he has dug in and fought for his place and there's a few who have done that. But the lads who have stood up should be proud. But the league is tight, and we have a lot of games to go, so we need to get ready for the next one."
Ipswich captain Dara O'Shea speaking to Sky Sports: "Disappointed not to come away with a point today. The aim was to come here and cause them problems and get points, but it wasn't the case. For how we played, especially at the end, we felt we were the team that was pushing. We know City's qualities. We didn't play the football we play normally, but I'm really happy with the group.
"A lot has happened since the last time we were in the league, a lot of different players, there's a lot of confidence. We're giving ourselves a great platform to score goals in games. Difficult to come here and keep a clean sheet, but we have to score goals too and we did that today. Pleased with parts of our game today and parts that need improving.
"Massive belief, definitely one of the characteristics of the group. When you have success late in games, we know we have that. We want to get points on the board as quickly as possible. As long as we're pushing at the end of the game.
"A lot of decisions I wasn't too happy with today, but that's football. You can't dwell too much on that."
Did you know?
Ipswich have lost nine of their last 10 Premier League away games in the North West (D1), since a 2-1 win at Everton in February 2002.
Among players with at least 10 Premier League goals, only Marc Guehi and Stern John (80% - 8/10) have seen a higher percentage come away from home than Ipswich's Zian Flemming (76.9% - 10/13).
Gritty Ipswich push City until the endpublished at 18:05 BST 17 October
18:05 BST 17 October
Harry Poole BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Ipswich Town arrived in Manchester having won half of their opening six games in an encouraging start to their top-flight return.
Crucially, in the context of their bid to survive, those victories have come against teams they would expect to be in the bottom half of the league this season.
Although Gary O'Neil's side left empty-handed, this determined, collective effort ensured their momentum was not significantly damaged following a win against Fulham and before key meetings with Nottingham Forest and Hull City.
Town refused to wilt under sustained periods of pressure and a gritty second-half display ensured they remained in the match.
While City peppered Christian Walton's goal with 19 attempts, big second-half chances for Emersonn and Zian Flemming, and a series of marginal offside calls that enraged O'Neil, meant Ipswich kept City on edge until the final whistle on 103 minutes.
You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on your smart speaker. Just say "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play Brentford v Liverpool" or "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play the Ipswichmatch", for example.
New this season: Live match updates
Fans of Premier League clubs can now get real-time scores live on their phone lock screen for every game.
Simply follow your favourite football teams on the BBC Sport app for updates throughout the 2026-27 season.
Sutton's predictions: Man City v Ipswichpublished at 10:59 BST 17 October
10:59 BST 17 October
Manchester City will have learned a lot from their defeat by Paris St-Germain.
I was there for BBC Radio 5 Live and I thought City's second-half display was a magnificent response.
For those teams to meet at this early stage of the Champions League it was always going to be a good game, but it was never going to be tense because neither side were going to be knocked out.
PSG showed how good they are in the first half hour, but City will have gained a lot of confidence from their response. If they end up playing PSG again later in the competition, that second half will have done them the world of good psychologically.
There is obviously a lot of noise around City at the moment but in that game and against Liverpool last week, you could see the unity in their team.
They played with such intensity in the second half against PSG that I wonder how much that has taken out of them, but they will want to keep their foot on the throttle.
Fair play to Ipswich for coming back to beat Fulham the way they did, but I don't see them getting anything here.
We know Gary O'Neil's side will have a go and I really like their approach this season, but City will have too much quality for them.
Man City v Ipswich: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 19:22 BST 16 October
19:22 BST 16 October
Tom McCoy BBC Sport journalist
BBC Sport examines some of the key themes before Saturday's match (15:00 BST), with Manchester City looking for a seventh consecutive league win as they host Ipswich.
Seven up for City?
Manchester City may have been humbled by Paris St-Germain on Wednesday, but their Premier League record under Enzo Maresca remains flawless. Victory on Saturday would give them seven wins from seven, their best start to a league season in 129 years and the first time they have achieved the feat in the top flight.
The only previous sides to win their opening seven Premier League games were Chelsea in 2005 and Liverpool in 2019, both of whom went on to win the title comfortably.
For Maresca's team, however, the prospect of punishment for breaching Premier League financial rules between 2009-10 and 2017-18 leaves uncertainty over what their fast start may ultimately count for.
But City's performance in last weekend's 3-0 victory at Liverpool suggests the threat of a severe penalty is unlikely to distract them in the short term, and anything other than a home win on Saturday would be a major surprise.
They are unbeaten in 31 league games against newly promoted opposition, winning 28 of those fixtures, and scored 10 goals in their two meetings with Ipswich in 2024-25. Their last defeat by the Tractor Boys came in May 2001, when a 2-1 loss at Portman Road confirmed City's relegation.
Ipswich's late shows
Ipswich's last victory away to Manchester City came at Maine Road in November 2000, but supporters making the long trip to Etihad Stadium will be buoyed by their dramatic win over Fulham. The result gave the Tractor Boys their third league victory of the season, just one fewer than they managed in total during their most recent top-flight campaign in 2024-25.
Manager Gary O'Neil said his side "looked fitter" than the Cottagers in the closing stages, with Abdoul Ouattara striking in the 88th minute and Dara O'Shea heading an injury-time winner. Late goals have been a recurring feature of O'Neil's tenure, with victories over Sunderland and Crystal Palace also secured in dramatic fashion.
Before this season, Ipswich had played 240 Premier League games and scored a 90th-minute winner in only three of them. They have already matched that tally in six matches this term and are one short of the competition record for a season.
Recent trips to Manchester, however, have ended with the Tractor Boys on the receiving end of comebacks. They took the lead after seven minutes at the Etihad in August 2024 but were 3-1 down by the 16th minute and eventually lost 4-1.
The Suffolk side have scored first in their past three games away to Manchester City or Manchester United but lost on each occasion, conceding 12 goals in total.
'We go there full of belief' - Walton looking forward to 'good test'published at 18:36 BST 16 October
18:36 BST 16 October
Image source, Getty Images
Ipswich Town goalkeeper Christian Walton says Manchester City away is a fixture he has "looked forward to" every season the club has been in the Premier League - and he is ready to do battle if the "outstanding" Erling Haaland plays this weekend.
The 30-year-old, who initially joined the club on loan in August 2021, has managed to keep his starting position this season despite Gary O'Neil bringing in two new goalkeepers in the summer transfer window.
"Manchester City away is a good test for us all and I'm looking forward to the opportunity to play against them," Walton told BBC Radio Suffolk.
"Erling Haaland is obviously an outstanding striker. There were a few questions around whether he could do it in the Premier League at the start, but he has done it year on year now and blown that out of the water.
"He is able to score every type of goal really, and I think that separates him from other strikers out there.
"It isn't just him I need to look out for, though. There are a number of other players that have good quality in their squad, as with every other Premier League team."
On the noise surrounding Manchester City, who were recently found guilty of breaching the Premier League's financial rules, Walton added: "It doesn't make a difference to our game and it isn't going to make a difference to their game.
"We go there full of belief. They will be coming up against a good Ipswich team, with the full squad raring to go. Whoever is selected will be ready to put on a performance and do their job."
Listen to the full interview by pressing play below or on BBC Sounds here
O'Neil on team news, not getting 'carried away' and facing Man Citypublished at 15:31 BST 16 October
15:31 BST 16 October
George Booth BBC Sport journalist
Media caption,
Ipswich boss Gary O'Neil has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium (kick-off 15:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
O'Neil confirmed some players need "checks" but he "envisages being full strength" against Enzo Maresca's Manchester City side.
The Tractor Boys' boss said his side would take "belief" from the 2-1 victory against Fulham: "When the opposition starts to tire, we do look strong. We look strong, especially in front of our crowd, so that was a good win for us."
Although Ipswich have won three of their opening six games, O'Neil wants his side to not get "carried away" as the season progresses, adding: "The Premier League's tough, every win feels so important and is so hard."
Manchester City will play their second game at home since their guilty verdict for breaches of financial rules, but O'Neil said the situation is "so far away from a priority for me to even know or care about".
However, the Ipswich head coach added: "Everyone involved in the competition wants it sorted because we want everything to just be decided on the pitch."
On what his side need to do to challenge City: "We need to defend well. We've worked all week on that, and making sure that we're still a threat. I don't think many teams manage to go there and keep Manchester City out, so we're going to need to score goals."
On opposition striker Erling Haaland, who broke a Champions League record by scoring against Paris St-Germain in the week: "Physically incredible. He loves scoring goals, he's just always around it. When he misses the chance, he's disappointed for a second, but then he's straight onto the next one."
Find more from O'Neil's news conference by pressing play above or on BBC Sounds here
Should Ipswich dare to dream about more than survival?published at 10:32 BST 15 October
10:32 BST 15 October
Graeme McLoughlin BBC Radio Suffolk sports editor
Image source, Getty Images
On this page a couple of weeks ago, I wrote of slight disappointment when it came to Ipswich Town's points return going into the international break.
I felt Gary O'Neil's side had been worthy of more after an undeserving loss at Everton. Fast-forward to now and Saturday's late heroics against Fulham at Portman Road have certainly lifted spirits.
Town continue to look far from a team here to make up the numbers, and they have had their moments in every fixture.
What's more, the manager appears to have unearthed a couple of gems who would almost certainly not be at the club had he not returned to the UK from France during the summer.
Striker Emersonn is one of those. It is possible the 22-year-old may have first appeared on O'Neil's radar after netting the winner against his Strasbourg side in a Ligue 1 fixture in May, but Abdoul Ouattara was already there, having been a part of the squad inherited from Liam Rosenior.
O'Neil is clearly a fan of the young Ivorian and told us a few months back he had a specific role in mind for the player despite his obvious versatility.
Well, it appears Ouattara has very quickly staked a claim to be first-choice right-back, having shone in that position since making his full Premier League debut at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
While players at other clubs who cost up to six times what Outtara did struggle with the pace and physicality of the English game, the 20-year-old has had no such issues - and has now proved he has a special goal in his locker as well.
You sense the player will be relishing what is likely to be his biggest test since joining Town this weekend.
There is so much uncertainty surrounding this season - largely because of the noise surrounding Manchester City, Town's opponents on Saturday - but from an Ipswich perspective, I am loving the campaign.
The three wins on the board are just one fewer than the Blues managed during their previous stint in the top flight, and Town have got to nine points after six games, having required 12 to reach that tally last time around.
If they have hit double figures in points come 5pm on Saturday, do fans dare to dream about far more than just survival?
Listen to reaction to more Ipswich Town reaction from club legend John Wark below or on BBC Sounds here
How much did Man City's rule breaking cost your team?published at 12:14 BST 13 October
12:14 BST 13 October
Dale Johnson Football issues correspondent
Imagine a world where Manchester City had not used "sham contracts" to build a team capable of winning three Premier League titles, one FA Cup and three EFL Cups.
If City were the winners, then there had to be losers - and not just those teams who finished runners-up or lost cup finals.
The potential impact runs much deeper and includes missed Champions League qualification, relegation and Premier League prize money.
Thirty-five other teams played in the English top flight between 2009 and 2018.
And every one could in some way claim to have been left financially out of pocket.
BBC Radio Suffolk's Brenner Woolley brings you the latest on Ipswich Town following their dramatic late win over Fulham at Portman Road.
He speaks to fan Andy about the victory that lifted the Tractor Boys into the top half of the Premier League.
"It was one hell of a last five or six minutes," Andy said.
"The substitutions really made the difference - [Exequiel] Palacios and [Jack] Clarke especially. It was a lovely little cameo from [Chuba] Akpom, so that's the big difference.
"We have a better starting XI and we've got a better matchday squad than we had two years ago.
"So far, we're able to overpower and show more resilience against teams we need to beat to stay up. Those last five minutes were absolutely unreal."
Sue: Games are often won on moments of brilliance from special players and I believe we have one in Ouattara. Great delivery from Jack Clarke, who's doing really well too when given the chance.
Neil: Never-say-die attitude for Tractor Boys is a real strength in the Premier League.
Dave: Yet again Ipswich left it late and gave most of us palpitations, but we now have the squad quality to pull this sort of thing off - and not for the first time, which gives us all hope. There is no reason why we can't go on and finish 12th. Or better. Come on, you Blues!
Seb: Incredible performance. The best team won. Ouattara rewarded with a quality goal for a quality performance. Maeda showing signs of the player he can be. We played as a team and that got us the three points.
Fulham fans
Paul: Nothing good ever came from sitting back and defending a one-goal lead. We should have pressed on for a second - not one attack in second half. Extraordinarily disappointing.
Jan: I don't normally join in with the "sack 'em" brigade but I really feel that change needs to happen. A distinct lack of calm and the unnecessary surrender of three points. If we don't beat Hull City we need to bring in a more experienced manager. Bring back Roy!
Bill: I am now seriously worried about being relegated. When you are 1-0 up after 86 minutes you must keep possession and wind the clock down, but yet again we failed to do that. There seems to be a lethargy about the team and some players dont even look fit. A couple more bad results and Arbeloa will be out - probably a good thing.
Brian: Same old. How many more times are we going to concede late goals by clinging on to a one-goal lead? The manager does not seem to have the answer. I know it's early days but it might be better to get a new manager in before the season slips away.
'We're still pushing, we're there and we're scoring goals' - O'Shea on fitnesspublished at 09:39 BST 12 October
09:39 BST 12 October
Ipswich Town captain Dara O'Shea says it's "not a coincidence or luck" that his side have scored so many late goals this season.
After scoring the winner against Fulham, he told BBC Radio Suffolk: "We pride ourselves on having good characters in the group and being fit, strong lads. We work really, really hard and it's important.
"It obviously shows late on it games when we're still pushing, we're there and we're scoring goals. It's not a coincidence and it's not luck - it is worked on day in, day out.
"It's a great start [to the season]. Obviously, last time out [in the Premier League] we found it difficult and probably got on the wrong end of results, and were unlucky too at times.
"To be where we are after these games is good but it's got to push us on even more. We can't be happy.
"The Premier League is such a tough league, you can't rely on other teams giving you things. You've really got to go out and earn it."
