Ipswich Town currently holds the second position in the Championship, following an impressive start to the season. Their return to the Championship has been nothing short of remarkable.
The Tractor Boys have extended their unbeaten streak to nine games, securing their fourth consecutive victory with a 3-2 win over Plymouth Argyle at Portman Road last Saturday. Kieran McKenna’s team currently sits in second place, a solid nine points ahead of third-placed Leeds United, with a game in hand.
Ipswich has only suffered one loss this season and is tied for the highest goal-scoring record in the Championship with 29 goals. On the defensive side, they have conceded the third-fewest goals in the division, having been breached only 15 times.
The Tractor Boys are currently trailing leaders Leicester City by just five points, and even though it’s still early in the season, both teams are in a commanding position.
Would Ipswich Town’s promotion be a more significant accomplishment than Leicester City’s?
With Leicester’s strong performance in the Championship this season, much of the attention has naturally gravitated toward the Foxes. Enzo Maresca’s squad seems well on their way to surpassing Reading’s 106-point record.
However, when we assess the achievements, Ipswich’s season start has been even more impressive than Leicester’s. McKenna has largely stuck with the same set of players who secured promotion from League One last season, with just seven new signings to add depth and quality to the squad this summer.
In the team that faced Plymouth last Saturday, nine players had been with the club in the previous season. Wes Burns would have likely featured, replacing Omari Hutchinson, had he been fit.
The fact that McKenna’s squad has seamlessly adapted to the Championship is a testament to his coaching prowess, solidifying his reputation as one of the most promising young managers in the EFL.
Ipswich paid transfer fees for only three of their seven summer recruits, namely Jack Taylor, George Hirst, and Cieran Slicker. This stands in stark contrast to Leicester, who made significant expenditures in the transfer market during the same window.
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