Ipswich’s defensive solidity has not been called into question whatsoever over the past few weeks, and McKenna’s men also managed to find their shooting boots at the right moment to see off Burton with panache on Saturday.
Kayden Jackson opened the scoring within 43 seconds of the contest at Portman Road before further strikes from Wes Burns and Dijon loanee Bersant Celina sealed the deal, as the Tractor Boys continue to push for a playoff berth amid their upturn in fortunes.
Having now taken 10 points from the last 12 on offer in League One, the in-form hosts have surged up to eighth in the rankings but cannot throw the cat amongst the pigeons in the playoff places just yet, with McKenna’s side four points adrift of sixth-placed Wycombe.
As impressive as they were on the attacking front against Burton, Ipswich also recorded a fourth successive clean sheet and have only shipped one goal in their last six domestic encounters, as well as winning each of their last four at Portman Road
Not since November 23 have Ipswich suffered a third-tier defeat on home soil – and even then that was against runaway leaders Rotherham United – but Cheltenham know a thing or two about breaching defences.
Two sides that have developed something of an affinity for a draw in recent weeks played out a stalemate for the ages on Saturday, as Wycombe and Cheltenham shook hands on a point apiece following a 10-goal extravaganza at Adams Park.
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Alfie May stole the show for Cheltenham on the day with four of his side’s five goals – including two vital late strikes when his side were 5-3 down – and manager Michael Duff admitted that he “did not have the vocabulary” to describe what he witnessed over the 90 minutes.
While another draw means it is now five games without defeat for Cheltenham in League One, their position in the table is still precarious, as Duff’s side enter Tuesday’s game down in 15th but comfortably 10 points clear of the relegation zone.
Several weeks of mid-table mediocrity likely awaits Cheltenham before the final whistle blows on the season, but they are now winless away from home since the end of November and are facing an uphill battle to emulate their 2-1 home win against Ipswich from August 17.
