It has been 11 years since a side last won back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League.
But even then, it didn’t start quite like it has this season for Ipswich Town.Southampton, the last club to achieve the feat between 2010 and 2012, began the campaign that saw them reach the top flight with 23 points from their opening 11 games.
Ipswich already have 28 from a possible 33. It is early days but it has been a remarkable, record-breaking start. The Tractor Boys are doing it at a time where such a feat seemed near-enough impossible, as the chasm between the tiers continues to grow.
McKenna, the man steering the rise, is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.
“We don’t place too much focus on setting points totals or targets or anything like that, so it’s hard to say it exceeded expectations,” McKenna told Sky Sports, after winning Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month for September.
“Of course, we know it’s been a fantastic start in terms of results – one of the best ever for a newly-promoted team – but I think, in terms of the performances it’s been really pleasing.
“We had a really strong season last season and were looking forward to stepping up a division, but you never really know how the players are going to adapt, how the team’s going to adapt, how the principle and things we work on are going to translate up to a higher level.
“We had good feelings and a really good pre-season, but you don’t really know. To have adapted so well, have made an impact like we have done, to have won many different games in different ways and showed the attributes we want to show as a team, I think that’s been really pleasing.
“Of course, to have picked up so many wins and points so early in the season, for a newly-promoted team, that’s fantastic and gives us lots of optimism for the future and lots of things to look forward to.”
Ipswich are, of course, not exactly minnows. A sleeping giant some would say. But that does not mean this success at this level should be taken for granted.
This is a club that had spent three years in League One, and they hadn’t really even gotten close to the play-offs in that time, before McKenna got them back up in their fourth.
“Of course, to have picked up so many wins and points so early in the season, for a newly-promoted team, that’s fantastic and gives us lots of optimism for the future and lots of things to look forward to.”
Ipswich are, of course, not exactly minnows. A sleeping giant some would say. But that does not mean this success at this level should be taken for granted.
This is a club that had spent three years in League One, and they hadn’t really even gotten close to the play-offs in that time, before McKenna got them back up in their fourth.
