Ahead of the Friday Night Football, Ipswich Town left-back Leif Davis sat down with Sky Sports' Simeon Gholam to discuss:Their impressive start to the seasonBeing one of the senior members of the squadLessons learned from their last PL seasonFacing Nottingham Forest on Friday nightWatch Ipswich Town vs Nottingham Forest live on Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League from 7pm on Friday night; kick-off 8pm-----------------------------------------Leif, thanks for joining me.
First of all, it's been a really positive return to the Premier League so far this season. What have you made of it? Yes, definitely. We obviously had some tough games, but I think we went toe-to-toe with a lot of good teams. Man Utd was a game where, for 55 minutes, we were right in the game. We caused them a lot of problems. It was just mistakes that probably cost us that 5-2 defeat.
Liverpool, for 80 minutes of the game, we won it again. I think we were the better team after those 10 minutes when they scored their first two goals. Like you say, it's been a good start. City at the weekend was never going to be easy, going 80 minutes against one of the best teams in England and one of the best teams in the world. But we went toe-to-toe with them as well.
We frustrated them towards the end of the game and got that late penalty with Abdul [Fatawu]. It's been enjoyable. The lads who have come in have been excellent as well. I've really enjoyed the first six or seven games of the season and we're ready for another one on Friday night. Got Sky? Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone📱Not got Sky?
Latest Sky Sports deals or stream PL games with no contract📺I suppose the lessons come from those games against Liverpool and Man Utd. You can be in the game for a lot of it, but it proves how ruthless the level can be. It's a reminder of what you're up against week by week. 100 per cent. I think the difference between the Premier League and the Championship is that you get punished a lot more.
You give the ball away and the ball is going to be in the back of your net. In the Championship, you get away with it a little bit more, but in the Premier League, you're playing against the best players and teams in the world. They punish you again and again. That's what Man Utd didn't do, I think. I've seen Bruno, he scored three, I think, and he just punished one mistake and then another.
That's when we have to learn from it, watch the game back and analyse it. We've done that, and I think the City game didn't get away from us. In a lot of games, we've scored late goals as well, which shows that we don't give up. We got another late goal against Man City the other day. I think that's a big part of the team being together.
The lads who come off the bench are probably disappointed they don't start, but they know the job they have to do when they come on the pitch, and they always deliver. Ziyan came on twice and scored twice as well. Everyone knows their job. I know it's a new group of lads and a lot of players have come in, but the morale and togetherness of the team are very high. We get that from the staff and the gaffer as well.
The way he expresses himself is to go and play your football. He has complete trust in us, so we have to go and deliver at the weekend. There's been a lot of change from when you were last in the Premier League. We'll get to that, but in terms of the start of the season, how important was that opening-day win? It took you a long time to get that first win in the Premier League last time around.
How much did that do for your confidence, belief and establishment at this level? Definitely. The home game was special as well. I think our last home game in the Premier League was against Liverpool. We went toe-to-toe for 60 minutes, and then their quality took over. This time around, we knew what we had to do. It was a game where we had to dig deep.
It was 2-1, so the players knew what they had to do, and confidence was high. We knew the next game was going to be tough. For 55 minutes, we showed what we could do. Then, as I said, moments killed the game off for us. A few mistakes and a few lucky things happened, but it didn't affect us. We went again in the next game and kept pushing.
I've said it a lot of times to the lads: Portman Road is an incredible place to play football. If you live in Suffolk, you'd want to watch us play at home every weekend if you could. We give everything and do everything we can for each other, the fans and the club. The main thing is away from home. We don't have a full stadium behind us.
We've got the fans in one section of the stadium who back us, but we've got to create our own atmosphere out there and be as horrible to play against as we are at home. How's it been playing under the new manager? Obviously, it's a big change after years under the previous manager, Kieran. What's it been like with him? Good. I think we've adapted a lot more as well. When we played Man City, we went to a back five.
We tried to frustrate them a lot more, which we did. We've just got to be compact. We stuck to the manager's plan. In the second half, I think we were a lot better. For me personally, it's another step forward as well. You can go two different ways. You can go inside or outside. He likes us running from deep more than standing on the top line, which helps me a lot.
I don't have to make that 50 or 40-yard run backwards and be knackered all the time. He said he has complete trust in us, which was a good thing for me. It gives us a bit more freedom, takes the weight off my shoulders and allows me to express myself. Go and do what you know you can do. I knew this pre-season was going to be tough, especially the off-season.
Having a little one at the back end of last season, I knew I couldn't just go away on holiday. I was in here nearly every day working because I knew how tough this season was going to be. Physically, I feel in a good position. I'm enjoying my football more than ever, so it's time to keep kicking on. I know the manager will back all the players.
That's what he says in every meeting before a game: go out there and express yourself. You've got his trust and belief, and he'll stand on the sideline backing us. It's been top. I've worked really hard with all the players every day, and the coaches who have come in have been great as well. We've really enjoyed it. The managers and new players have settled in really quickly.
You've very quickly become one of the senior players here. Maybe not in terms of age, but you're now the second-longest-serving player and have made the most appearances of anyone here. Even off the pitch, you're a father now. Do you feel like a more mature character and senior player, both at home and at work? Definitely.
I think when I first signed, a lot of the lads who came here had a little one and then stayed here. When Kieran said that, I was just like, not a chance, it's never going to happen now. And it's happened, do you know what I mean? I've had the little one here, I'm really enjoying my football and I love playing for Ipswich. It's been top, but like you say, I'm a senior player now. I've been here the longest.
Probably me and Walter have been here the longest. I've just got to show the boys who have come in what the club means to the fans. I've played the most games out of anyone at this club, and I've enjoyed every single second of that. I've got to be a leader out there, alongside Dara and everyone else who puts that shirt on and starts from the off.
I've had the most experience here as well, and I know what the club is like. You've just got to give everything. That's all the fans want. As long as you put the hard work in, they won't complain. Do you feel personally more prepared for the Premier League than you were last time? Yes, 100 per cent. I think last time, I would say I wasn't a Premier League player at all. I lacked a lot of confidence.
I was a Championship player playing in the Premier League. But I feel more confident this time. I don't want to say I'm a Premier League player now, but I feel more confident than I did then. I felt like a young boy still playing in the Premier League last time. You're going into the toughest league in the world, the best league in the world.
That's why, during those nine weeks when I was off, I gave myself a week of rest after promotion and then got my head down here. I wanted to do everything I could to give back what I knew I could. I knew my qualities and I know what my standards are. I put the work in, and now I feel good. I feel like I'm in a good place. It's not just me, I think the lads are as well. Everyone is in a good place.
We've got a strong team, everyone's fit and ready to go. It is a big opportunity on Friday night for another three points. Any game against a team that hasn't started amazingly is an opportunity to pick up points. 100 per cent. It's going to be a different game to what it was against Man City. Every game is different. They still have their quality and their way of playing.
They're a good side with very good players who can hurt you as well. But I think going out there on Friday night, we're at home. It's our fortress, it's our home. We've got to deliver the key performance that we know we can, especially at home, and make it hostile and horrible for any team that comes and plays at Portman Road.
With the fans as well, it's important to make sure they're enjoying Premier League football. It's not always easy when the last time you were up, you weren't winning games after two years of pretty much relentless winning. It's important and helps everything gel and grow together, doesn't it?
I think it's our best start for a long time in the top flight, so we've got to take that as a big confidence boost as well. Three wins out of seven is something we would have been happy with last time around. Like you say, it took us until November to get our first win last time. To have nine points on the board and be sitting 10th is something we need to build on.
We need to keep building and working our way up, game by game. The game is going to be tough on Friday, we all know that, but we know we can hurt them in areas we've been working on in training today. They're going to have their moments in the game as well, like every team does. We're really looking forward to it, and we're going to be competitive on Friday night.
Sasa Lukic is the only notable absentee for the visit of Nottingham Forest, Ipswich Town manager Gary O'Neill has confirmed. O’Neil has has the majority of his squad fit and at his disposal for the game, which is live on Sky Sports on Friday night." Sasa will be out tomorrow.
He’s taken a little bit longer (to return to full fitness), but the one he’s missing this weekend is to almost guarantee he’s back on the grass really early next week.
“We’ve got a longer turnaround before we play Hull next weekend, so the idea is that by missing this one, he’s definitely back with the group next week and has a real good lead into that game, rather than push him into this weekend which we maybe could have done. "It would have carried a risk, though, so this way we’re hopeful that next weekend he’ll be fully fit and ready to go."
Ipswich are live on Sky Sports twice in December as Gary O'Neil's side visit Coventry and Brighton on Dec 1 and 20, with the games kicking off respectively at 8pm and 2pm.
Ipswich boss Gary O'Neil believes his side are prepared to go toe-to-toe with any opponent in the Premier League after running Manchester City close at the Etihad on Saturday. In truth, City controlled the majority of the tie, but Ipswich gave them a fright when fighting back to move within a goal late in the second half - Zian Flemming's penalty making the scoreline 3-2, which is how the game ended."
Really disappointed," O'Neil said. "I did believe we could take points. "I'm proud of what the players gave. It takes a lot to come here and keep yourself in the game. This is an incredible group, they gave everything for 102 minutes. It's a privilege to represent them." The second goal against us is what really annoys me. We'd worked on that a lot.
And then maybe some quality in the final third, we weren't quite good enough in those moments. "It just meant we fell a bit short. But we've still shown everyone how well we can compete."
Gary O’Neil has insisted Ipswich will not go to Manchester City to make up the numbers and will target victory at Etihad Stadium on Saturday. Manchester City sit top of the Premier League following last Sunday’s emphatic 3-0 victory away to Liverpool, a result that came amid the club’s ongoing legal battle over alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules.
City continue to deny any wrongdoingO’Neil side-stepped talk of Man City’s ongoing legal case but insisted newly promoted Ipswich will not be daunted at the prospect of facing Enzo Maresca’s leaders and especially after being buoyed by Saturday’s last-gasp triumph at home to Fulham. “From the moment I’ve walked in, we’ve worked our socks off trying to put a group together.
Trying to coach the group, trying to bring some of the core that has been so successful and keep it as a big part of what we do,” O’Neil told a press conference. “Lots has gone on and we definitely haven’t cracked anything yet. We’re working away and we’ve won three games – all of them late on as well so that shows the margins.
“We very easily could be sat here being asked why we haven’t won any yet, so no-one’s getting carried away. The Premier League’s tough, every win feels so important and it’s so hard to get. “We work hard and we appreciate every win we get and we get ready to try and win again this weekend. It’s obviously a very difficult task, but it’s one we believe we can win and we’re going there believing we can win.”
Ipswich will have winger Abdul Fatawu available again after his one-match ban.
Hull City, Ipswich Town and Coventry City are all clear of the Premier League relegation zone after six games.Does this put a supposedly safe mid-table club or a big-name team in genuine danger of relegation to the Championship this season?
Ipswich Town boss Gary O'Neil on what proved the difference in their comeback win over Fulham:“Of the result, proud of the players. Proud of the way we finished the game. It showed exactly what we are really, together, hardworking, have quality and never going to stop; just keep going. “We looked fitter than the opposition I thought in the last 20 minutes.
They looked like they were starting to tire, and we were able to keep pushing, the subs helped with that“So yeah, based off the result just proud of the players. They deserve massive credit for today because that Fulham side have been in the Premier League for a while now and for us to be able to compete with them the way we did today was impressive so I’m very proud of the group.
“We deserved to win today, I think throughout the 90 minutes. I thought it wasn’t a performance where we were sat hanging on or we were trying to nick something. “I thought we were the better side. I thought being 1-0 down from a 30-yard strike with nothing really in it, was a tough blow for them.
“So when you play as well as we did and have as much control of the game as we did, you have to find a way take points from it.”
Gary O’Neil has hinted the demands on his Ipswich players during the international break could dictate his starting line-up for Saturday’s visit of Fulham. Town have a fully fit squad to choose from, but winger Abdul Fatawu is ruled out due to suspension.
After a strong start to the new campaign following promotion, O’Neil is eager to build more momentum before Fulham’s visit but admitted the workload of his players away on international duty will impact his final XI at Portman Road. “Credit to the players and staff,” O’Neil told a press conference. “You do worry a little bit about the international break when players go away, but we’re in a good position.
“Some decisions have to be made with how much players might have been involved for their country and how much they’ve travelled, but it’s nothing I’m not used to. “We’re pleased to be coming back from the long break with a home game. “We’re excited and we’ll look to cause Fulham problems in front of our fans at Portman Road.”
Former Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna has spoken at length about his surprise departure in the summer and how he has been spending his time since. McKenna, 40, resigned as Tractor Boys boss in June after successfully guiding the club back to the Premier League at the first attempt.
Speaking to The Guardian's Nick Ames, McKenna said he "wanted to depart in the best way possible" as he explained the timing of his decision, just weeks after automatic promotion from the Championship had been achieved. It is the first interview McKenna has given since his emotional farewell message published by the club.
McKenna masterminded three promotions in four seasons during his time at Portman Road as he took the club from midtable in League One to the top flight, including back-to-back automatic promotions in 2023 and 2024.
Following relegation in their first Premier League campaign for 22 years, Town finished second behind Coventry City in the Championship last season and narrowly ahead of third-placed Millwall following a nail-biting run-in. McKenna admitted his mind was made up while he stood on the Portman Road pitch moments after a final-day home victory over QPR had sealed promotion.
“Another big victory, a full stadium, in front of my family and the fans. It was an amazing way to go out on a high,” he told The Guardian. The Northern Irishman was regularly linked with jobs away from Ipswich and revealed he has continued to be so since departing, but admitted he is "in no rush". “I’m enjoying the time I’m having and hopefully an opportunity will come along that’s right," he said.
"I have an idea what that would feel like but football doesn’t always follow your plan." Those who know my path and my values, the ones closest to me who know me really well, I think they understood why I wanted to step out and what the benefits were of having a period like this.”
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