EFL Cup: Marco Silva and Kieran McKenna Put Under a Microscope

Ipswich Town vs Fulham F.C.

It will be a battle of wits and tactics as two grade A managers meet at Portman Road as Kieran McKenna and the Blues host Marco Silva and the Cottagers for an EFL Cup showdown.

Ipswich have been blazing for the past two months, taking down opponents both in the Championship and in the EFL Cup. The Blues are on track to get promoted twice in two seasons, and wins against Premier League teams are proof that they can go toe to toe with top-flight clubs.

They are set to face a revitalized Fulham squad, who came off a brilliant comeback draw against Brighton at Falmer Stadium, showcasing the brilliance of Marco Silva at the helm. The Cottagers calmly eliminated Norwich City in the third round of the EFL Cup, and they plan to do the same with Ipswich Town.

Talking Points

Ipswich sturdy in the Championship

The Blues are on a steady upward projection under Kieran McKenna, as they sit as the second-best team in the Championships after 13 games this season. Ipswich were stuck in the EFL League One from 2019–2023, but with McKenna as the ringleader, the team has been promoted to the Championships and are poised to feature in the Premier League next season if they continue their stellar form all throughout this year’s campaign.

Their meteoric rise under McKenna has been a marvel to follow. In recent form, they were spotless in their last five outings. They won four of those, which included clean sheets versus Bristol City and Hull City. The Blues had perfect months in September and October when they stayed undefeated against every adversary they faced across all competitions.

Notably, they successfully held their own at Portman Road when the Wolves came to town for the third round of the EFL Cup on September 27. The game headlined EFL 2023 Cup news, as it was a thrilling match as the home team came back from a 0-2 deficit and ended up stunning Wolverhampton with a score line of 3-2.

Now, when the revitalized Fulham team visits for an EFL Cup Round of 16 match, McKenna and the rest of the Blues hope to keep winning against Premier League clubs.

Marco Silva stays with the Cottagers

Fulham are coming off a remarkable comeback against Brighton at Falmer Stadium, when Marco Silva’s club rallied their way in the second half of the fixture to tie the game with a score line of 1-1. The Cottagers looked sluggish coming off the gates and conceded an opening goal from Evan Ferguson.

Silva then made adjustments to the game plan to start the second half, and it was evident that the Cottagers were poised for a comeback. “We made them uncomfortable,” said Silva. “We pressed them high, as a collective, and had more belief on the ball.” Portuguese midfielder Palhinha quickly came up for his team and equalised the match with a stunning strike.

This surgical way of handling his team since 2021 was enough for club owner Shahid Khan to be ecstatic when Silva signed his new contract to stay at Fulham. “This is a wonderful day for Fulham football club,” Khan exclaimed. “Specifically, it’s a fantastic moment for Fulham supporters, who deserve our very best efforts to invest in the present and future of their club.”

It looks like both parties are happy with the signing, and Silva’s project at Fulham continues with a skip to his step. “It is important to feel the trust and have the support of our owners. My relationship with them, and with Fulham Football Club as a whole, has been really important in this decision and the success of the last two seasons.” Silva stated.

“The commitment and ambition that these players have demonstrated since day one has been the key to what we have achieved, and that will always continue to be the case, along with the unconditional support of our fans, who are fundamental. Let’s continue together on this long journey.”

It looks like their uncertainties entering the season are behind them, and this is exciting news for the Cottagers and their fans, as we are sure that the team is in good hands with Marco Silva at the helm.

History

These two sides have met a handful of times before, mostly competing against each other in the Championship. They have a total of 11 head-to-head matchups, with Fulham getting the slight nudge with five wins to Ipswich Town’s four.

They’ve only had one EFL Cup bout before. It was back in September of 2020 when the Cottagers charged to Portman Road Stadium and successfully eliminated Ipswich from the tournament with a humbling score line of 0-1.

In those 11 head-to-head matches, both sides weren’t shy about showcasing their brand of offence, as they scored a total of 28 goals.

Betting Tip

The SBOTOP EFL Cup 2023 betting odds suggest that this match will be a competitive one, given that Fulham are just slight favourites to come out as the victors. In my opinion, going with Fulham to win at 2.10 is a no-brainer. The match may certainly go toe to toe as the odds suggest, but a price of 2.1 on a Premier League team with sound structure against a team in the Championship seems like a steal.

The home team is closely priced at 2.86, which is fair, but history shows that Fulham have been successful more times than not when visiting Portman Road. Instead, this writer would rather go with O/U Over 2.75 @ 1.90

 

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