Ipswich Town column: Kieran McKenna’s squad in need of defensive additions to compete with Championship’s bigger clubs

After seven months and 21 competitive matches, Ipswich Town were made to taste defeat once again. A feeling, thankfully, we’ve not been too familiar with in the last few years, but one that doesn’t get any easier, especially when you’ve not been used to it.

It was a good game Saturday and one that after four painful years of League One, was exactly the type of fixture we all wanted to be back involved in.

Sadly, we came out the wrong side of the result and I think many will agree this was largely due to the quality of the £70m forward line that Leeds possessed.

I can’t sit here and say we were bad on Saturday, I think we were probably the better side.

But I must admit we really weren’t at the races defensively and it was abnormal to see this usually super organised, disciplined and resolute defensive unit be carved apart and show fragility.

It’s something we must address in the transfer window.

I still think we need some experienced, Championship quality through the door if we’re to have a ‘proper go’ of things.

Last season, we bought in Richard Keogh, who despite not being a regular starter every week, was one which brought stability and experience to the rest of the group.

Luke Woolfenden and Cameron Burgess were and have been absolutely superb for Ipswich, but I just feel the addition of someone with quality and experience to push and develop them, can only be a positive.

It depends what we want from this season. I think sometimes we forget that on paper, we’re one of the new boys to this division. We’re newly promoted and normally newly promoted teams aren’t expected to come up and storm the league straight away.

On to Cardiff City this weekend now and let’s get back to winning ways at Portman Road.