We take a look at a few of the talking points coming out of Ipswich Town’s 3-0 loss at Hull last night.
It all went wrong after 35 minutes
Town set up to be solid at the KC and, as they looked to keep things tight, it worked for a little over half an hour. In that time the Blues had their fair share of the ball and, without ever really testing Alan McGregor, looked fairly threatening going forward despite having only Daryl Murphy as a focal point in attack.
However, after Alex Bruce gave the hosts the lead, the visitors struggled to adapt.
Having been charged to keep things tight, it’s tough to then change mindset and chase a way back into the game and Mick McCarthy’s side were pretty much killed off by Chuba Akpom’s goal just before the break as they were stretched at the back.
Giles Coke has something to offer
His arrival was welcomed with little fanfare but Coke once again showed himself to be a neat and tidy footballer last night. Just as he did at Old Trafford against Manchester United in the League Cup, the former Sheffield Wednesday man moved the ball around well and did very little wrong as part of Mick McCarthy’s three-man central midfield, particularly during the opening 35 minutes before the hosts took the lead.
The fact he was replaced at the break was down to a change of system to try and get back into the game, rather than his performance.
Injuries are striking
It’s happened pretty quietly, but Ipswich now have a reasonably lengthy injury list.
David McGoldrick and Cole Skuse missed last night’s game with minor knocks, which aren’t expected to keep them out for too long, and they join a treatment list now including Ryan Fraser, Luke Hyam, Teddy Bishop, Tommy Oar, Jay Tabb and non contract forward Luke Varney.
Regardless of recent results, it’s testament to the Blues new-found squad strength that the absentees aren’t causing a major selection problem. A list that long would have been incredibly difficult to deal with last season.
Knudsen’s having a tough time
After an impressive start to life in English football, the Dane is now finding things a little tougher. It’s to be expected; he’s playing in new league in a new system in a foreign country, after all.
He was up against Ahmed Elmohamady last night, perhaps one of the best players in the division, and the Egyptian got the better of him on a number occasions just as Sean Scannell did for Huddersfield at the weekend.
He’s shown he has enough about him to bounce back, though.
Floodlight fun
Pre-match the Tigers unveiled their new ‘flexible’ floodlighting at the KC with a real flourish, with a light show which plunged the stadium in and out of dramatic darkness. While it wouldn’t work at a lot of crowds, it certainly looked impressive, but would you fancy them at Portman Road?
What got your talking after last night’s game?
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