IPSWICH Town’s defence had a nightmare for the second successive game as they went down to an embarrassing 7-1 defeat at Peterborough in front of the Sky cameras, finishing the match with nine men.

Keith Andrews gave the Blues the lead with a stunning 25-yard volley in the 23rd minute before Peterborough equalised in the 38th when Paul Taylor netted from the edge of the box.

Then came the collapse as Posh scored three goals in three crazy minutes just before the break, a Lee Tomlin brace coming either side of Taylor’s second.

Town were harshly reduced to 10-men just before the interval when Lee Martin was shown a red card for a wild, if not dangerous, lunge on Mark Little.

Just over a minute after the restart they were down to nine men when Tommy Smith – just on as a half-time substitute – was dismissed for hauling down Tomlin in the box. Grant McCann slammed home the spot-kick to make it 5-1.

It was then a case of damage limitation for the visitors who tried to put everyone behind the ball, but they could nothing in 56th minute when McCann’s shot deflected off Jack Ainsley and into the net for goal number six.

It then became shooting practise for Posh who were only denied a cricket score thanks to a string of saves from keeper David Stockdale.

Tomlin finally completed his hat-trick in stoppage-time, ramming the ball home following a Stockdale save and Cresswell block on the line.

It means that Ipswich have now conceded 12 goals in two games against newly-promoted sides following Tuesday night’s 5-2 home loss to Southampton.

Ipswich – who started with an attack-minded 4-4-1-1 formation – actually started the match quite well, showing plenty of fight.

Andrews gave the visitors the lead in the 23rd minute when his superb 25-yard volley went in off the post – his second goal from outside the box in as many games.

It all started to go wrong for Town on the half hour though. First Posh equalised when Mark Little got the better of Aaron Cresswell on the byline, with Paul Taylor eventually scoring the cut-back in from the edge of the box.

The hosts then got their noses in front after 38 minutes when Tomlin was able to outmuscle Edwards to a straight ball down the middle, turn and fire the ball into the rood of the net.

Just over a minute later it was three thanks to a Grant Leadbitter howler. The midfielder’s casual pass was intercepted by Taylor who scampered clear to finish one-on-one.

With confidence in the Blues backline clearly fragile, Peterborough smelt blood and duly added another within seconds.

This time Tomlin was able to get past Ainsley following a Grant McCann through ball before drilling low into the corner.

Then came the red cards to Martin and Smith either side of the break, with McCann’s converted penalty leaving the Blues facing damage limitation.

McCann’s brace came with the aid of a deflection, before Town keeper Stockdale made a string of good saves before Tomlin completed his treble.

– Reaction to follow.

PETERBOROUGH UTD (4-1-2-1-2): Jones; Little (Gordon 57), Bennett (Thompson 57), Wootton, Alcock; McCann (cpt); Rowe, Frecklington (Tunnicliffe 62); Boyd; Taylor, Tomlin.

Subs: Ball, Day.

Booked: Leadbitter (8), Frecklington (52)

IPSWICH TOWN (4-4-1-1): Stockdale; Edwards, Ainsley, Delaney, Cresswell; Carson (Smith 46), Leadbitter (cpt), Andrews, Martin; Emmanuel-Thomas (Kennedy 54); Chopra (Ellington 71).

Subs: Lee-Barrett, Scotland.

Sent-off: Martin (44), Smith (47)

Booked: Tomlin (43), Delaney (52), Cresswell (47)

Attendance: 7,928 (1,346 away).

Referee: Mr Graham Scott.