Ipswich Town column: Blues handed ‘rude awakening’ with ‘naive’ display at West Ham
It hasn’t happened too often over the last two years, but I was really disappointed with our performance on Saturday.
The stage was set. A London away day and one many saw as Town’s best chance of getting all three points so far this season. Me included.
We were so naive.
I think there was an element of us believing West Ham were there for the taking and for me, that showed in the way we performed.
A rude awakening.
We’ve been far more resolute in the other games we’ve played on our travels this season.
I always thought we’d remain cautious away and go at teams when at Portman Road.
Instead, Saturday seemed to look completely out of character and some of the goals we conceded certainly will not please Kieran McKenna.
That said, can I really be too harsh on a group that’s given us some of the best moments of our lives over the past two years? I don’t think so. But I hope I don’t have to see that again this campaign.
As always though, we’ll learn and I can’t imagine McKenna will be allowing that to become a habit. Next up, it’s the big one. Everton at home.
When the fixtures came out back in June, this always felt like one that Town had to win. That has to be the case now.
I think it’s been a decent start to the season, Saturday’s loss doesn’t change that, but we need a victory now and we have looked much closer to getting one when playing at Portman Road.
I just hope we don’t go into it expecting one, I’m sure we won’t.
Everton aren’t bad and Sean Dyche is a manager who will always get results.
Do Town go all out attack? Or do we bank in and try to scrape it? I think the game will probably be more like the latter.
A huge fixture for both sides. Yes, it’s only October, but for these two, I think it’s one of the biggest they could play all season.