Wednesday were swept away by promotion-chasing Ipswich in a 6-0 thrashing at Portman Road this afternoon.
We were never in the match after conceding the first goal on 15 minutes and Danny Rohl, who switched our defensive formation to a back four for the game, will once again have a big job on his hands to restore confidence in the squad before our final eight ‘Championship survival bid’ matches following the international break.
The only positive for us after being totally outplayed was that none of the teams immediately around us in the relegation scrap managed to win.
It means we remain in 23rd on 38 points and only four points behind Blackburn in 17th but, with our already poor goal difference taking another hammering we, in effect, trail by a further point.
Wednesday started reasonably brightly with Poveda creating a chance for Ike Ugbo but he fired wide from 12 yards and we fell behind when loose defending on the edge of the box allowed the impressive Omari Hutchinson to turn and shoot low past James Beadle.
Ian Poveda brought a full-length save out of home keeper Vaclav Haldky with a 20-yarder but the home side doubled their lead on 37 minutes when Kieffer Moore lost his marker from a corner to head against the bar and Cameron Burgess reacted first to turn home the rebound.
Worse followed in first half added time when Kayden Jackson was allowed to cross from the right and Nathan Broadhead was first to the ball to turn in goal number three from six yards.
Bannan failed to reappear after half time and any faint hopes of a Wednesday rally were ended within three minutes of the restart when Broadhead set up Hutchinson to fire home.
With Poveda then forced off through injury almost immediately, our creative attacking threat was all but gone and we failed to mount any serious attempts on the Ipswich goal in the second half.
The home side were in total control and added two further goals in the final 10 minutes … both from sub Ali Al-Hamadi.
First he slotted home after Beadle had pushed out a 20-yarder from Jeremy Sarmiento and the rout was completed on 90 minutes when Hutchinson crossed for Al-Hamadi to net from three yards.
Beadle, Iorfa (Famewo 77), Ihiekwe, Johnson, Vaulks, Bannan (M Diaby 46), Musaba, Poveda (Wilks 53), Gassama (Valentin 46), Ugbo (Smith 66). Unused subs: Dawson, Palmer, B. Diaby, Cadamarteri.