Goals from ex-Blue Alex Bruce, Chuba Akpom and David Meyler saw Hull City to a comfortable victory over Town at the KC Stadium. Sub Bruce headed the opener in the 36th minute, Akpom made it 2-0 seven minutes later and Meyler vollyed home a brilliant third on 58.

Town boss Mick McCarthy made five changes to the team which drew 0-0 with Huddersfield on Saturday with Giles Coke handed his first league start alongside Jonny Parr, Kevin Bru, Larsen Touré and Daryl Murphy.

Cole Skuse (ankle) and David McGoldrick (groin) both missed out due to injury with Freddie Sears, Brett Pitman and Ainsley Maitland-Niles dropping to the bench.

Ryan Fraser (knee), Tommy Oar (concussion), Luke Hyam (knee) and Teddy Bishop (hamstring and shin splints) were also unavailable.

The Blues lined-up in a 4-3-3/4-5-1 formation with Murphy in the centre of the front three with Parr on the left and Touré on the right, and Coke, Douglas and Bru the midfield trio.

Former Town loanee Jake Livermore started in midfield for the Tigers, while ex-Blues defender Bruce and one-time trialist Eldin Jakupović were on the bench.

The Blues started on the front foot and first Douglas, playing the Skuse role behind Bru and Coke, and then Touré won freekicks in dangerous areas but Town were unable to create an opening from either.

The visitors continued to look the more dangerous side and on nine Coke saw a strike from the edge of the area blocked by Moses Odubajo after a corner had been cleared to him. The home side immediately broke but Andy Robertson shot high and wide.

In the 12th minute Ahmed Elmohamady crossed for Abel Hernandez, who headed into the ground straight at Blues keeper Dean Gerken.

But the Blues were still having most of the ball and the game was largely being played in the Hull half of the field.

Just before the quarter hour, with the Blues enjoying long spells on the ball, Murphy’s backheel found skipper Luke Chambers on the right of the area and his powerful strike was deflected into the side-netting.

The home fans were starting to show their frustration with their team when Touré was given the space to shoot a minute later, the Guinean international’s effort hitting a Tigers defender.

Moments later Hull were forced into a substitution when defender Curtis Davies was replaced by ex-Blue Bruce.

Gerken was off his line quickly to clear from Hernandez in the 19th minute after the Uruguayan striker had been played in by Robertson.

In the 25th minute sub Bruce picked up the game’s first yellow card for an ugly challenge on Bru 30 yards out from goal. Full league debutant Coke took the kick and curled a shot just wide of Hull keeper Allan McGregor’s left post.

There was a scare for the Blues just before the half hour when Elmohamady out-ran Jonas Knudsen and cut the ball back to Sam Clucas in space but the ex-Chesterfield man scuffed what was a very good chance wide.

Two minutes later, Coke got his name in referee Christopher Kavanagh’s book for a foul on Meyler.

The home side were beginning to quieten the Blues down and get on top and in the 34th minute Elmohamady sent over another dangerous cross from the right but Hernandez again headed weakly to Gerken.

In the 36th minute the Tigers went in front. Parr and Tommy Smith scrambled the ball away from Bruce after Clucas’s corner from the left had fallen for the defender in the box. But the danger wasn’t gone and Clucas subsequently sent over a deep cross from the byline to the far post and Bruce looped a header over Gerken, under the bar and into the net.

Murphy looked to hit back straight away, turning his man and smashing a powerful 30-yard shot, but straight at McGregor.

On 40 Tigers skipper Michael Dawson was booked for pulling back Parr midway inside his own half. From the freekick, Christophe Berra scuffed a header wide.

Two minutes later, Meyler volleyed not far over from the edge of the box, but a second Hull goal wasn’t too long in coming.

Parr lost possession, Odubajo broke down the left and sent over a low cross towards Akpom, who slammed home from close range.

Neither side threatened again before referee Kavanagh blew his whistle to signal the end of the half.

Town will have been happy enough with their evening’s work up to the final 10 minutes of the period having taken the game to the home side and enjoying a large amount of the ball.

However, they had created little in the way of clear-cut chances with Hull keeper McGregor not forced to make any significant saves.

For the goals, the Blues made heavy weather of clearing the initial danger then allowed Bruce to win the ball when it was sent back in, while the second came after possession was surrendered in a dangerous area.

With Town having a mountain to climb in the second half, McCarthy swapped Parr and Coke for Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Freddie Sears and moved to 4-4-2.

Four minutes after the break, the Blues were caught cold as Hull took a quick freekick on the right, Elmohamady sending over a cross which Gerken pawed from under his bar.

But Town were also making some early headway and shortly after Bru had felt he’d been fouled not far outside the box, Sears scraped a 25-yard shot wide.

On 52 Elmohamady broke away down the right having been sent away by Hernandez but Berra got across to block his shot.

Five minutes later, Akpom cuts inside from the right and shot just over, then Elmohamady volleyed over with the Tigers by now well on top.

And the home fans didn’t have to wait too much longer for their side’s third goal. Clucas’s cross from the left was deflected into the air to the edge of the box and Meyler took the ball on his chest and volleyed past Gerken.

Brett Pitman replaced Touré in the 72nd minute with the home side well in control and a Town comeback looking hugely unlikely.

Maitland-Niles squandered a rare Town opportunity as the game moved into its final 10 minutes, the lively Sears’s cross from the right deflecting to the on-loan Arsenal man, who shanked his shot at 90 degrees to the target.

With five minutes remaining Maitland-Niles was fouled by Meyler 25 yards out to the left of goal and Pitman forced McGregor into his first serious save of the evening down to his left, Clucas turning the loose ball behind. Following the corner, Douglas shot over from the edge of the box, the Blues’ final effort of another disappointing evening.

Town’s poor run of form continues with McCarthy’s men now without a win in five league games, having won just once in their last eight in the Championship. They have dropped to 11th in the table and are now without a goal in three games.

After enjoying a decent first half hour, albeit without creating much in front of goal, the Blues never recovered from Hull’s two quick goals shortly before half-time and in the end were well beaten.

Any hope of a second-half comeback was ended by Meyler’s excellent third and the Tigers comfortably saw out the remainder of the game.

Town’s early season dreams of an automatic promotion challenge currently seem a long, long way away with another tough trip to Nottingham Forest - where they are without a win since December 1999 - on Saturday.

Hull City: McGregor, Odubajo, Dawson (c) (Maguire 80), Davies (Bruce 18), Robertson, Meyler, Livermore, Elmohamady, Clucas, Akpom, Hernandez (Aluko 68). Unused: Jakupović, Huddlestone, Maloney, Diamé.

Town: Gerken, Chambers (c), Smith, Berra, Knudsen, Coke (Maitland-Niles 46), Bru, Douglas, Touré (Pitman 72), Parr (Sears 46), Murphy. Unused: Bialkowski, Malarczyk, McDonnell, Emmanuel. Referee: Christopher Kavanagh (Lancashire). Att: 15,942 (Town: 456).

Photo: Action Images

townboy1978 added 22:05 - Oct 20 I think its crazy that there are so many Ipswich fans that are so happy to get onto the 'mick out' campaign. What kind of fans are you? The ones that turn up when we are winning? Our team does need a change - i agree. Although i dot agree with everyone aiming the negativity at Chambers. He wears his heart on his sleeve and plays for the name on the front of the shirt not on the back. To drop him it would destroy the team morale you can tell he is the one in the dressing room getting them to tick. However Knudsen on the other hand i feel that he isn't ready. Most of our goals come down the left while he is afraid of going forward and past a defender unlike cresswell and mings. Drop Douglas and get a bit more flare in the midfield maybe play didsy in front of skuse. Give Murphy constant game time and he will start to tick.

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SheptonMalletBlue added 22:07 - Oct 20 I don't know where we go from here. Forest away this weekend, probably another loss. Mcarthy seems to have completely lost it. Sick of mediocrity!! Sick of being in this division!! Sick of Mcarthy!!
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Bert added 22:08 - Oct 20 Get a settled eleven and all will be ok. That means some decent pros sitting out and a midfield that supplies our four strikers. Changing the manager will not make a difference. 12 games in is not a crisis ....... yet.
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Pettitt10 added 22:08 - Oct 20 Still shocked to see so many people wanting Mick out, yes we have 1 win in 8 but its just a bad spell, every team has them. Do we really want to go through another 3 or 4 years transition just to find out that the next manager isn't as good? who are we going to appoint that is a better manager than mick? Last year in the play offs, 7 weeks ago top of the league., 34 games to go... lets be realistic. COYB

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Bluewelshman added 22:08 - Oct 20 Do the back four clean Micks car during training or something like that, because they seem to be untouchable. Everybody can see that Chambers is not a righ...sorry getting bored hearing my self say that every week. It doesn't matter what you, me or anyone thinks, Mick is the only one who picks the team, and he won't give a crap what we say, if anything he will go the other way or stand his ground. Look at tonight, Gerken - we moaned - he played, the back four - we moaned - unchanged, Douglas and Skuse - we moaned - the better player is dropped, and Douglas still plays, McGoldrick - we moaned - he didn't even get on the bench, and finally, Murphy's poor form - we moaned - he played. Call me crazy, but Mick don't give a f**k what we say, and even if we drop into the relegation zone, his pride wont let him change no matter what, so hold on boys and girls this seasons gonna be a bumpy ride. COYB

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TractorBoy666 added 22:10 - Oct 20 The one thing that really made me laugh tonight was that Mathie on radio Suffolk spoke about how 2 of our teams wouldn't have been able to handle Hull tonight, so what does that say about our squad? If we were to get promoted we would need a brand new team! I saw no other result tonight, then again what do you expect when you have Parr on the wing of a 433 with Murphy our only known striker. I'm not calling for Mick's head and I didn't on Saturday but it's so clear to see that players are being played out of position and if MM doesn't rectify this then we are going nowhere anytime soon and patience will start to break!

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Jimmy86 added 22:11 - Oct 20 Trying to keep a sense of perspective at the moment, Hull away was always going to be a tough game. They have largely kept their squad together from their Premier league relegation and still have premiership quality players, they should be there or there abouts come the end of the season. Whatever way you look at it, things aren't right at the moment and things have gone down hill, since losing to Brighton before the 1st international break. This squad is better than last season's, which make it even more worrying. Last season raised expectations, despite possibly over achieving and rightly so, it was always going to happen. Mick has done a great job saving us from league 1 and did a brilliant job last season taking us to the play offs. We now need to kick on and go 1 better. We need to go to the next level, whether Mick can do that remains to be seen. I hope so, but for me the jury is out. We need to stop the rot ASAP. COYB

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muccletonjoe added 22:15 - Oct 20 You cannot spend peanuts and expect to compete with teams spending millions.
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bluefeast added 22:15 - Oct 20 such a shame ,the back 5 are letting the manager down ,just look at the stats over 2015 ,we soud be 4 th from bot
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Minneapolis_ITFC added 22:19 - Oct 20 Believe this is the first instance in eight years where the team has failed to score in three consecutive league games. Got attackers that are capable, but it's simply not working. Seems McCarthy was fault again regards squad selection but did think before time we could at least take a point from this encounter. Never expected to beaten by three goals and once again the manager will take some level of castigation from this result. Seen it said that one response (on a rival page) went as far to mention "at least McCarthy will keep us up". Had to do a double take as we should never find ourselves in such a position i.e. (we should ideally) be back at the other end challenging again for promotion. Made some decent signings close season but something has to be done quickly - and radical changes made while there is still time to complete that objective. Easy to say (each time) McCarthy must go, but who could we even bring in right now as a replacement ? Seems a case of stick with what we have and see where it takes us, or bring in someone with new ideas and hopefully a much needed improvement occurs. Either way, there is a lot of risk factor in both.

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Bob7881 added 22:21 - Oct 20 When is this nightmare going to end ? we have had years of bad management of the club and managers who are not upto the job. Sadly I see no change we are also rans with a mediocre manager and players.
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Bluewelshman added 22:21 - Oct 20 I don't want anyone thinking that I want Mick out, oh no, I've still think he is the right man for the club, he just needs to change his blinkered view of the team. The back four needs a reboot, forget loyalty, they are not doing a good job, he should bring back Clarke or Yowerth to try something new, Parr at RB perhaps. I just want to see the team trying to go forward rather than be stuck in the achievements of last season. COYB

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BrettenhamBlue added 22:26 - Oct 20 Trying to be positive here.... Coke didn't play his worst game in a Town shirt (possibly his best). I'd give him a solid 5 out of 10. Pittman looked good when he came on. He was certainly up for it.
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theipswichman added 22:28 - Oct 20 I am in absolute shock by these comments, sort yourselves out were not leeds. Terrible result and form but christ were barely 25% through the season, plenty of time and no one will come in and do a better job than Mick on that budget.
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skusesrightpeg added 22:33 - Oct 20 More money spent More time off work The same s&@t another game Get out of our club mick Didn't even have the balls to come over and apologise tonight,
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topguy added 22:36 - Oct 20 The amount of money spent is irrelevant, there have been successful sides who have spent little, burnley being one, but we was told we would progress, and against teams like brighton, Birmingham, Blackburn, we have got worse show me the progress and ill stand by MM but there is none we are going backwards and its time for a change.
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warktheline added 22:37 - Oct 20 The wheels have truly come off ! Said a couple of day ago I had an uneasy feeling that McCarthy were losing respect within camp, and sadly nothing has changed my mind. An ex centre half wasn't he? BUT continually fails to play the correct back 4, and goal keeper! If he must, and obviously he does, have to play 3 centre backs then surely he has to play a back 3 or 5. I'm totally mystified, especially when you consider he reversed our club fortunes on defensive doggedness . Until this is resolved, and I can't foresee this happening, we will continue to struggle. IF , as McCarthy says, no one at the club is better than Chambers at RB, for Christ sake go out and buy one!!!!

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EssexTractor added 22:37 - Oct 20 The Chairman if truly interested in ITFC as a football club MUST now question his judgement in ( a) not releasing funds..if that was the case in its entirety...( although even poor free transfers and loans and" established" players have wages to be pai!) (b) more importantly the opinion of those that matter, supporters..(or maybe supporters do not matter?) (c) the true justification of retaining the management structure? If he has no second thoughts then there is little point in any of us discussing ,even if mildly, a Premiership place. Our thoughts must now go to simply preventing our downward slide to League One. Individually we do have some talented players, but is that now being evaporated by dour, drab and unconnected misguided leadership? We are now embarrassing...lose we must yes, all teams do, but if so, do so with some passion , energy and a real will to be entertaining.

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ntoms97 added 22:40 - Oct 20 Stop moaning and go back to the sofa you plastic fans!!! Mick has done a great job for us and we're only in October this season "Mick out" is a disgrace, seriously guys get over yourselves 3 years ago we wanted Jewell out but he had 7 points mick has over double that. Yes that shows how far we have come but we've not had the easiest starts as far as team selections available has gone. Yes he's been stubborn, I agree Douglas should be bench at best I agree Didz should be in. Ok he's making mistakes but everyone does, last year we had a woeful August to say the least, where were you plastic fans then??? "August that's well early I hear you say" well so's flipping mid October it's only another month! Seriously get over yourselves get behind the team I'm pessimistic about the season now, I don't feel we will get promoted, at least not automatically but I still believe that if Mick can't take us up, no one can. Get behind him not behind your laptop. Rant over. Thanks for listening. Good night

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wayway added 22:41 - Oct 20 Don't you idiots realise that it's because we CARE about the club that we want this pig headed, stubborn man out on his ear and better still the club out of the hands of a faceless corporate organisation who probably don't know where Ipswich is
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pumpee added 22:44 - Oct 20 Bart Malarczyk Chambers Berra Parr Knudsen Bru Skuse McGoldrick Sears Murphy
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Lukeybluey added 22:44 - Oct 20 I just....I don't know. We seem to have lost our belief and fight, which...lets face it... got us in the playoffs last year. This year we seemed to have none of that so far season. Without that we're nothing.
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Beattiesballbag added 22:44 - Oct 20 Given that he hadn't much money to spend, he should have spent the money on a couple of quality players that would have improved the TEAM instead of signing half a dozen players that added to a squad that were not good enough to get us promoted last season. He might have a better squad but he hasn't got a better team & that's he's own doing, as for three close seasons he hasn't bothered to go out & find better players to improve the first 11, waiting to see what freebies come your way just isn't good enough. Something our two best managers both had in common was finding square pegs for square holes,..............that is certainly not one of Micks strong points !

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essex57 added 22:45 - Oct 20 Just pulled into service station on way home i know all i will get is down arrows but after tonights performance i dont think any combination of our 30 odd players will get us much above mid table. Thought Hull were a very good well organised team hey ho another season in the championship.
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TimmyH added 22:45 - Oct 20 I was hoping beyond hope that we might get one of those backs against the wall away points that Mick so loves but once I discovered we had a few more injuries to contend with and the midfield had about as much quality as a Citroen Saxo (i.e not a lot). Parr (never comfortable in midfield), Toure and Coke (probably league 1 players) and the ever present Douglas then it was almost a certainty we wouldn't score so it was over to the defense to do the job...and hey presto! 3 goals conceded. When oh when is Mick going to change the defense if at all?...words are slowly starting to fail me. 2015: W 13 D: 9 L: 14 = Not good enough!!

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