Town boss Paul Hurst admitted the Blues put in probably their worst performance of the season as they were beaten 2-0 at home by QPR. Town are still without a home win this season with their last victory at Portman Road the 1-0 defeat of Barnsley back in April in Mick McCarthy’s final match in charge.

“We weren’t good enough, bottom line,” Hurst said. “We were second best. It’s another game where ultimately we certainly didn’t help ourselves yet again and a combination of that and not a good enough reaction overall to going behind made for a very disappointing afternoon.”

Asked whether the type of defensive errors which again led to both goals are tough for a boss to take, he said: “At the end of the day I’m the manager and we all know that whoever’s the manager of the team gets criticised and that’s part and parcel of the job. I understand that and I can accept that.

“Those things, the mistakes, I’ve never been involved in a season - and we’re not even a third of the way through yet - where there have been so many mistakes in that period of time, as a manager or as a player, certainly from memory, admittedly my playing days were some time ago.

“That just makes the task more difficult. And ultimately goals do change games or change moods, change feelings, outlooks, everything.

“There were 77 minutes left plus injury time today were still left when we scored, so there was still lots of time left.

“The penalty was certainly a kick in the teeth right on half-time, not that we had particularly shown signs of getting back in the game, but while it’s 1-0, we’ve had games here where that has changed [from that scoreline] and we’ve seen a much different second half.

“In the second half today, there were naturally some moments which were slightly better but nowhere near enough in terms of realistically getting back in the game.”

He admitted that having got the first win of the season at Swansea, the defeat was more disappointing, although he pointed out after the win at the Liberty Stadium that result wouldn’t be a panacea.

“Obviously sat here now, I certainly wish would have played sooner to see if it would have been any different but overall the mood’s been good,” he said.

“As I said at the time, one victory doesn’t suddenly make you a good team or change everything, but you certainly hope it would have given the players a little bit of confidence and it felt that way around the place looking at them.

“But it didn’t reflect looking at it today, a lot of the same sort of things were happening, misplaced passes, miscontrols, but I have to say today I just felt even the absolute basics of football we were second best.

“We didn’t win enough headers, and I don’t mean as in Freddie Sears, I don’t expect him to out-jump the centre-backs, but in the middle of the pitch.

“How many tackles did we win? How many times did we drive with the ball compared to them to get to those second balls? We didn’t do enough of that, so it was going to be a massive ask to try and get anything from the game when I think there were a lot of things wrong in truth.”

The crowd showed their frustration with boos at the end of each half, which Hurst says he was aware of but feels the Portman Road faithful are far from the harshest supporters.

“Of course, I’ve heard that a couple of times but nothing that players shouldn’t be able to handle,” he added.

“That was just mentioned in the dressing room downstairs. I think the lads that have been around a little bit know that the crowd are far from the worst that they’re going to play in front of in terms of adding pressure and being really disgruntled.

“They show that they are but a lot of them show it in a certain way and not like you get at some places.

“So from that point of view, if they can’t play here then I think they’ll really struggle pretty much anywhere because I think they are willing the team and the players to do well.”

Quizzed on whether that adds pressure going into the next four games ahead of the November international break, he responded: “We’ve got to try to make sure it doesn’t. It doesn’t put us in the best of spirits going to Leeds on Wednesday but ultimately that’s football.

“There’ll be lots of teams good and bad that have days like today in terms of the performance where they just have a bad day and things aren’t right.

“Again, it’s how you react to that, how often it happens. You can look at the table and look at the results, but I genuinely, don’t think we’ve been that bad that often to be where we are in the league, I’ve said about coming out on the wrong side of things. So today was disappointing from that point of view.”

Hurst admitted it was the poorest display of the season at Portman Road if not anywhere: “Certainly the worst at home and probably overall as well. I think at Hull we had a spell where we were better, in truth, and could have quite easily got back in the game. I understand there was frustration today, 100 per cent.”

But he says those two matches aren’t typical of the season as a whole: “Not overall, but at the same time, we’ve got to try and make things happen, haven’t we? As a group, as a squad and I was hoping that having had the victory at Swansea, not changing everything, but getting that monkey off our back that we spoke about, having that confidence and belief to try and make things happen.

“I’ve opened it up in the dressing room and we’ve had a discussion and people have got their own opinions.

“I’ve had my say in there naturally. One thing that came from the players is we can’t keep making it hard with the mistakes we’re making.

“No one goes out to make a mistake but at the same time it does make it a lot more difficult. And when you’re in that sort of run you don’t seem to get too much the other way and it’s difficult to stop that from happening.”

Regarding the mood of the dressing room discussion, was it frank and loud or a more measured debate? “A bit of both some measured, some a bit louder, some look as though they’re a bit in shock almost.

“But let’s not kid ourselves, we were second favourites to be relegated at the start of the season, so we are clearly are not the best team in the Championship.

“We’ve got to do everything we can to make it extremely difficult for the opposition first and foremost to give ourselves a chance of winning games of football and at the minute all we’re doing is giving teams a helping hand more often than not.

“Even at Swansea we showed a much better reaction but the first goal was more a freak, an own goal that I don’t think JD could score again if he tried.

“We’ve got to change that and it’s only the players that can do that because we’re obviously in a hole and we’ve got to try and do everything we can to get out of that.”

Hurst dismissed the idea of a senior figure more experienced at this level coming in as a director of football to help the Blues get out of that hole.

“I find the level thing is not what this is about, that’s my personal view,” he said. “I can accept people have opinions.

“Again, if it was an experienced manager sat here or upstairs, does he suddenly stop the mistakes happening? I think if that did happen, it would be coincidence rather than anything else. No, I don’t really see personally any reason to do that, so I can’t see that happening.”

With the fans starting to get on the team’s back and the team back to bottom of the table, is he worried about his job? “No, I’m kind of past that stage. I know what I’m doing and the effort and also just generally, ultimately working with the group of players that I have got to try get the best out of.

“Are we managing to do that? Clearly at the minute, no. As I said, we’re all in this together, I’ll take my responsibility but the players have to take theirs as well and I think a lot of those, if they were honest and were sat in front you, they would say that they can do better than they’re doing at the minute. That’s part and parcel of football.

“You’re reliant as a manager, when things are going well, the lads are playing well, when things are going bad, they’re not playing well. It’s that kind of give them that confidence or give them that kick up the backside to do better because we certainly need to.’

QPR boss Steve McClaren was pleased with his side’s victory, although felt they had chances to have won more comfortably.

“Very professional, that’s what we said at the beginning, that this is an opportunity and if you’re professional and do your job we’ve got a chance of winning and that’s what they did right from the first whistle, they were ready,” he said.

“We controlled the game, got the goals and saw the game through. A clean sheet, two goals, should have been more and we’ve started the week well. Recover, Tuesday.”

Regarding the first goal McClaren was adamant it should be credited to corner-taker Luke Freeman rather than as a Dean Gerken own goal.

“It’s Freeman’s goal, it was direct, it was going straight in without him [Gerken] touching it.

“[Assistant coach] Matty Gardiner and [assistant manager] John Eustace work really hard on set plays. They’re very important in this league, for and against.

“And with [goalkeeper-coach] Gavin Ward they work tirelessly and we work a lot on set plays and every time we get one we turn around to Matty and Jon and every time we defend one we turn round to Gavin and say, ‘Well done boys’.

“They can make a massive difference. How many games do you see at a weekend and the first goal or the most important goal is a set play? You saw that in the World Cup with England and in this Championship it is very important.

“[The second goal], the same again [from a Freeman corner], it was a definite penalty, well done to the fourth official for spotting that.

“We were a little disappointed not to see the game out easier than we did. You’re always susceptible to conceding one goal which could have lit the fire but credit to the organisation of the team, we kept a clean sheet but we do need to score more goals from the opportunities that we’re creating.”

Photo: TWTD

dirtydingusmagee added 09:43 - Oct 21 Swn98, you have stated ITFC died last season Brentford ! who was manager then ,not Hurst ?. It was right to get shot of McCarthy ,Hurst IS a disaster no denying that,Evans has screwed up again,I wanted McCarthy out ,but was not one of the people pleading for Hurst to be his replacement,and have said from day one that i thought he would be out of his depth, I cant understand how you constantly keep bringing McCarthy up, its as if you are enjoying the present failings more than anything thats gone before.

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Battyboy added 09:48 - Oct 21 The manager is a total big head, arrogant and clueless.
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Michael101 added 10:05 - Oct 21 Sw n itf c died the day marcu s Evans brought the club, by appointing a baff on like mad Mick just proved my point.
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martin587 added 10:24 - Oct 21 I've had time to sleep after the debacle from yesterday and to be honest as a life long supporter for over 55 years I think I'm correct in my assessment that this must be the worst squad of players we have had at the club,but I must stress this is no detriment to the players.They were purchased by PH and of course any player from a lower league would jump at the chance of joining a big club like Ipswich. Paul Hurst has completely underestimated the strength of this league and in my opinion is way out of his depth.Ok he was good in the lower leagues but that counts for nothing when you join the big boys who have millions to spend.He cleaned out most of the senior players for what ever reason we will never know and purchased unproven players to step up two leagues and impress from the start. This has not happened and now we are in a real mess.The big question from now is “Where do we go from here”.Does Mr.Evans sack PH. If he goes down this road would another manager fancy coming here with the squad we have.I doubt it very much unless he is an out of work journeyman desperate for work which is something this club needs to steer clear of. Do we persevere with PH and wait until the end of the year which by then we could be in serious trouble. This is a real headache for the owner and something he MUST address NOW.Football fans are patient especially at our club but surely not for much longer.You could feel the unrest yesterday and it will only get worse over the coming months. The players for me lack confidence and this has to be down to the manager.He needs to up his game and show authority,something which is lacking on the touch line.I would rather see a manager controlling the technical area. The Leeds game this coming Wednesday is going to be one hell of a hard game and next Saturday just has to be a win win game but I won't count on us getting even a point at this time. Let's get Bart back in goal and play with two strikers and try and pressure teams not just sit back and take punishment. Whatever happens at my club over the next month is very worrying and I just HOPE the owner is also very concerned and possibly considering changes. Enough of me now.Have a good chaps and hope to see some of you at Leeds Wednesday evening.

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Michael101 added 10:39 - Oct 21 Question . Does marcu s Evans own platform rd??.because I had a dream last night. We were playing in div2 Evans had sold all the players and plat yford rd was full of luxury apartments and the player were all y.t.s. Training on the 4g pitch
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algarvefan added 10:42 - Oct 21 Just wanted to add, those of you slating Gerkin, awful mistake for their first goal, but apart from that he kept the scoreline reasonable, just saying. However I still think Bart is a better keeper and deserved to be dropped, but maybe just for the one game, to prove a point.
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TimmyH added 11:08 - Oct 21 Sorry voted you up by mistake @PaulHurstITFClegend (he'll be remembered alright for all the wrong reasons the way things are going).
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Swn98 added 11:25 - Oct 21 dirtydingusmagee You show that you dont fully understand the post i will explain last year away at Brentford i witnessed the most depressing scenes of Bile and outright hatred against a man MM by a section of so called fans it was so outrageous that i know of at least 10 loyal supporters who will never return that's the day the club died. You and your pals keep taping away as the club slips into obscurity.

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Dissboyitfc added 11:33 - Oct 21 Algarve...well said, totally agree!
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TimmyH added 11:48 - Oct 21 By a very small minority swn98....a club doesn't die based on something that happened for 5 minutes after a game by a few and hence the furore ensued with Mick and some supporters. It might have 'died' in your heart as Mick was obviously your favourite but lets not go over the top...just as bad incidences happen at other clubs when things go pear shaped.
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aas1010 added 12:03 - Oct 21 All off the games under hurst have been rubbish 💩 HURST OUT !
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Davidwb20 added 12:06 - Oct 21 PH, you talk a good talk, unfortunately you cannot walk the walk! Do the honourable thing and resign!
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aas1010 added 12:09 - Oct 21 Davidwb20 I agee👍 Tho do it now rather then tomorrow or next week just go!
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Swn98 added 12:57 - Oct 21 Timmy H sorry mate just look around Portman Rd on match day the place is like a morgue all the old faces laughing and joking having a good old bit of banter gone. We used to be a familly club respected all over now we are just like any other club to hear the way fans talk to each other is a disgrace i'm afraid we are a photofit picture of the world today. R.I.P I.T.F.C
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TB42 added 13:48 - Oct 21 Mick McCARTHY needed to go. There are no if, buts or maybes on the score in my view. We were going nowhere and the football was dire. Not to mention his relationship with the fans. To attribute that as being the fans fault is naive at best. Yes, he was subjected to some inappropriate language etc. but he did not exactly try to be diplolmatic in return. Sadly, he just fuelled it..... With regards to our current predicament, that lies firmly with Marcus EVANS. He made the choice and now has to reflect on the best way forward and to take appropriate action. Sadly, Paul HURST does not appear to have matched the expectations of all the other prospective people in the frame for the job after MM's departure and whilst I was happy to see him given time, what alarms me most is he continues to try the same clearly losing approach including the lone striker. I feel the EINSTEIN quote coming on again, not looking forward to the Leeds game ....

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BcarefulwhatUWish4 added 14:08 - Oct 21 Sadly this was all so predictable. MM did a fantastic job especially given his resources and it was always going to be difficult to find a good replacement. I'm gutted as I saw all this happening last season but nobody listened. Of course you can say "it's easy with hindsight" but it was so unbelievably predictable. The bookies have got it dead right, good research on their part.

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billlm added 14:50 - Oct 21 I think we will go down to many changes and not enough investment in the last few seasons not just this one, I think he needs to bring Bart back, maybe just one holding midfielder an deffinatly two up front, at this time I'd probably pick skuse as the holding player just for the experience, then implement a younger more mobile one just my thoughts,
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loudnproud added 15:17 - Oct 21 When players start to feel disgruntled with their manager or indeed club,they normally seek each others support in airing their grievances and plotting to make things right. The ONLY weapon at their disposal is to play without heart and passion and doing their upmost in getting that manager dismissed. In my opinion this is what is happening now at our club.......The dressing room is lost

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TimmyH added 15:47 - Oct 21 BUT the club didn't die last season at Brentford swn98....it started to when Evans took over, he's made many bad decisions and continues to.
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HALLSJ66 added 16:14 - Oct 21 Worse performance, stupid statement of course it was 😂
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dirtydingusmagee added 16:31 - Oct 21 Save it TimmyH ,Swn98 has a fixation with McCarthy, he cant / wont stop whining about his demise. There are other clubs in in dire straits , whats McCarthy doing , mmmmmmm exactly .
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juniorblue added 17:07 - Oct 21 “Those things, the mistakes, I've never been involved in a season - and we're not even a third of the way through yet - where there have been so many mistakes in that period of time, as a manager or as a player, certainly from memory, admittedly my playing days were some time ago". This sentence alone irritates me. He certainly talks a lot, but it means nothing. Evans needs to make a decision before it is too late to avoid relegation. It is a very, very sad state of affairs at Portman Road and really quite disgraceful.

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Swn98 added 17:17 - Oct 21 I agree up to a point about ME Timmyh however hes put plenty of money into the club one way and another to no avail so obviously his current business plan is to run the club on a budget of only having to worse way pump in 6 million pounds a year. My point has always been that you have to find the best personnel to work within these constraints MM was that man and the numbskulls hounded him out. What some people dont understand getting to the playoffs was the biggest success a lot of younger supporters have experienced. Alas they will wait many more seasons before seeing that again if ever once you slip down to division 3 it will be very hard to get out. Dirty im affraid you dont know what your talking about so i should knock it on the head.

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ITFCsince73 added 18:25 - Oct 21 4 people are solely responsible for our current situation. Marcus Evans. And his first 3 managerial appointments. All above 4 have been disastrous for ITFC in their own way. Killing everything the club had, and stood for.
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Cloddyseedbed added 20:14 - Oct 21 Probably, PROBABLY, without doubt this was one of the worst games/teams I have ever seen at my beloved club. My how the standard/player quality has fallen in the last few years. You get what you pay for in life. Buy a cheap car, it won't last. Buy cheap batteries they won't last. Buy cheap footballers.........well, we can all see where they are taking us. Crowds will start to drop off at an alarming rate if the rot is allowed to continue much longer.

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