Ipswich Town forward Conor Chaplin felt the punishment they suffered at the hands of Newcastle United in a 4-0 home defeat was ‘the hardest it’s been so far’ following promotion to the Premier League.

But the 27-year-old says rather than brush it off they must take their medicine from the defeat and learn from what went wrong ahead of going into their festive matches, starting at Arsenal on Friday night (KO 8.15pm, Amazon Prime).

Reflecting on a game which saw Alexander Isak follow in the footsteps of the last opposition player to score a hat-trick against Town at Portman Road, Kevin Nolan, also in a 4-0 victory for Newcastle United in September 2009, he said: “Yes, a tough day, I think one that we’ve got to take on the chin and accept that we were second best on the day.

“We’ve had tough days before and come through it and taken the learnings which is what we need to do again.

“We’re not naive to think that we’re going to have a season in the Premier League and not have tough days. As a newly-promoted team we know that that’s going to be something that’s going to come up in the season.

“I don’t think we’ve had many. That’s probably the hardest it’s been so far, in terms of games and matches.

“But yes, that’s something that we need to rectify and look to improve going into the next one.”

Asked if he thought it was down to Eddie Howe’s side, who had fielded all but one of the same side just three days earlier in the Carabao Cup, playing exceptionally well or them having a bad day, or a bit of both, he replied: “I think, yes, potentially a little bit of both. I think our decision-making at times and our game management wasn't good enough.

“There was probably maybe a 15 to 20-minute spell when it felt like the game was getting away from us.

“I don't think 2-0 at half-time would have been a bad scoreline for us going in, because I felt like we were actually a threat going forward. I feel like we had a few chances and moments where we felt like we could hurt them.

“So, 2-0 at half-time is not a disaster in terms of getting back into the game. The third goal is obviously a very poor goal to concede. We need to do better in moments.

“But, yes, even the second goal we can look at as well when there's individual moments and actions that we need to own, own as individuals and own as a team and do better.”

“But I don't feel like we weren't a threat. I think they probably played through us maybe a similar amount of times we played through them. But decision-making at certain times wasn't where it needed to be.”

The Blues’ top scorer, Liam Delap, was absent from the side as he served a one-game suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards, with Kieran McKenna opting to push Sammie Szmodics into the central striker role after being ruled out of the 2-1 victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers last week with a bout of illness.

And Chaplin agreed the former Manchester City youngster’s physical presence in particular was missed.

“Yes, of course,” he said. “I think the way he's been playing and the physicality and the attributes that he has in a game like that, especially where their press is so strong, it's probably a full-court press and one of the most aggressive presses we've played against.

“Obviously, you can look at that and it's an area where it probably would have helped. But we didn't have him today so it was something that we needed to deal with on the pitch and in the prep and felt like we were prepped to do so. But on the pitch, we didn't do our part and we've got to own that.”

Quizzed on how their manager had reacted to what unfolded, both at half-time and full-time, Chaplin said: “Same as always. Yes, disappointed. I think we're disappointed and angry as well.

“It's one where we know that if we are ever 95 per cent of our capacity, it's never going to be enough in this league. We need to be 100 per cent capacity every single
day, especially on game day.

“I think if we come off one per cent, two per cent, three per cent, four per cent, it's not going to be enough. So it's a good reality check in that. And maybe it's needed.

“Maybe this game will help us a little bit down the road. Maybe this game will help us for the next tough away game. You need to take the learnings from it, definitely.

“But yes, it's one we're quite clearly disappointed and angry about. We also know we're going to have tough days at times this season.

“Like I said before, we know we're going to have tough days at times and we've just got to take the learning and take it on the chin and accept that today we were second best.”

The defeat meant that 18th-placed Town continue to be the only side in the Premier League still without a home victory having now played nine times at Portman Road, drawing four and losing five.

Chaplin accepts that it needs to change but equally feels people need to look at the context of how those games have panned out to see it is coming.

“Yes, obviously we feel like we've been good at home,” he said. “We feel like we have been competitive in every single game and today wasn't that, I think that's clear for everyone.

“But yes, we know our form at home is going to be important and we need to start picking up more points here, definitely.”

Iraq international Ali Al-Hamadi came on at half-time and helped to give the Suffolk side’s attack a new dimension with Omari Huntchinson the man to be sacrificed.

Chaplin, who recently broke his Premier League goal duck in the 2-1 home defeat to AFC Bournemouth, said of the man who scored his only goal of the campaign so far against former club AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup: “I was really happy for him. I thought he did really well. He did what he's good at. He hustled and bustled. I thought he took good responsibility at times as well.

“He's such a young lad and someone that's obviously new to the level, like all of us, but new to the level in terms of being League Two not so long ago as well. So, yes, I thought he'd did himself proud today and I was happy for him.”

Photo: Matchday Images

victorysquad added 07:51 - Dec 22 The players need to focus on the Arsenal game now. The away games seem to be suiting us better and it looks like Saka is out for them, which is a blow for them. We can see how Everton played there last week, we need a bodies on the line performance there and we can get something from the game.
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04willr added 09:43 - Dec 22 On Muric, it’s a tough one. I have no doubt McKenna is aware of his faults and limitations. The alternative is playing Walton, who is not a keeper much better with his feet at all and also susceptible to an error or two. I wonder if he is trying to crawl to the January window to get a new keeper signed and using that as the means to drop him. My bigger worry is the trust and view from players. Too many times I have seen team mates gesticulating, moaning at this decision making (e.g. Woolf first few games, Szmodics yesterday when he took an age to go long). To me this feel like a signing where data has got it wrong. Yes he makes amazing saves (xg saved etc) but how many does he give away by poor positioning, communication etc If nothing else for squad dynamics I’d drop him but I don’t think it solves our bigger issue of actually be some way off the required standard against big opponents

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Marinersnose added 11:48 - Dec 22 Arsenal will be an even tougher team. We didn’t turn up again which is a worry. I have to disagree with Chaplin that we looked a threat going forward. Imo we were toothless up top and our first shot on target was when Broadhead was introduced I believe. I think sacrificing Hutchinson who did cause problems was a mistake as Burns other than a couple of good crosses was ineffective. I think KMK should play his strongest 11 as this is the only way we remain competitive against better opponents. Phillips and Broadhead were both decent when introduced and Ali also worked their defenders well albeit he lacks a bit of quality. Fans must support the team and not look for scapegoats.

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churchmans added 13:42 - Dec 22 Every game is a 'lesson' we got pumped hard! Expect the same against arsenal! Hang in there boys we can still do this
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churchmans added 13:51 - Dec 22 Marinersnose Nobody looks for scapegoats! But if a player is performing well below par or making silly mistakes it is perfectly reasonable to highlight that,have a moan or rant! Doing that on here does not affect how the players perform! And if it does then they should not be playing proffesional football! This is football! Always was(a lot worse before) and always will

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BlueRuin69 added 15:24 - Dec 22 Marinasnose Hutchinson was totally ineffective.
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Marinersnose added 15:25 - Dec 22 Churchman’s. Unfortunately your statement isn’t backed up in the media regarding scapegoats. You can always blame players for individual mistakes but the booing and moaning is embarrassing. If fans support and encourage the team performance levels will improve but the negativity at PR and in the media has an adverse affect. Obviously you’ve never managed people as that old adage of if you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen doesn’t stack up . I’m afraid that playing league one players in the PL will only work on the rarest occasions and it is abundantly clear too many lack the required quality but hanging them out in the press imo is counterproductive.

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churchmans added 16:18 - Dec 22 I don't think it is that bad! We are mainly leauge 1 and championship players! What do fans expect?? I would love it if we finished 17th
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Linkboy13 added 16:42 - Dec 22 Yes Conner we've got to take it on the chin unfortunately we are middle weights fighting heavy weights and there's only one winner.
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