Town fell to their joint-heaviest home defeat as they were thrashed 6-0 by Manchester City at Portman Road. The Blues played well for the first half hour but once Phil Foden, on 27, Mateo Kovacic, three minutes later, and then Foden again in the 42nd minute had given the visitors a three-goal half-time lead, it was one-way traffic in the second period with Jeremy Doku, 49, Erling Haaland, 57, and James McAtee, 69, completing the scoring to inflict Town’s biggest home loss since Liverpool won by the same scoreline in February 2002.

The Blues made five changes from the team which lost 2-0 to Brighton on Thursday with Ben Godfrey handed his league debut and skipper Sam Morsy, Cameron Burgess, Ben Johnson and Jack Clarke returning to the team.

Godfrey took over from Luke Woolfenden, who was left out of the 20-man party, but lined up to the right of Dara O’Shea, who was in the centre alongside Burgess, who came in for Jacob Greaves, who was also absent from the squad.

Johnson was wide on the right with Wes Burns on the bench and Leif Davis on the left with Christian Walton continuing in goal.

Morsy replaced Kalvin Phillips, who was ineligible against his parent club, alongside Jens Cajuste in midfield.

Clarke came in for Nathan Broadhead, who was among the subs, alongside Omari Hutchinson behind number nine Liam Delap.

Jaden Philogene was on the bench having signed from Aston Villa in midweek, as was Axel Tuanzebe after returning from his hamstring injury.

City made four changes from the 2-2 draw with Brentford in midweek with Ederson, Ruben Dias, Ilkay Gundogan and Jeremy Doku coming in for Stefan Ortega, Nathan Ake, who has a knock, Bernardo Silva and Savinho.

Town began the game well and won a corner in the third minute, Matheus Nunes nodding beyond his keeper and out of play. From the flag-kick, Burgess rose highest but his header looped for another corner off Dias.

City began to see most of the ball but in the eighth minute Johnson won the ball not far outside the Town area, before Clarke burst away into the City half and fed Delap to his right. The former City frontman cut inside Dias and hit a shot which was blocked. The Blues picked up the ball again but were unable to get in another effort.

The visitors should have gone in front on the quarter hour from the game’s first serious chance. Kovacic threaded a superb ball through for Erling Haaland to chase into the box behind O’Shea but the Norwegian, who signed a new 10-year contract this week, shot too close to Walton, who saved with his left hand.

The resultant corner came to nothing but the Blues were subsequently unable to play their way out from the back and an effort from Foden from the right of the area was blocked before Kovacic shot deep into the North Stand from the edge of box.

On 20, Foden unleashed a strike from 20 yards but it hit Gundogan and deflected through to Walton.

Three minutes later, Delap battled with Kovacic, won the ball, took it on and was fouled just outside the box to the left.

Clarke took the free-kick and laid it off to the unmarked Hutchinson on the edge of the area from where the former Chelsea man struck a powerful shot which flicked over off Haaland’s head when on its way into the roof of the net.

From the corner, Town threatened again, O’Shea rising high heading towards goal but Ederson claimed two-handed under his bar.

However, the visitors took the lead in the 27th minute. Doku fed in Kevin De Bruyne on the left of the box and the Belgian chipped a cross to Foden on the edge of the six-yard box at the near post. The England international deftly took it down before hitting a quick shot on the half-turn which gave Walton no chance.

The Town fans tried to up the noise despite their side having gone behind and on 29 Delap brought the ball forward before hitting an ambitious shot from distance which Ederson saved down to his right.

A minute later, it was 2-0. Foden squared the ball to Kovacic on the edge of the area to his right and the Croatian international fired a low shot into the corner of the net.

Performance-wise, the Blues had had a decent first half hour, playing as well as they might have hoped against such illustrious opposition, but still found themselves two goals down.

Davis whipped a cross over from the left into Ederson’s arms, then De Bruyne shot over from the edge after more good work from Foden.

City made it 3-0 and effectively tied up the points in the 42nd minute. Doku threaded in De Bruyne behind Godfrey on the left and, as Burgess came out to cover, cut back to Foden on the edge of the six-yard box, from where he turned the ball under Walton and into the net for his second goal of the game, fifth in his last three Premier League games and his sixth in his last six in the top flight.

Neither side threatened in the remaining scheduled time and one additional minute. The scoreline was harsh on the Blues’ display overall, certainly up to the first City goal, with Town giving as good as they got against the Premier League champions and creating a couple of decent chances.

However, the visitors’ quality eventually showed with the Blues unable to keep Foden and De Bruyne in check with the first goal cleverly converted by the England man, who then teed-up Kovacic for the second, before De Bruyne again made the most of be able to break into the area unchecked to create the third.

Town, facing an impossible task to get back in the game, were first to threaten after the break, Delap feeding Johnson on the right of the area and the West Ham man hitting a low shot across Ederson that the keeper initially couldn’t hold but claimed off a defender’s shins.

But within a minute, the visitors scored their fourth. De Bruyne sent Doku way on the left, the Belgian international taking the ball into the area and cutting between Godfrey and Morsy before hitting a shot across Walton which caught O’Shea and nestled in the corner of the net.

And on 57, it was 5-0. Clarke made a wayward pass not far inside the Town half, gifting possession to Doku, who gratefully accepted it, took it forward and cut inside to the right to Haaland, who slipped it past Walton.

City continued to look for goals and two minutes after the fifth goal Haaland and Doku exchanged passes on the left of the box, but the Norwegian’s shot was blocked. De Bruyne’s follow-up deflected onto the roof of the net.

Town hadn’t been in it as an attacking force since the fourth goal, but on 62 Hutchinson played a one-two with Johnson on the right and hit a cross-shot which Ederson claimed but took out for a corner, which came to nothing.

A minute later, City swapped Haaland, De Bruyne and the outstanding Foden for Divin Mubama, Jack Grealish and James McAtee, then Town switched Clarke, Cajuste and Godfrey for debutant Philogene, wearing Jaden on the back of his shirt, Massimo Luongo and Tuanzebe, whose return was warmly cheered by the home support.

Five minutes after coming on, McAtee made it six. Kovacic was given time and space to chip a ball over the Town backline and the England U21 international got in behind and nodded a looping header over Walton from 10 yards out at the back post.

Town made two more changes in the 73rd minute, Delap and Hutchinson making way for George Hirst and Jack Taylor.

Nunez was booked for a foul on Davis on the left in the 79th minute, the game’s first yellow card, but the free-kick came to nothing.

City played out the remaining minutes in complete control of the game but with the Blues able to prevent any further goals.

After the whistle, the Town players and staff went over to the North Stand and were warmly cheered and applauded by their fans, despite the heaviest defeat of the McKenna era.

A chastening afternoon for the Blues, who can look back on a first half hour in which they matched the visitors and created a couple of openings.

However, City’s quality carved out their clearer cut chances, which were taken to take the game well away from the home side. In the second half, once the fourth goal went in, it was all City with Town’s aim to do nothing more than keep the scoreline down.

The worst Blues home defeat since the 6-0 at home to Liverpool in February 2002 and their heaviest loss full stop since losing by the same scoreline to Blackpool in August 2012. It is also the heaviest home defeat in the top flight this season and City’s biggest ever away win in the Premier League.

The thrashing by the Reds in 2002 precipitated a collapse which ended in relegation from the Premier League, Town having been 12th at the time.

A similar disintegration from McKenna’s men seems unlikely but the result and the narrative of the game illustrates the gulf between the teams towards the top of the division and those at the bottom.

However, shipping so many goals is a big blow to their goal difference, the Blues now sitting six worse off than Wolves above them in the final safe spot with the teams still equal on points.

Following their poor run, City needed a win and perhaps a big one given the spotlight they and manager Pep Guardiola have been under.

It doesn’t get any easier for Town with a trip to leaders Liverpool, where they were beaten 5-0 on their last Premier League visit in May 2002, up next on Sunday.

Town: Walton, Johnson, Godfrey (Tuanzebe 64), O'Shea, Burgess, Morsy, Cajuste (Luongo 64), Davis, Hutchinson (Taylor 73), Clarke (Philogene 64), Delap (Hirst 73). Unused: Muric, Townsend, Burns, Broadhead.

Manchester City: Ederson, Nunes, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Gundogan, De Bruyne (Grealish 64), Foden (McAtee 64), Doku, Haaland (Mubama 64). Unused: Moreno, Bernardo, Savinho, Alleyne, O'Reilly, Lewis. Referee: Sam Barrott (West Riding). VAR: Paul Tierney. Att: 29,841 (City: 2,980).

Photo: Matchday Images

shakytown added 03:55 - Jan 20 The moaners and people slagging players off here should be ashamed. Sure we got hammered but we wont be the only ones this year and it's part of the journey we are on. We just played the reigning 5 times champions who showed why they are that. Get a life and get behind the team and the club or go support someone else. There will be good days and bad days but just think where we were 2 years ago and be proud of what we have done so far.

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arablue added 03:56 - Jan 20 We expect to not get points from City and Liverpool. And we expect a thumping or three this season from clubs which cumulatively have spent hundreds of million if not more than a billion in the past 3-4 years since we have new ownership. So just chill everyone. We need to stand together when we play the likes of Wolves, Everton, Southampton, Leicester, Palace, West Ham, Spurs and MAN UTD - these are the matches we should be banking points for our survival.

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arablue added 04:00 - Jan 20 And continue to enjoy the experience of being in the Premier League. Living in a place with an 8 hour time difference with the UK, it was a massive pleasure for me to be in the crowd of 30,000 watching Ipswich play Aston Villa earlier this season compared to the rather tepid League One action 2 seasons ago. Be grateful as to where we are now. And trust that things will get better, in whatever form they may be.

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Magic8 added 07:11 - Jan 20 Mariner74....brilliant post ..my sentiments exactly...that's what we should be thinking ..not moaning on here or indeed walking out from halftime onwards. Well said sir!
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scottish_williee21 added 07:12 - Jan 20 Jesus!some of you are embarrassing! Bad day at the office that’s it? Obviously none of us have ever had that? Yes frustrating, yes it’s never nice to lose. Also be bloody grateful that we are in the premier league, again everyone is saying this but 2 years ago playing the likes of Forrest Green.When did anyone say this was going to be easy ? Did you think we we where winning the premier league? Give yourself a shake ! we are not down and out keep the faith.

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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 07:19 - Jan 20 Algy- no one is " happy" or " star struck" . We all want us to win , but some of us are just maybe a bit more realistic. The gap now between Prem and Champ is massive and we've done it so quickly , imo you can't expect us to suddenly just transform into a team ready to compete with teams that have been there for years . We have the lowest valued squad in the Prem , even after spending so much in the summer. We are over achieving not under.

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therein61 added 07:25 - Jan 20 Well we knew this was going to be a learning curve and that score line stings a bit but i think if we bring in a couple of experienced players(on loan) with premier nous it would help us settle and pick up some points C.O.Y.B
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Alphawhiskey added 07:42 - Jan 20 I thought we didn't play that bad to be honest. It was just that every single little silly mistake we made, they punished us badly! Nobody really expected us to beat them surely? Ok so we lost 6-0, Its still zero points from that game if we had of lost 1-0 or 10-0 We keep fighting and keep going, that game has gone now. Move on.
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Alphawhiskey added 07:46 - Jan 20 Abd to add, I thought Philogene looked really decent with the ball and looks to be a good investment.
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Dissboyitfc added 07:53 - Jan 20 Bad day at the office, need to move on and forget this one! We were simply outclassed and that shouldnt come as a shock. More embarrasing than the result is the number of numerous comments from certain individuals who seem to enjoy a loss, had we caused a massive shock like the chelsea result there would have been and indeed were less comments!
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Dissboyitfc added 07:53 - Jan 20 Bad day at the office, need to move on and forget this one! We were simply outclassed and that shouldnt come as a shock. More embarrasing than the result is the number of numerous comments from certain individuals who seem to enjoy a loss, had we caused a massive shock like the chelsea result there would have been and indeed were less comments!
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dirtydingusmagee added 08:25 - Jan 20 Is there a competition for longest post now ,?
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budgieplucker added 08:50 - Jan 20 Clearly we caught Man City on a very good day for them. It ‘s impossible to match the class and experience of a team that can show what it takes to be European Champions. Yes for 25 minutes we looked like we could give them a game but the reality is we eventually didn’t help ourselves and made life a little easier for them to be able to shake of their recent poor run of form. I don’t like to single out players but for me Johnson was the catalyst of our woes, not necessarily the lads fault but just an exposure of his limitations, I presume he was being asked to play a wing back role, at times he was too high up the pitch and looked uncertain as to what his role was and how to play it. Mind you I don’t think many players would want to try and help mark Doku in that form. I am not sure we were actually trying to play 5 at the back, perhaps Kieron realised its limitations at home when we played Brighton and wanted to get at City more to try and test some of the defensive frailties they have displayed of late. Our speed of thought is light years behind the likes of City and Liverpool let alone our speed of action. When Foden opened the scoring in addition to Walton we had 5 defenders in and around the six yard box, it was almost like we froze when he brought the ball down with his thigh and players were awaiting to see if he was going to control before attempting any blocking action. De Bruyne time and again was allowed to make the same run to the bye line on the edge of the box without being picked up. Many older fans like me will remember the days when we were establishing ourselves during the Robson years and facing some of the great sides of the time with excitement but also with some levels trepidation (well perhaps the fans were, I had sweaty palms many a time), most will only remember Roger Osbourne from the great game he had at Wembley in our F A Cup final victory, but for me Roger’s finest game was in one of our home matches against Barcelona in the UEFA cup, Cruyff and Neeskens in their lineup, Cruyff arguably the finest player on the planet at the time. Roger was asked to man mark Cruyff and boy what a job he did, Cruyff was completely neutralised that night by Roger. Was it Kieron who failed to respond quick enough after goal number 2? If we had gone in only 2-0 down at halftime we might have been able to regroup make 3 subs and seriously limit the damage!!! For me I would have brought on Tuanzebe earlier ( for Johnson) to try and deal with the threat of Doku. Go to a flat back four move Godfrey into midfield to man mark De Bruyne, bring on Townsend for Clarke to man mark Foden and push Davis forward into left midfield to push forward in a 4-4-2 formation. Bring on Hirst for Cajuste or Morsy and drop Omari into the right side of the 4-4-2. Unfortunately 4-4-2 and two physical strikers in Delap and Hirst does not fit Kieron’s playbook and patterns of play. But I felt we just needed to try and neutralise the threat of City’s key architects of play De Bruyne, Foden and Doku. To some extent Pep allieviated our pain by making a number of changes when the game was well won and perhaps avoided us a further humiliation.

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warktheline added 09:06 - Jan 20 I think one particular post( -44 )speaks volumes !
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Rimsy added 09:07 - Jan 20 No shame getting spanked by one of the world's great teams. We're just not at that level as yet. On a positive note, Philogene looked class with his cameo, he'll definitely make a difference to our front line. Godfrey looked ill at ease, not sure how much he's played this season, maybe stick with Woolf for now and with Axel back we'll be stronger. Liverpool again we can't expect anything from, then we can try to push on again.

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Dissboyitfc added 09:14 - Jan 20 Trouble is Alpha a 1-0 is worse than 6-0 it may come down to goal difference at the end of the season!
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Gazelle added 09:15 - Jan 20 Some of the comments on here amaze me, two years ago we were playing Accrington Stanley and Forest Green and have been privileged this year to see the worlds best teams. To the dissatisfied few I say then don’t go, you’re in the minority for sure. Whatever league we’re in next year my season ticket will be popping through my letterbox as usual.
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JewellintheTown added 09:23 - Jan 20 That hurt. We move on.
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 09:34 - Jan 20 Glad to see that most views on here are very sensible and realistic. Surely we all knew it was going to be hard and we would get a few thumpings. Some people seem to think because of our history we have some divine right to be here. I love being in the Prem and intend to enjoy it. The support last night was brilliant and it needs to continue.
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Carberry added 09:45 - Jan 20 I just find it amazing that those who are hurt/angry/disappointed at losing 6-0 at home are told to sling their hook while those who are content with it are supposedly the true supporters. If we were professional footballers in McKenna's dressing room who would be the ones shown the door?
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Writtleblue added 10:10 - Jan 20 After losing 6-0 some teams would be booed of the pitch , but not ours, instead they had a huge roar of support, we may not have Man City's riches but we do have spirit and togetherness and great love for our club, you can't put a price on that, come May what will be will be.
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BerksBlue15 added 10:33 - Jan 20 What did we really expect? Lost to Man City - we would have envisaged that at the start of the season so no points dropped vs what we would have all expected. Equally Liverpool is a free hit. Protect the goal difference, avoid injuries, move on. Southampton the big one. Win that and the games start to get a little less daunting too. Arsenal, Chelsea, Man C and Liverpool in the last three weeks. Doesn't get much trickier than that!

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Bluroo added 10:37 - Jan 20 @blueboy1981 When we were in Div 1 you said we weren't good enough to be promoted. LOL. When we were in the Champ you said we weren't good enough to be promoted. LOL. Now were in the Premier League you're telling us its embarrassing and unacceptable that were not good enough to be in the Premier League... Tell that to Spurs or Chelsea or even the likes of Wolves and Leicester... I don't suppose it will occur to you what incoherent drivel you spout. We're a point from safety which suggests were on the cusp of being good enough to be in the Premier League and anyone with a basic grasp of the context over the last 4 years will understand that staying in this league as a newly promoted team after a meteoric rise would be an outstanding achievement. One or two hammerings to the big boys won't define our season. One point more than 3 other teams will. Keep the faith. COYB. Whatever, enjoy being angry, entitled, incoherent and missing the point entirely...

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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 10:47 - Jan 20 Carberry we are all disappointed. Its the angry bit we disagree on . Why are you angry? We were beaten by a team worth 1.2 billion. The players gave 100 % . We are in the best league in the world two years after being in League 1. Being realistic surely u knew it was going to be very hard this year . We are above Leics and Soton and we've beaten Chelsea, Spurs, Wolves, drawn with Man Utd, Villa , Fulham twice . We have young English talent, a top top manager . Why are you angry ?

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Marinersnose added 10:57 - Jan 20 As expected lots of negativity on this forum. We actually started well and managed the game well for 20 minutes and Hutchinson came closest to opening the scoring. My worry is that as soon as we conceded we defended deep and never got near them. I’m not sure this was the game to change the defensive unit as confidence will take a hit. Midfield again exposed due to lack of pace which is a problem. Broadhead has been the standout player for the past couple of games and was chopped. We missed his quality on the ball. Lots to consider for McKenna leading up to Liverpool away. We have to remain positive as we aren’t expected to get anything from City or Liverpool. Slightly disappointed in the manner in which we capitulated. COYB

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