At some point, teams must win or the managers whose fates are ruthlessly beholden to results will pay the price. For different reasons, this game was deemed of significant importance to Julen Lopetegui and Kieran McKenna.
Tasked with igniting a semblance of excitement often lacking in these parts over recent seasons – even at times of success – Lopetegui’s embryonic reign had already threatened to turn sour after overseeing an unprecedented three home league defeats to start his first campaign at the helm.
His counterpart, McKenna, possesses an abundance of well-earned goodwill from successive promotions, which should ensure any knives drawn in his direction remain ineffectually blunt. But he knows plucky points from a multitude of early-season draws will not make Ipswich’s top-flight return a prolonged one.
This heavy defeat keeps them hovering dangerously above the relegation zone as one of four sides yet to win a match. The dreadful second-half performance, in particular, will cause concerns.
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For their opponents – and their supporters who spent much of a largely even first period in a concerned torpor – the addition of three points provides a sense of optimism as they head into the second international break.
Notching up victories is simple enough when faced with a defence as porous as that served up from Suffolk, but perhaps the Lopetegui era will provide greater joy than had been prematurely feared.
“We are happy for sure. When you win you are happy,” he said. “The fans deserve this to see the team win a match at home. And for the players because they are working very hard against a good team. We did very well.”
As highlighted by McKenna – who also duly noted the futility of such an argument – there had been few signs of just how routine the victory would turn out.
West Ham’s instant opener had been gifted by a player who must dread having to play here. Kalvin Phillips’s performances at Ipswich this campaign have hinted at the one-time England mainstay starting to put a torrid few years – including last season’s luckless West Ham loan spell – behind him. But the midfielder’s underhit pass to cede possession was severely punished, Jarrod Bowen driving forward and squaring to Michail Antonio, who coolly slotted home with a minimum of fuss 48 seconds into the game.
The continuation of Liam Delap’s hot streak meant the hosts’ lead was short-lived, with the former Manchester City striker firing with such venom from just inside the penalty area that Alphonse Areola was unable to prevent the ball whizzing past at the near post. But Ipswich’s hopes were swiftly snuffed out within half a dozen minutes either side of half-time.
Soon after he had hit the post, Mohammed Kudus nodded in from a few inches out when following up Antonio’s header, which had crashed into the underside of the crossbar and bounced up off the goalline.
Four minutes after the break, the lead was further extended. Asked to deal with a horrible looped backpass, Arijanet Muric could only clear the ball to Bowen, who cut inside his defender and curled beautifully into the far corner from 20 yards.
With the hosts increasingly dominant as the game wore on, the result was confirmed when Lucas Paquetá became West Ham’s fourth scorer, tapping home after the brilliant Bowen – providing the perfect riposte to his England snub – had put the ball across the face of goal.
“It ended up a disappointing day for us,” said McKenna. “A large majority of the first half was a competitive game, we played some good football and it was evenly fought. We conceded some poor goals at poor times that changed the momentum and it ends up a comfortable victory for West Ham.
“I don’t think we were too far off it being a good competitive performance, but West Ham were worthy winners and much better in the second half.”
His side’s 22-year wait for a top-flight win continues, while West Ham fans who had been assiduously avoiding the Premier League table can enjoy the week off with the sight of their side only a point off the top half, at least overnight.
