Ipswich Town fell flat to end their unbeaten run with a frustrating 2-0 defeat away at Portsmouth.
With Portsmouth fighting relegation, and the Town trying to secure automatic promotion, it was always going to be a tough game.
Portsmouth have repeatedly shown up against the top sides of the league, beating Millwall and Middlesbrough, proving that when it matters, they show up and secure the three points.
Coming off the back of the old farm derby double, Ipswich looked tired, physically and mentally.
Despite having 60% possession, they struggled to turn that into any clear chances.
The midfield battle proved problematic with Town struggling to win second balls, consistently disrupting the flow of their build-up playing style.
Squad management and rotation had a role in the outcome, too.
With a tight fixture schedule, Kieran McKenna has had to use the depth of his squad and change the starting eleven from Saturday’s game.
Some players, for example, Jack Taylor, played really well against the canaries but didn’t make the cut.
Lief Davis also missed the match due to the birth of his first child, allowing Jacob Greaves to move into the role of left back.
The disjointed feel of the squad may be down to those missing players.
Azor Matusiwa was present for the game but looked rather sluggish due to what McKenna described as a “dead leg that has been lingering”.
These squad changes may be to rest individuals for the big fixture on Sunday against Middlesbrough.
The next game is pivotal in the race for the second-place spot in the Championship.
With Middlesbrough being only three points behind, sitting at fifth place, the second spot is still to play for.
Despite the setback of Tuesday night, Ipswich do remain in a strong position – two points clear with a game in hand. An extra day of recovery before Sunday could prove valuable with the upcoming frequent, quick turnarounds.
Town fans will be hoping to see another win at Portman Road, with the team regaining their energy and cohesion to keep them on track for that promotion spot.
