Town Hit for Five

Lacklustre Town were heavily defeated on Saturday at the hands of Championship contenders West Brom.

The Black Country outfit will have impressed new boss and former Town favourite Tony Mowbray, who watched from the stands.

Young Town striker Billy Clarke was handed his second start of the season, whilst Alex Bruce replaced Sito in an unfamiliar right-back role.

Darren ‘slow winger’ Currie, continued to deputise in Gavin Williams’ role, while the Wales international is recovering from hernia surgery.

The game itself saw few chances during the opening exchanges, with Alan Lee and Darren Carter creating the most notable chances for Town and West Brom respectively.

It wasn’t too long however before the Baggies took the lead through Diomansy Kamara. A long ball from Jason Koumas found the Senegalese frontman who slotted in a low shot past Lewis Price.

The visitors continued to dominate a ragged Town defence, although it was Town who equalised courtesy of a Chris Perry own goal.

Billy Clarke chased an Alan Lee pass, only for Chris Perry’s interception to send the ball past keeper Zuberbuhler and hit the back of the net.

Towns equaliser was short lived and West Brom took the lead just three minutes later. An unmarked Kevin Phillips nodded in a free kick from Jason Koumas.

Ipswich went into the break 2-1 down and simply had no reply for West Broms dominance.

On 54 minutes the Baggies added to their tally. A well worked goal saw Gera cross for Phillips who notched up his second of the afternoon with an unstoppable header.

No sooner than Town had switched to 4-1-2-3. West Brom went further ahead.

This time Phillips sent Diomansy through who rounded keeper Price and slotted the ball just inside of the post.

As full time approached, Kevin Phillips completed a hat-trick, as he cut inside the Town ‘defence’ and sent a shot beyond Lewis Price.

Another poor day at the office for Richard Naylor and Jason de Vos, who continue to look shaky at the back.

The midfield battle was clearly won by the visitors, with new boss Tony Mowbray probably relishing the opportunity to begin his job as Baggies boss.