Jaden Philogene scored a hat-trick as Ipswich thrashed the Championship’s bottom side Sheffield United 5-0. The heavy defeat heaps pressure on to Blades head coach, Rubén Sellés, who has now lost all five matches since taking over at Bramall Lane in the summer.
George Hirst and Jack Clarke were also on the scoresheet as Ipswich chalked up their first win of the season and their first at Portman Road since beating Chelsea in the Premier League in December.
Philogene struck in the 20th, 51st and 68th minutes. Hirst’s goal came after 61 minutes and Clarke added the fifth 12 minutes from full time. Ipswich climb to 11th as a result of the victory but Sellés’s Blades remain rooted to the bottom of the table without a point.
The hosts had a great chance to take the lead in the 11th minute when a cross from Leif Davis just evaded Chuba Akpom, as United goalkeeper Michael Cooper got a hand to the ball. A wonderful through-ball from Swedish midfielder Jens Cajuste then found Kasey McAteer wide on the right and his shot was parried away by Cooper.
Ipswich took the lead when Philogene collected the ball wide on the left and cut inside into the penalty area to rifle a shot into the far corner of the net. Philogene was creating havoc for the visiting defenders, setting Akpom away but his cross failed to find a blue shirt in the six-yard box.
Philogene made it 2-0 soon after the restart. Hirst and Akpom combined in midfield to set the winger free down the left and his mesmerising run across the penalty area ended with another fine shot beyond Cooper.
An effort from Tom Cannon had Ipswich’s keeper, Alex Palmer, scurrying across his goal to palm the ball to safety but the hosts extended their lead further when Hirst challenged for the ball in the penalty area and his tame shot went through Cooper’s legs and in.
Hirst had the ball in the net again soon after but was adjudged to be offside, before Philogene completed his hat-trick with another wonderful strike.
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Clarke finished the scoring when he picked up a deflection from Sheffield centre-back Japhet Tanganga to slot the ball home.
Sellés said his team collapsed in the second half. “The second goal was the thing that changed the game, that second goal after conceding transitions all over the pitch. I think we fell apart. I think we were competitive in the first half.”
