Ipswich Town 0-1 Crystal Palace: Stuart Watson's verdict

Sam Morsy and Aro Muric cut dejected figures during Town's home loss to Palace. (Image: Steve Waller)

SAME AGAIN

"There were probably too many similarities to Saturday for our liking," said Kieran McKenna afterwards. He's not wrong.

This match was almost a carbon copy of the 1-0 loss at Nottingham Forest three days earlier (just colder).

The first half was a stop-start, scrappy, set-piece battle. Aro Muric smothered an Eberechi Eze shot in the box. At the other end, Harry Clarke saw a smart header at a corner denied by an equally smart Dean Henderson stop. That was it in terms of significant chances.

McKenna called upon his players to be more aggressive and positive after the restart. They tried to up the tempo, but generally got pushed back by organised, experienced, physical opposition.

Palace broke the deadlock just before the hour mark via a quick breakaway. Ipswich, as had been the case at the City Ground, huffed and puffed in response. 

Jacob Greaves sent a looping header onto the post in the 86th minute following a deep free-kick routine. Town finished the match having failed to create a chance of note from open play.

Jean-Philippe Mateta (right) shrugs off Jacob Greaves to score Crystal palace's winner. (Image: PA) THE WINNER

At Forest, Conor Chaplin's misplaced pass and Sammie Szmodics' lunge in the box led to Chris Wood's penalty winner. McKenna called it 'a pretty soft goal' to concede.

Palace's goal starts with a straight lobbed ball forwards from the back. O'Shea is late to the aerial battle with Jean-Philippe Mateta over the halfway line. The visitors attack with speed. Mateta, who'd continued his run, then shrugs off the stumbling Jacob Greaves far too easily before producing a fine lofted finish past the on-rushing Muric. 'A really poor goal' was McKenna's verdict this time.

Two big centre-halves both losing physical duels in that phase of play summed up Town's night. In a man-for-man game, Ipswich didn't win anywhere near enough individual battles all over the pitch.

Wes Burns tries to get away from Tyrick Mitchell. (Image: Steve Waller)

PRESSURE FACTOR

Town's two flattest home performances of the season have come in games against teams towards the bottom end of the table - Everton and Palace. Why is that? Pressure must be a factor.

The adrenaline was high in the first few home games back in the promised land. Town maybe caught the likes of Liverpool, Fulham and Aston Villa by surprise with their front-footed approach back in August and September. Naturally, everyone was going to be pumped for a 'Super Sunday' game against Manchester United. It's probably been a bit of a 'free hit' mentality. Everything to gain and little to lose.

These so-called 'six-pointers' are a different mental challenge. A bit of tension in the stands and on the pitch is human nature. 

The other trend is that Town have struggled most against more direct and physical opposition. McKenna's men prefer going toe-to-toe in a free-flowing football match, but they found ways to scrap out results in the Championship too. Doing so at a higher level is much more difficult though.

Liam Delap was well-marshalled by Palace's strong back three. (Image: Steve Waller)A REMINDER

Town have just had back-to-back promotions after spending four years in League One. This is Palace's 12th successive season in the Premier League and their average finish over that period has been 12th.

Only two of the 15 players who featured for Town last night had started a Premier League game before this season - O'Shea (57) and Muric (10). Palace's team, by contrast, contained four players with England caps to their name - Henderson, Marc Guehi, Tyrick Mitchell and Eze.

Ipswich brought on Ali Al-Hamadi as their sub striker, a player who was operating in League Two at the start of this year. Palace brought on Eddie Nketiah, another England capped player who cost £25m to buy.

Yes, losing sucks. It's a feeling we're readjusting to. This season was always going to be a monumental challenge though.

Ali Al-Hamadi was lively when he came off the bench. (Image: Steve Waller) CHEER UP!

After the performances/results against Tottenham and Man United, many were declaring 'Ipswich will stay up!' Now, after a couple of flat displays, I'm seeing a lot of 'we're doomed' rhetoric. Both are premature shouts.

Before a ball was kicked, my feeling was this: Ipswich would improve over the season, there'd be several hard lessons along the way and, with a fair wind, a fight for survival would go down to the wire. I've seen nothing to change my mind.

Leicester won last night. Everton host Wolves this evening. Let's not get too fixated on the league table though.

We waited more than two decades for this. Ipswich Town are back in the big time well ahead of schedule and, against the odds, they've been entertaining/competitive more often than not. That's something to be proud of.