The size of the task facing whoever takes over at Town was made all too evident as Sheffield Wednesday left Portman Road having run out 3-0 winners. The Owls, previously without a win in 10 games, went in front in the first minute through Ross Barkley, the on-loan Everton man adding the second just before the hour mark, before Michail Antonio added the third late on.

Town caretaker-boss Chris Hutchings made three changes for his first and possibly only game in charge of the Blues. Josh Carson, Luke Hyam and Daryl Murphy returned with Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Nigel Reo-Coker and Andy Drury dropping to the bench.

Despite the change of personnel, Hutchings employed the usual 4-2-3-1 formation with Murphy wide on the left. Carson on the right and Martin behind lone strike DJ Campbell.

Town were behind within a minute of the start. The Blues failed to clear a throw from the right, Antonio’s cross was poorly cleared by Hyam, Lewis Buxton hit a low shot which was blocked by Hyam, the ball deflecting out to Barkley just outside the area from where he hit a low shot through a crowd of players and past Stephen Henderson.

The Blues looked all over the place in the early stages and Antonio should have put his side 2-0 in front in the fourth minute when sent away after an error by skipper Carlos Edwards, but shot weakly and Henderson saved.

Town’s first chance came in the 10th minute, Martin cutting the ball back to the on-rushing Hyam who scuffed well wide from the edge of the area.

Wednesday went close again on 14 when referee Roger East prevented Hyam from receiving a pass, which allowed Barkley to break. The 18-year-old midfielder found Antonio, who cut in and hit a shot across goal.

Two minutes later, Danny Higginbotham was forced to clear off the line after Henderson had only succeeded in finding Antonio out on the left with his punch. The ball was looped back in to Anthony Gardner, who headed towards the keeper-less net, only for Higginbotham to intervene.

Town gradually started to settle after their very jittery start. On 24 Richie Wellens laid the ball off to Martin on the edge of the area after good work from Edwards, but the midfielder’s shot was blocked by Gardner.

A minute later, Jose Semedo was booked for a foul on Martin just outside the area on the right. Cresswell curled the freekick just over the bar with the Blues improving. Moments later, the left-back went somewhat less close with another set piece from a similar position after Carson had been blocked by Daniel Jones.

Wednesday weren’t far from a second on the half hour, an unmarked Chris O’Grady heading Jones’s cross from the left well over when he should have done better.

Higginbotham shot wide after a freekick just outside the box on the right was laid off to him by Cresswell in the 36th minute, then on 41 Antonio shot wide for the Owls.

As what had been a generally scrappy half drew towards a close, Higginbotham headed wide, then Carson cut in from the right but failed to significantly test Chris Kirkland in the Owls goal.

The visitors deserved their lead at the break with Town still to really threaten, while Henderson had been the busier of the two keepers.

After the nightmare start when the Blues were made to pay for failing to clear their lines, they took a while to get into the game and could have been further behind in the early stages. As the half wore on they began to get more of a grip on the match but without ever looking like getting on terms.

Caretaker-boss Hutchings and coach Mark Kennedy continued a loud dialogue with their players throughout from the technical area.

Goalscorer Barkley hit the second half’s first shot just wide in the 51st minute, then at the other end Campbell scuffed a weak effort on the turn to Kirkland.

A minute before the hour mark Barkley made it 2-0 to the visitors. Antonio headed a ball forward down on the edge of the area and the England U21 international took a touch before hitting a powerful half-volley beyond Henderson and into the net, sending the 1,410 travelling fans wild.

Michael Chopra replaced the underwhelming Daryl Murphy on 61 as the Blues went to 4-4-2, before Antonio hit a low shot which Henderson claimed comfortably.

Jay Bothroyd was booked for pulling back Chopra, then a couple of minutes later Martin joined him in the book for a foul on Jones.

Town were looking very much a bottom-of-the-table confidence-bereft side but on 70 Campbell almost found Wellens as he broke into the box but a defender’s toe intervened.

The Blues’ misery was made complete in the 81st minute when Wednesday made it 3-0. Antonio was played in on goal by O’Grady, took the ball round Henderson and tapped into the empty net. The goal signalled chants of ‘What a load of rubbish’ and ‘Clegg out’ from the Sir Bobby Robson Stand.

Antonio had a chance to make it 4-0 soon afterwards after a strong run by Bothroyd but the former Reading man curled the ball wide. Soon after, Bilel Mohsni took over from the disappointing Campbell.

It had been a very comfortable second half from Wednesday’s perspective, already-well-beaten Town allowing them to stroke the ball unchallenged with the Blues midfield outclassed and out-passed by their Owls counterparts.

Subs Chopra and Mohsni both shot high and wide before Luke Chambers picked up a yellow card for a foul on Bothroyd.

Referee East brought the most lacklustre of Town performances to a close, triggering the next round of boos and shouts of ‘Clegg out’.

The game after Roy Keane’s exit saw the Blues lose 7-0 at Chelsea in the FA Cup and this display was no less poor, certainly the worst of the season so far.

The early goal was the worst thing which could have happened to a side lacking in confidence and but for some poor Wednesday finishing, the scoreline could well have been worse before the break with the game going on around the inexperienced and unfit-looking midfield.

Once the excellent Barkley’s second goal had gone in Wednesday largely played keep-ball before Antonio added the third.

Chris Hutchings almost certainly had no chance of taking over long-term before today’s performance, but the result and the display will have extinguished any hopes he might have had.

Town: Henderson, Edwards, Chambers, Higginbotham, Cresswell, Carson (Emmanuel-Thomas 78), Wellens, Hyam, Martin, Murphy (Chopra 60), Campbell (Mohnsi 84). Unused: Loach, Smith, Drury, Reo-Coker.

Sheffield Wednesday: Kirkland, Jones, Buxton, Gardner, Semedo, Antonio, O’Grady, Corry (Johnson 73), Bothroyd, Barkley, Llera. Unused: Davies, Taylor, Madine, Mattock, Rodri, Pecnik. Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire). Att: 17,738 (Wednesday: 1,410).

Photo: Action Images

marcus9 added 18:41 - Oct 27 i have just seen the table 5 points adrift at bottom -16 g difference we need the messia quick
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TheHighwayman added 18:51 - Oct 27 Don't believe the crowd number.
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VINNIEBLUE added 18:55 - Oct 27 RIGHT FIRST THINGS FIRST, LETS GET THE NEW MANAGER IN ASAP. SECOND, SEND ALL THE LOAN PLAYERS HOME. THIRD, LETS TRY AND SORT THE DEFENCE OUT, PLAY 5 AT BACK IF NEED BE. FORTH, LETS PREPERE FOR LEAGUE 1. FIFTH, LETS GET THE YOUTH POLICY TO STEP UP A GEAR. SIXTH, GET BACK TO BASICS, IE PASS MOVE, KEEP SHAPE ETC, SEVENTH, DROP ALL ADMISSION PRICES FOR REST OF SEASON EIGHTH, GIVE NEW MANAGER 100% SUPPORT WHO EVER HE IS NINETH, GET BEHIND TEAM SELECTION WHO EVER IS PICKED FOR MATCHES TENITH, KEEP BELEIVING, IT WILL TURN, HISTORY TELLS US SO.

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dommyboyblue added 18:57 - Oct 27 Vinnie - I actually like the idea of 5 at the back and think both Cressie and Edwards would suit wing back roles, not sure why this formation seems to have died a death.
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VINNIEBLUE added 19:09 - Oct 27 dommyboyblue, thanks that's how I used to play, but perhaps I'm old school
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petermorris added 19:25 - Oct 27 Hope Marcus Evans is enjoying his holiday. You been watching your team win at WHLane Clegg? I just got home from watching a stand-in manager play one up front at home, and the softest back four in the league conceed 3 comedy goals (thanks PJ).
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borge added 19:34 - Oct 27 Largely agree with Vinnie, but not entirely. What I don't want them to do is get a new manager in ASAP. It scares me whitless to think about the magnitude of this decision and the fact that Clegg has put pressure on himself by saying we will have someone in place before the Birmingham game is worrying. I would prefer that they take as long as is necessary to get the right man; they've rushed it twice now and look where that got us. I also hope to God that they look at what made us successful in the past. Motivators who can discipline are much better than disciplinarians who can't motivate. Mick McCarthy would be a short term fix and a poor fit for our ethos (if indeed we still have one). Above all I want to be entertained. I've been a season ticket holder for twenty two years (I'm now 36) and sat through a good few John Duncan matches before that. I have never been less entertained than in the period since big fat Joe left and although Jewel wanted to entertain he never came close to getting it right. Finally I hope we don't have wholesale change on the player side (aside from kicking out a few loanees). The last few managers have mentioned the need for new players virtually every week and changed the team for most matches. If they can be motivated, the current crop are capable and we have had far, far worse squads since I have been going to PR. Given stability and motivation (and an appreciation of what it should mean to play for ITFC) we can at least achieve safety in the short term.

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ipswichblue added 19:36 - Oct 27 It is hurting me so much to see us play so utter c**p.i love ipswich and evens and clegg is killing this club.it will be just our luck to get a manager like megson this man is utter s**t we need a man with a mean streak there is only one man that is billy davies
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ChestnutSe added 19:49 - Oct 27 My mate Dougie reckons he is the man for the job. He would be rubbish but at least I might get a free ticket. And he has promised not to let Lee Martin wear the shirt ever again
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marcus9 added 19:55 - Oct 27 bang on ipswich blue for me billy davies is the only man for the job
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Stato added 20:11 - Oct 27 McCarthy will be the third duff choice Clegg has made and hopefully this will be the last appointment he makes at Portman Road.
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ericclacton added 20:20 - Oct 27 That was by far the most diabolical performance from an Ipswich team I have ever seen, I'm completely numb.
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jatkinson4 added 20:24 - Oct 27 Hyam and Carson are the only people who ever put in their all...Hyam was shouting all game today, new club captain!! and please someone ask redknapp to just do us a favour and save our sorry selves! or failing that appoint mccarthy
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Girty added 20:26 - Oct 27 Mr Evans, persuade Billy Davies please (notMM)
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Ravenblue52 added 20:42 - Oct 27 Im sorry but what i saw today has just confirmed to me that it dosnt matter who takes over, were going to be playing leauge 1 next season. There was no direction, no shape and no passion. Its the most depresing feeling watching town at the moment that i cant wait for the whistle to blow so that we could be put out of our misery.
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This_girl_is_blue added 21:17 - Oct 27 Someone please wake me up from this frigging nightmare! You need to pull one out of the bag next week Marcus or we are well and truly stuffed.
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marcus9 added 21:22 - Oct 27 am i alone in wondering why we have got henderson and why he has been picked ahead of loach or indeed lee barrett. loach is in my opinion an allround better keeper than henderson surely we should pack henderson off to his own club and work with our own commited keepers .dont forget he didnt want to join us in january due to money hardly what we want at our club
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Manilablue added 21:50 - Oct 27 New manager ? Frank Yallop, Played enough games for the town been in management long enough.
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NoelTheDub added 21:59 - Oct 27 -16 speaks for its self,all last season our defence was the problem and still is.Jewell was allowed to bring in more average midfielders and strikers,change goalkeepers and takes out smith and brings in higgingbottom who i dont care what people think is a left full at best.Hutchings said this week sheff w was a big team so he leaves out smith and moshi 2 big lads that could counter this.Hope the new manager plays 442 only and plays the players that will be with us in league 1 if that what happens.

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TheCurly added 22:16 - Oct 27 Dismal performance from the majority of the team, the exceptions being Hyam, Carson and perhaps Wellens, just about the worst I have ever seen from an ITFC team. Clearly showed that it was a mistake to put Hutchings in charge, whole 1st team coaching set up should have been sacked along with Jewel, all to close to him. This was largely Jewel's team and Jewel's tactics, both found wanting, players had no incentive to play for and impress Hutchings (apart from their fat paypackets) Could not understand why Mohnsi was not brought on earlier when there was still something to play for. Loan players have had a disastrous effect on morale, and those who have no interest in signing for ITFC permanantly should be returned to their clubs on Monday. We are in big trouble and it will take a hell of a lot to get out of it.

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Jayembee added 23:09 - Oct 27 Went to Portman Road today. Beaten by Sheffield Wednesday. 11 players turned up but no team. A very unprofessional approach to the fans, the club, the team and themselves.
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shenfieldblue added 23:22 - Oct 27 Utter capitulation, the worst team display I have ever seen at ITFC. Who the hell in their right mind would want to manage this shower. Not fit to wear the shirt was a just chant directed at the players. A clear out is required..starting with Chopra & Martin. Don't even care anymore about how the scum got on. Thats how bad it has got.
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algarvefan added 23:26 - Oct 27 Let me set the record straight I'm not a Clegg fan, he obviously has some talent as he did a great job for the Olympic Team in China.......BUT.... and it is a big BUT! Clegg did not let ITFC down on the pitch today, it was the players, they are supposed to be professionals FFS & turned in a performance like that!!!! I think the finest thing that could happen is relegation, it will clear the decks, get rid of the 'hangers on' and start an enforced sorting out of the mess this club is currently in. The managers post must seem like the kiss of death to prospective candidates, lets just hope the new man is the right one, don'r rush it Ipswich, this is the most important managerial decision in the clubs history & it ain't going to be pretty!

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bobble added 00:17 - Oct 28 at least we didn't lose to the bottom team....
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oldtimer3 added 05:27 - Oct 28 No commitment at the top of IT Chiarman still on holiday when Club in A complete mess says it all really. Followed Town for over 50 years seen the ups and downs through that time,is the worse down by far, and i can not see any light at the end of the tunnel. I hope im wrong but I beleive the owner with make a bad manament appointment again!
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