Defender Matthew Pennington hopes the Blues can bounce back with a repeat of their “coupon-buster” performance at Swansea when they travel to his former loan club Leeds United on Wednesday. The 24-year-old admitted that Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat to QPR was a disappointing way to follow up the 3-2 victory at the Liberty Stadium prior to the international break, Town’s first and win of the season.

Pennington, on loan with the Blues for this season from Everton, spent 2017/18 at Elland Road, making 15 starts and nine sub appearances, and will be up against plenty of former team-mates when rock-bottom Town make the trip to West Yorkshire to face the fourth-placed Whites.

“It’s pretty much the same team and it will be nice to see a few friendly faces but we’re going there to do a job and get something from the game,” he said.

“We showed at Swansea that we can get something from a game we might not be expected to get anything from. Let’s hope Wednesday is another coupon-buster.”

Pennington admitted Saturday’s dismal defeat to QPR was a big disappointment in the wake of the victory at the Liberty Stadium.

“It’s very disappointing to come back from the international break with a result like that because we were looking to build on the win at Swansea,” he said.

“But at least we’ve got a game on Wednesday and hopefully we can put it right then.”

He added: “We weren’t good enough. They were first to the second balls and we didn’t do enough to win the game. There were a few mistakes capitalised on by QPR.

“It’s very hard to win games when you concede soft goals, especially when teams tend to shut up shop after they’ve scored a couple.

“It’s deflating after getting the monkey off our backs at Swansea. We wanted to go on a good run after that.”

While QPR were the better side throughout, they were gifted their goals with keeper Dean Gerken allowing a Luke Freeman corner to go over his head and into the net for the first, while Toto Nsiala’s rash challenge led to the penalty converted by Tomer Hemed which sealed the three points.

Regarding the first goal, Pennington said: “We should deal with it but unfortunately it’s gone in and when we went 2-0 down we had a mountain to climb.

“It’s not just down to Gerks. We all take the blame as a team and I don’t believe anyone was good enough today. We need to put it right, hopefully on Wednesday at Leeds.”

Reflecting further on Gerken’s error, he said: “You have to be strong enough to get through something like that — any player in any position. Mistakes happen and we’ll move forward.”

Pennington, who has made seven starts for the Blues, scoring once, since signing on loan deadline day, understands the frustrations fans made clear during and at the end of the QPR match.

“Of course and we’re disappointed as well,” he continued. “It’s a collective thing and it wasn’t good enough from us."

He says the mood among the players was low after the game: “Everyone in the dressing room is gutted that we didn’t put in a performance today.

“It was a great chance to put some more points on the board and it’s disappointing.”

Quizzed on how manager Paul Hurst is coping with the current situation, the England U19 international added: “It’s difficult with the position we’re in. We need to get wins and points, and if the whole team pulls together we’ll do that.”

Photos: TWTD

bluerico added 12:17 - Oct 22 Hope not enough, we need action from the owner. Hurst and his signings out of their depth as proved in 13 games. Even if someone came in now it would be difficult with this squad. Only hope is a new manager and some Championship players in January, but I have serious doubts this will happen.
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brittaniaman added 12:34 - Oct 22 I thought we had finished this round hole square hole business when Dino left ???? But unfortunately it has come back in a abundance with Hurst trying to fit in his own players ?? It is not working in the Championship Mr Hurst, so your Own career will be in the balance if you do not change it ???
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blueboy1981 added 12:50 - Oct 22 Henrietta .......... totally agree with your third choice - Carvalhal could well be a sound move at this time. Good chance of him making something out of what we currently have, would also have a good eye for the youngsters too.
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Skip73 added 12:53 - Oct 22 'Hoping Town can bouce back' He doesn't sound confident does he?
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OldClactonBlue added 13:50 - Oct 22 It's fine for the players to say that they all take the blame, but the problem is that too many of these players aren't good enough.
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hyperbrit added 15:13 - Oct 22 EVANS OUT!!
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runningout added 15:18 - Oct 22 mental strength has been lacking for too long. Ruthless we haven't been for donkeys
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dirtydingusmagee added 15:20 - Oct 22 Bounce back ! the only chance of them bouncing is if Evans shells out at gets them all a Space Hopper, As much as i was pleased to get the win at Swansea, it was totally against run of play and it was incredible that we didnt get stuffed. After the win it was a break and they came back as if they had never seen each other before absolute sh#te. I can only see another ipswich nil defeat.

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