I am not sure who Sam Allardyce was trying to fool with his team selection, but another defensive line-up with players playing out of position resulted in the Hammers worst performance of the season so far.
Sam Baldock made his first start for the club, but was mainly used as a right winger throughout and David Bentley seemed unable to use his left foot playing on the left side of midfield.
Once again Kevin Nolan was poor in the heart of the side and Carlton Cole’s early season form seems to have faded away now.
Take nothing away from a spirited and talented Ipswich side, whose midfield ran the game from start to finish, mainly led by West Ham fan Jimmy Bullard.
They went close early on after Michael Chopra got on the end of a fantastic Carlos Edwards cross, only to be thwarted by Robert Green. Former Hammer Lee Bowyer then curled an effort onto the post as the visitors started to create some clear cut chances.
After a dull first half, much was expected of a improved West Ham performance in the second period but it never came. John Carew came on but was extremely ineffective and Jack Collision still doesn’t look fit after his sub appearance.
Young left back Aaron Cresswell went close from a long range free kick for the Tractor Boys midway through the second half as Ipswich looked likely to snatch a winner and with just one minute of normal time left they got their deserved winner. Blackburn loanee Keith Andrew headed a Bullard corner onto the post and the rebound fell to Bowyer who smashed home the winner, but refused to celebrate.
West Ham got what they deserved out of the game and after three poor performances in a row Allardyce and his players will need to up their game at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
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let’s not push the panic button yet eh? nine games out of 46 it’s early days still, OK we didn’t expect to lose to either Cardiff or Ipswich and no doubt we’ll lose more, but l don’t care if we don’t play champagne football and pass everyone off the park, as long as we get automatic promotion…keep the faith eh ………………….. COYI ‘><'