Ipswich Town's frustrating Premier League form continued with a 2-1 home defeat to a rampant Bournemouth side on Sunday. The result extends their winless run in the league to four matches and leaves them in 14th place with 11 points from nine games, a record of three wins and two draws from those matches.
Bournemouth took the lead after just five minutes through Francisco Evanilson. The visitors doubled their advantage in unfortunate fashion a minute after half-time when Leif Davis turned the ball into his own net. Jack Clarke pulled one back from the penalty spot with 17 minutes remaining, but Ipswich could not find an equaliser.
A familiar pattern
The early goal set a difficult tone, continuing a concerning trend for Kieran McKenna's team. They have not scored in the first 15 minutes of any league game this season, while repeatedly giving themselves a mountain to climb at the other end. Despite significant investment in the goalkeeping department in recent seasons, with over £22 million spent, Christian Walton retained his place in goal for this contest.
Ipswich showed more fight after the break, but Davis's own goal was a crushing blow. Clarke's penalty, won and converted by the winger, offered late hope. The team's recent fixtures have been a mixed bag, with this loss following a 2-2 draw at Hull City on 31 October and a 1-1 home stalemate with Nottingham Forest on 23 October. Their recent form over the last five games stands at one win, two draws and two losses, a sequence that began with a 2-1 victory over Fulham on 10 October and a 3-2 defeat at Manchester City on 17 October.
The table and what's next
The defeat leaves a four-point gap to seventh-placed Bournemouth, who recorded their eighth consecutive win in all competitions. Ipswich's goal difference now stands at minus four, having scored 14 and conceded 18 this campaign. They are 16 points adrift of league leaders Arsenal.
Attention now turns to a tough trip to face Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday 21 November. Spurs currently sit 10th in the standings, presenting another stern challenge for McKenna's men as they seek to halt their slide and improve on their current tally of seven points at Portman Road.
The original report is at Daily Mail Sport
