When Mick McCarthy took over as manager of Ipswich Town at the start of November, he must have prepared himself for one of his toughest assignments in management.
If he wasn’t aware then, he must be now after the Tractor Boys slipped to their third tonking of the season in the latest round of Championship action.
The East Anglian side remain in the bottom three after losing 6-0 away at Leicester City. They have already received heavy thrashings from Blackpool and Crystal Palace this season.
Another woeful defensive display
Ipswich have the worst goal difference of anyone in the Football League, now with statistics of -25 against their name.
If they stay in the division come the end of the season, it will have to go down as one of McCarthy’s greatest achievements in his lengthy managerial career.
McCarthy had brought in Kelly Youga in midweek and also acquired Danny Higginbotham on loan from Stoke City but on this evidence, he might need a whole new backline.
Speaking to BBC Radio Suffolk after the game, the Irishman said: “It was awful. The manner in which we conceded the goals was embarrassing.
“I made changes to the back four and take my responsibility for that but it was very, very poor.
“They are a good side. He’s (Nigel Pearson) built a good squad and a good team there, but that shouldn’t happen to us.”
David Nugent scored two of the goals and it was the perfect way for the Foxes to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Pearson’s re-appointment at the King Power Stadium.
They stay firmly in the play-offs but for Ipswich, a long struggle awaits for McCarthy this season.
Leeds lose again
Another club in complete freefall at the moment is Leeds United.
The Yorkshire side slumped to another defeat in a bad-tempered match with Millwall on Sunday afternoon, going down 1-0.
Chris Wood nodded home the only goal of the game, after Luke Varney had been sent off early in the second half for the visitors for violent conduct.
Unsurprisingly, the outspoken Neil Warnock totally disagreed with referee Mark Halsey’s decision to send Varney off.
He told Sky Sports: “I thought it was harsh. He’s put his hands up but he (Varney) hasn’t gone in with his elbow like Mark Halsey has said he has.
“If you see it again, he’s elbowed him on the chin and the kid (Adam Smith) goes down like he has been pole axed in the head.
“I’m disappointed at an experienced referee like that. It’s getting soft now, the game, I think.”
Rather than complaining about referees every single week, Warnock needs to motivate his players and urge them to concentrate more.
They haven’t won any games since the draw at Hillsborough in mid-October and have dropped down to 18th in the table.
Peterborough back on the bottom
Peterborough are back on the bottom of the Championship table following a 4-1 home defeat in the teatime kick-off on Saturday to Blackburn Rovers.
Jordan Rhodes was in sparkling form again, scoring a hat-trick to help Henning Berg record his first victory as Rovers boss.
Bristol City managed to avoid an unwanted club record of eight successive defeats but still can’t keep a clean sheet.
Thomas Ince converted a 90th minute penalty to earn Blackpool a hard-fought point in a 1-1 stalemate at Ashton Gate.
Another manager unhappy with a referee at the weekend was Michael Appleton of Blackpool.
The new gaffer at Bloomfield Road was unimpressed with referee Gavin Ward for giving the home side a penalty, converted by Steve Davies.
He said: “To say it was soft is being kind. The ref took four or five seconds to make up his mind and seemed set to award a goal kick before the home fans reacted.
“It was frustrating to fall behind because we had squandered several great opportunities to score but the spirit the lads showed to fight back was great.”
Sheffield Wednesday celebrated ‘Jose Semedo day’ at the City Ground but it was to no avail once again.
A comical own goal from Miguel Llera gave Forest all the points in a 1-0 victory.
Cardiff triumph in the battle at the top
Cardiff replaced Middlesbrough in second place in the table after defeating Boro 1-0 at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Matthew Connolly’s header won it for the Welsh side as they chalked up their ninth win in a row at home.
Malky Mackay’s side remain two points behind Crystal Palace, who extended their winning run with a comfortable 3-0 home success over Derby County.
There was a lot of attention on Wilfried Zaha after his brief England cameo in Sweden but Glenn Murray stole the show.
He scored another two goals to help Palace stretch their unbeaten run in the league to 14 games.
A fantastic first half performance from Hull helped them to a 3-2 victory away at Birmingham.
Steve Bruce’s side have been quietly going about their business this season and now sit fourth in the table, just one point behind Middlesbrough.
Brighton swapped places in the table with Huddersfield after recording a fine 2-1 away win at the John Smith’s Stadium.
Returning Will Buckley scored twice for Albion and Gus Poyet will be pleased to see his side finally scoring some goals.
With 17 games gone, the Championship is starting to take shape and those at the bottom need to get results and quickly.
NPOWER CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
Saturday, 17 November
Birmingham City 2-3 Hull City
Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Barnsley
Bristol City 1-1 Blackpool
Burnley 0-1 Charlton Athletic
Cardiff City 1-0 Middlesbrough
Crystal Palace 3-0 Derby County
Huddersfield Town 1-2 Brighton
Leicester City 6-0 Ipswich Town
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday
Peterborough United 1-4 Blackburn Rovers
Watford 2-1 Wolves
Sunday, 18 November
Millwall 1-0 Leeds United
By Simon Wright – Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88
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