Wycombe Wanderers manager Matt Bloomfield has reflected on his side’s 4-0 away defeat away at Ipswich Town.
Strikes from George Hirst, Conor Chaplin, Wes Burns and a Freddie Ladapo penalty succumbed the Chairboys to their fourth game without a win, as they now sit five points off the top six, sitting in eighth place.
It was also the first time the club had conceded four goals in a league game this season.
Two rare positives on what has been an awful day for the Chairboys.
— James Richings (@James_BFP) April 7, 2023
Dom Gape is back after a four-month absence with injury, whilst Christie Ward makes his Football League debut.
🟦 4-0 🟥#ITFC #Chairboys https://t.co/9YGssKJz20
Speaking on the result, Bloomfield said: “It’s been a difficult day.
READ MORE: Ipswich Town vs Wycombe Wanderers Preview: Everything you need to know
“They have been on a really good run and I thought some of the football they played was fantastic, but today has been a really tough day for us.
“We needed to strike the right balance between trying to contain Ipswich whilst showing what we can do.
“We had things that we wanted to do that we could have done slightly better, and at times, we should have done better.
“Unfortunately, we have run into a very good team.
“The recruiting they did was near on perfect.
FT: Ipswich Town 4-0 Wycombe Wanderers.
— James Richings (@James_BFP) April 7, 2023
A day to forget.
Ipswich will go up, no doubt about that, but it was the lack of intensity from Wycombe which was surprising.
Barely laid a glove on the Tractor Boys. #Chairboyshttps://t.co/vFShifZfW9
“They were lacking goals so they went out and strengthened and it is showing.
“They are a very good team and they want to be fighting at the top of the table, so it’s important to not focus on what the opposition has done, but this is a tough day.”
One of the few positives in what was a tough Good Friday afternoon for the club was the return of Dominic Gape.
READ MORE: Live updates at Portman Road: Ipswich Town 4-0 Wycombe Wanderers
The central midfielder came on as an 87th-minute substitute for Josh Scowen in the loss at Portman Road, which was his first appearance of 2023.
Coincidentally, his previous outing was in the 1-0 win over Ipswich back in December at Adams Park.
He added: “Dominic has had a really tough time with injuries, a really tough time.
“So it’s great to see him come back and that point in the game, we had an eye on the fixture against Forest Green on Monday to try and protect some players.”
Finally, the loss in Suffolk also saw development striker Christie Ward make his Football League debut.
Two rare positives on what has been an awful day for the Chairboys.
— James Richings (@James_BFP) April 7, 2023
Dom Gape is back after a four-month absence with injury, whilst Christie Ward makes his Football League debut.
🟦 4-0 🟥#ITFC #Chairboys https://t.co/9YGssKJz20
READ MORE: 'We’ve got nothing to fear' - Wycombe's Jack Grimmer looks ahead to Ipswich test
The forward joined the Chairboys from Non League Brockenhurst in the summer and had spent the last few months on loan at Hungerford Town.
He concluded: “Christie Ward had a fleeting performance but it wasn’t a token gesture.
“He has been impressing us in training and we’ve been itching to get him on since we’ve been back.
“This is a proud moment for him to get his first Football League appearance, so I’m please about that.”
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