Azor Matusiwa had an impressive game in midfield.(Image: Steve Waller)

COMPETITIVE FIRST HALF

Sheffield United are suffering from quite the play-off hangover. That’s six straight defeats for them in all competitions at the start of this season.

The beleaguered Blades completely went to pieces once Town made it 2-0 early in the second half, but it shouldn’t be forgotten that the first half was actually really competitive.

Sheffield United pressed well, had some good spells of possession, repeatedly got into good positions and forced several corners.

The big question, come the interval, was whether Ipswich could avoid a repeat of the Derby game by being more ruthless at both ends. The answer, thankfully, was an emphatic yes.

Jaden Philogene fires in his hat-trick goal.(Image: Steve Waller)

HAT-TRICK HERO

It’s not been an easy start to life at Ipswich for Jaden Philogene.

He arrived with a big price tag – £20m – from Aston Villa in January, but the odds were stacked against him being able to hit the ground running.

One, he’d hardly played in the first half of the season. Two, his first two games were against Man City and Liverpool. Three, an injury to Wes Burns meant he had to play out of position, on the right wing, for a struggling side.

The general consensus, after his season ended with a knee injury at Chelsea, was that the England U21 international looked a lightweight and had plenty of convincing to do.

This impressive hat-trick display will, therefore, have done his confidence the world of good and gone a long way to winning a lot of doubters over.

The 23-year-old had recent Blues loanee Ben Godfrey on toast. Time and time again he produced a sharp first touch before darting inside. All three goals were fine strikes – the first rifled low into the bottom corner, the second a well-struck effort after drifting run across the edge of the box and the third a firm strike into the top corner after some neat footwork.

As importantly, he worked hard off the ball and managed to dovetail with left-back Leif Davis rather than get in his way.

Jack Clarke has now scored two goals in two games as a substitute.(Image: Steve Waller)

BENCH BOOST

When Town were last promoted, having subs with like-for-like quality was a major factor. Kieran McKenna would regularly change his entire front four in games to turn games around or kill them off. Then, in the Premier League, the boot was often on the other foot.

The Blues went into this campaign light in several areas, but that late flurry of signings before the transfer window shut has left Kieran McKenna with real strength in depth.

Kasey McAteer, Chuba Akpom, Philogene and George Hirst started as the front four in this one. Then Sindre Walle Egeli, Sammie Szmodics, Jack Clarke and Ivan Azon replaced them.

An £11.5m winger replaced by a £17.5m one. One Championship Golden Boot winner replaced by another. A £20m hat-trick hero tapping out for a £15m winger who has starred at this level. A Scotland striker making way for someone who Valencia coveted this summer.

All came on with a fire in their bellies. Clarke could have felt sorry for himself after seeing Philogene claim the match ball from his favoured position, but he charged about and got his rewards when bagging the fifth goal.

McKenna has an embarrassment of riches at this level, particularly in attack. Subs are going to have just as big a role as the starters.

Darnell Furlong, pictured on his Ipswich Town debut.(Image: Ross Halls)

COMING TOGETHER

Darnell Furlong made his debut. He might need some time to get up to speed from a patterns of play and possession perspective, but comes ready-made from a defensive point of view. I see the experienced ex-West Brom man as being able to do the reliable Janoi Donacien/Axel Tuanzebe tucked in right-back role in this team. He won the ball ahead of Philogene’s hat-trick goal and almost scored himself with a cheeky backheel attempt at a corner.

Azor Matusiwa just keeps getting better in every game. Philogene will rightly get the headlines, but the Dutch midfielder was outstanding. Time and time again he read danger, calmly won the ball with perfectly-timed standing tackles and then played forwards. It was his turnover that led to goal number five.

Chuba Akpom grafted on his first start and will be better for those minutes in the legs. Kasey McAteer took another step forwards in his second start, providing a Wes Burn-type outlet wide right.

Walle Egeli and Nunez both showed plenty of quality and confidence when they came on too. The former has clearly got some slick stepovers and a power shot on him. The latter oozes technical quality from set-pieces and open play.

George Hirt celebrates after scoring his first goal from open play this season.(Image: Steve Waller)

EXCITING THOUGHT

One debut and one full debut from the start. Two more debuts from the bench. Two more making only their second start since signing this summer.

McKenna insisted in his pre-match press conference that it’s going to take time for his new-look team to gel and that ‘the reality is I don’t think we’ll be at our maximum potential on Friday night’.

If this is what they can do now then that’s very exciting indeed.

It was important not to overreact after a winless four-game start given there were some awkward fixtures and style clashes at a time when the squad was still being built.

And it’s also important now not to get too carried away by a comprehensive win against a team in a really challenging moment.

Still, this performance and result was just what the doctor ordered. A first win of the campaign. A first home league win of 2025.

The narrative can now switch. Leeds were the last team to win a Championship fixture at Portman Road. McKenna’s men are now undefeated in 23 successive second-tier home games.

It was important that any understandable anxiety over change was nipped in the bud. Bonds and belief can hopefully now quickly grow.