Alan Pardew slams Ipswich Town's 'insipid' display against Arsenal

The Blues went 2-0 down inside the opening half hour, were reduced to 10 men when Leif Davis was sent off and, after a glorified training session of a second half, twice switched off at short corners late on.

Seven home defeats on the spin means Town's relegation back to Championship will almost certainly be confirmed at Newcastle on Saturday.

"I was incensed, a little bit, watching Ipswich because I thought it was an insipid display from them, insipid football," fumed ex-West Ham and Crystal Palace boss Pardew, speaking on talkSPORT.

"Mathematically they're not down, they've still got a chance, so therefore, why not, for all that paying public at Ipswich today...

"I was looking at that game thinking 'my goodness me'. The set-up of that team... It was nothing to do with the players by the way. I think they defended for their might. I just think the tactics were wrong, the way they approached the game. They had a guy sent off, which obviously made them even more defensive.

"It was just so easy for Arsenal and I don't think that's a display that reflects very well on the manager. I really don't, I'm afraid."

MORE: Stuart Watson's verdict on Town's 4-0 home loss to Arsenal

Back-to-back promotions saw Ipswich return to the top flight following a 22 year absence. A near £150m transfer spend helped make the team competitive in a large number of matches, but that's not been converted into results often enough.

Town have claimed 21 points from 33 games and registered just one win on home soil, against Chelsea in late December.

"There were games where they were at home and I thought 'Ipswich are going to win that'," said Pardew.

"I remember the Nottingham Forest game in particular. I was thinking 'that's a game I think they should win'. Put them under pressure. It's a team who are desperate for a win to stay in the Champions League position, but then of course Nottingham Forest run out winners (4-2).

"Every time I looked, they (Ipswich) had lost again, lost again. I watched the whole game today and I was really disappointed with them."

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