Hammers boss warns players could be dropped after Ipswich rout (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

West Ham United boss fumes over Ipswich rout

4:07pm Wednesday 1st February 2012 in News By Simon Mail

West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce has warned his players their place in the team are in jeopardy afer being thrashed by Ipswich Town.

The Championship leaders suffered their heaviest defeat of the season and Allardyce admitted he did not see the result coming.

The former Blackburn Rovers manager said: “I’m bitterly disappointed. It’s something that I didn’t expect.

"Most of these players have put their position in jeopardy after such a poor performance. I didn't expect it.

"Maybe I'll consider giving them another chance to put it right like we normally have but I just didn't expect to come here tonight and see my team play so poorly.

“I didn’t expect us to put on such a poor performance defensively. It’s been our ultimate strength particularly away from home this season.

“As a defensive unit we just disintegrated in the first half allowing Ipswich, who came out the blocks quicker than we did, to exploit the gaping holes we left in our defensive back four.

“When you do that against anybody, home or away, then you’ll get punished and Ipswich punished us to the full and deservedly so."