Dara O’Shea Reflects on Ipswich Town's Defeat at Manchester United

Dara O’Shea admitted Ipswich Town’s 5-2 defeat at Manchester United felt like two different matches squeezed into one bruising afternoon.

The Ipswich captain, speaking to BBC Radio Suffolk, said the visitors went in at the break believing they were on top despite trailing.

“We came in at half-time in a good place,” he said. “We were disappointed with conceding a goal, but it's a mistake and these things happen. We felt like we were the better team and that we were more dangerous.”

That optimism did not survive the second half.

United pulled away after the interval, and O’Shea pointed to the hosts’ second goal as a turning point, and a deeply frustrating one.

“Second half is a different story. We were extremely unlucky with the second goal. I don't really understand the ruling, or how it counts, but that's football,” he said.

VAR again sat at the heart of Ipswich’s frustration. The technology has already stung them this season; this felt like another shove in the same direction.

“We've been in these situations before. VAR hasn't been our friend before and it might be the same again,” O’Shea added.

He refused to hide behind it, though. The defender stressed that Ipswich have to handle those setbacks better in real time, not in the post-match interviews.

“We've got to crack on with it and react better in those moments,” he said. “There will be moments where things don't go our way, so it's a lesson and we've got to learn.”

The scoreline will sting. How quickly Ipswich absorb that lesson will decide how long it lingers.