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

Ipswich Town captain Dara O'Shea cut a frustrated but defiant figure after their 5-2 defeat at Manchester United, calling it "very much" a game of two halves.

O'Shea felt Ipswich had gone toe to toe with United before the break and walked off at half-time believing they were on top.

"We came in at half-time in a good place," he told BBC Radio Suffolk. "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."

The mood changed sharply after the restart. United pulled away, helped by a controversial second goal that left the Ipswich skipper baffled and angry.

"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.

The sense of grievance ran deeper than one incident. O'Shea pointed to a wider pattern in their recent experiences with technology.

"We've been in these situations before. VAR hasn't been our friend before and it might be the same again."

He refused, though, to let the officiating dominate the post-match inquest. For O'Shea, the real test comes in how Ipswich respond.

"We've got to crack on with it and react better in those moments.

"There will be moments where things don't go our way, so it's a lesson and we've got to learn."

Ipswich leave Old Trafford stung by the scoreline, convinced by their first-half display, and with their captain demanding they turn frustration into fuel for what comes next.