MALCOLM Shotton whisked his players away from Portman Road last night after Oxford United crashed 5-2 to free-scoring Ipswich.

It was United's worst defeat since Shotton took over and he got his players on to the team coach and away from the ground within half an hour of the final whistle, refusing to say a word.

He would not let his players talk to the media either and broke his silence only to say that they would be reporting back in this morning.

David Johnson hit a hat-trick as Ipswich scored five times for the third home match running.

But United made presents of four of the five goals with some appalling defensive errors and misunderstandings.

The game proved a nightmare for Phil Gilchrist, who had been in such good form over the past month, and for on-loan Steve Davis who returned after flu but still looked less than fully fit.

The worry for Shotton is that the poor performance might have eaten away at some players' confidence.

Defensively, the side were unrecognisable from the team which battled so well to earn a goalless draw at Bradford last Saturday.

The amount of travelling Oxford's players have had in the past month also appears to have taken its toll. Ipswich was the fourth long trip, after Nottingham, Sheffield and Bradford in the six games under Shotton.

United at least now have successive home matches to get back on track, and eight of their remaining 13 games are at the Manor.

Ipswich boss George Burley praised ex-Bury forward Johnson whose pace caused United big problems.

"I thought he was phenomenal," Burley said.

"Where do you go from 15 goals in three home performances? I was very pleased."

Burley also had a special word for goalkeeper Richard Wright, who returned to the field after getting an accidental kick in the face from United striker O'Neill Don-aldson in the second minute.

Wright needed nearly 20 stitches in his forehead and side of his head.

Kevin Francis put the U's ahead when Wright was off the field but once Ipswich were back to 11 men, there was no stopping them.

qON-LOAN Martin Aldridge scored on his debut for Southend as they beat Plymouth 3-0 last night.

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