'Outstanding talent' shows Premier League smarts

Four goals scored in an away win made Saturday feel like a return to familiar surroundings at Championship level for Ipswich, following a difficult season so far.

Last April, a 2-1 win at the CBS Arena, in the penultimate game of the season, saw Ipswich move to within a point of promotion. Saturday was never going to reach anywhere near those heights, but there was still much positivity to take away.

The match was a stark reminder at the differences in levels between the Championship and the Premier League. Ipswich did not have to get into top gear to win and while Coventry had moments, the game was a relatively comfortable victory.

The main reason for optimism, other than the four-goal haul, was the performance put in by Ipswich's reserve players against a strong Coventry side.

Premier League money has allowed Town to hoover up the outstanding talent from last year's Championship and players who have been thrown into a top-flight relegation battle were able to show their quality when performing back at a more familiar level.

The standout player at the weekend was Jack Clarke, a £15m summer signing from Sunderland after 15 goals and four assists last year.

Clarke has been involved in some sliding doors moments so far this season. There was a penalty overturned by VAR against Everton and a key moment when he hit a post in the dying moments at Craven Cottage, with the ball bouncing straight back into play and Fulham immediately scoring a late equaliser.

Clarke's clever feet and calm finishing saw him leave Coventry with two goals and an assist. His off-the-ball work was also excellent in a performance which will hopefully give him confidence after a difficult campaign so far.

Ipswich are into the FA Cup fifth round for the first time since 2007. With some big sides already out of the competition, could a cup run be on the cards?

Find more from Seb Brown at the Blue Monday Podcast