admin“He’s a DISASTER to our defense and unstoppable”- Sheffield United boss Ruben Selles pays tribute to Town Player as he revealed how they try to stop him but was unstoppable after Ipswich Town’s 5-0 dismantling of Sheffield United. Ruben Selles was powerless to watch his side crumble once again.
Philogene Hat-Trick Sinks Sheffield United as Selles Watches On
As Jaden Philogene smashed home his third goal of the evening—completing a stunning hat-trick in Ipswich Town’s emphatic 5-0 rout of Sheffield United—Ruben Selles could do little more than watch as his team fell apart once again.
It marked a sixth consecutive defeat in all competitions for the Blades.
Having already made their worst-ever start to a Championship campaign—four straight league losses for the first time since the 1995/96 season—Sheffield United’s situation only worsened.
Philogene lit up Portman Road with two clinical left-footed strikes followed by a thunderous finish on his right, leaving Ipswich fans in raptures and Selles teetering on the edge. A 5-0 loss. Not even Houdini would have a trick to escape this one.
Before George Hirst and Jack Clarke piled on further misery, Philogene had already matched the total number of goals he’d scored in his last 15 appearances for the Tractor Boys—within just 48 minutes.
Selles Admits Struggles Against Unstoppable Philogene
After the match, a visibly frustrated Selles conceded his team simply couldn’t cope with the former Aston Villa, Stoke, Cardiff, and Hull winger, who was virtually unplayable on the night.
“He did an excellent job,” Selles admitted. “And we obviously struggled to stop him.”
Meanwhile, Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna was full of praise for Philogene, pleased to see the winger’s efforts in training translate into a dazzling performance on the pitch.
The victory—Ipswich’s first of the season—lifts the pre-season title favourites into the top half of the table. Former Sheffield United midfielder Lee Hendrie predicted the performance would send shockwaves through the Championship, while United may already find themselves in damage control mode.
Selles Explains Key Omissions, Reflects on Collapse
Speaking to The Star, Selles defended his decision to omit star striker Tyrese Campbell and influential midfielder Gus Hamer from the starting lineup, lamenting that a promising first-half performance was ultimately undone.
“It was a very tough evening,” he said. “We came here with the intention to be dominant, to be on the front foot. I think in the first half, we showed glimpses of the team we want to be. We pressed well and put them under pressure.
“The first goal came from a deflection 70 metres away from goal—that’s the kind of moment that’s been going against us all season. Still, we stayed competitive and started the second half with the same intent. But that second goal changed everything.”
He continued: “We can talk about changes in personnel and shape, but I believe we were competitive in the first half. After the second goal, though, the team became unrecognisable. We lost intensity, we weren’t aggressive, and we failed to execute in the final third.”
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