Town recorded their first double of the season with a form book-shredding 5-1 victory over Championship leaders West Ham at Portman Road. Michael Chopra opened the scoring in the third minute, Daryl Murphy adding the second in a frantic period before the break in which Jack Collison pulled one back for the Hammers and Lee Martin made it 3-1 from the spot. In the second half, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas netted the night’s best goal, a low 35-yard strike which beat Robert Green off his post, then added the fifth in the final moments.
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Midfielder Kevin Bru has been ruled out of Saturday’s game at Charlton and the home match against Leeds United the following week. Central defender Christophe Berra is suspended for the game at the Valley, but better news is that Stephen Hunt is fit after a hamstring problem and manager Mick McCarthy is “confident” that left-back Tyrone Mings will also be OK.
TWTD understands that Leeds striker or winger Noel Hunt is expected at Town on Thursday morning to complete the formalities on a loan deal through to January, the clubs having agreed terms. The switch is with a view to a permanent move.
Boss Mick McCarthy is remaining tight-lipped on whether Bartosz Bialkowski or Dean Gerken will start in goal for the Blues at AFC Bournemouth on Saturday. Town are largely free of injury, but McCarthy says on-loan Crystal Palace man Jonny Williams might have played the last game of his spell at Portman Road.