Ipswich 4 Barnsley 2: Reds can mind the gap, says Paul Heckingbottom

After defeat to Barnsley-born Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy’s side, he said: “You have seen the difference there.

“There were lots of positives we can take from the game when we review it, but they have had six shots and scored four times.

“The message in the dressing room is that we have to learn from that, both in terms of the goals we conceded and the clinical nature of Ipswich.

“The goals we conceded were disappointing, we were slow to get out and stop shots, and we wouldn’t normally concede like that. I can guarantee we won’t as the season goes on.

“But there were positives. The players know they can cope at this level and that they belong here.”

Grant Ward scored a remarkable hat-trick on his debut. The 21-year-old winger from Spurs took just 39 seconds to open the scoring with his first touch after being introduced by McCarthy at half-time.

After Conor Hourihane equalised, Ward restored Ipswich’s lead before David McGoldrick made it three from the penalty spot. Marley Watkins struck with a strong header in the 74th minute, but Ward made the points safe with a low shot from the edge of the area with six minutes remaining.

Ipswich Town: Bialkowski, Chambers, Webster, Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Bru (Grant 46), Bishop (Grant Ward 46), Sears, McGoldrick (Pitman 81), Murphy. Unused substitutes: Gerken, Smith, Digby, Douglas.

Barnsley: Davies, Yiadom, Roberts, Mawson, White, Kent (Payne 73), Scowen, Hourihane, Hammill, Bradshaw (Moncur 73), Winnall (Watkins 4). Unused substitutes: Bree, Lee, Nyatanga, Townsend.

Referee: K Stroud (Hampshire).

Man of the match: Grant Ward.