We’re all responsible including past bosses, says Adams

The demoralising loss – which leaves the Blades four points adrift of safety after Crystal Palace edged out Middlesbrough 1-0 – left Adams still searching for his first win after seven games in charge.

Damien Delaney and David Norris put the Tractor Boys 2-0 up before Grant Leadbitter missed an 82nd-minute penalty.

Substitute Connor Wickham added the third in the 87th minute with a simple finish following a mazy run.

It was a miserable afternoon for the Blades who finished the game with nine men following the dismissals of Rob Kozluk and Lee Williamson.

Adams said: “It was very disappointing and hard for me to think of any positives.

“We had a problem in the final third. We either didn’t deliver the right ball or the players’ confidence was so fragile that they were setting others up rather than pulling the trigger themselves.

“Ipswich’s first two goals were killers as both came from set-pieces. They were both avoidable.

“The two sendings-off were ridiculous, from our point of view. Lee Williamson didn’t need to get involved and I can’t condone what he did. It was the same with Rob (Kozluk). He was frustrated because of the tackle on him, which wasn’t a particularly nice one.

“The game was already over by then, though.

“We all need to take collective responsibility (for the club’s league position).

“I’ve only been here a month but at this moment in time I’m not doing a particularly good job. But every manager and every player who has played here this season needs to take responsibility.

“We have to look at the personnel and whether we need reinforcements, which I think we do.”

It was a bad day for all three of South Yorkshire’s Championship clubs, with the Blades being joined by Barnsley and Doncaster Rovers in defeat on their travels.

The Tykes were hammered 4-1 by Leicester City while a stoppage-time goal from Kevin Lisbie saw Rovers beaten 1-0 at Millwall.

The £2.5m double transfer for Matty Fryatt and Aaron Mclean looks money well spent after the strike duo shared all fives goals in Hull City’s 5-2 defeat of neighbours Scunthorpe United.

Fryatt’s hat-trick made it six goals in six games since his £1.5m transfer from Leicester and Aaron Mclean notched his first goals for his new club following his £1m arrival from Peterborough in January.

“I am delighted for Aaron because he has been so unlucky not to get on the score sheet before,” said Tigers boss Nigel Pearson.

“We all know the value he brings to our team in the dressing room and the fans, too, can see how hard he has been working.

“As for Matty he’s been on fire again, that is why we wanted to bring him here from Leicester.”

Blades and Barnsley match reports: Page 3.

Doncaster Rovers and Hull City match reports: Page 4.