IT comes to something when a bag of crisps is the highlight of a trip to Portman Road.

Sadly, however, that was the damning verdict of my two boys after Saturday’s defeat against QPR.

Their half-time snack – wolfed in a handful of seconds – beat 90 dismal minutes against the Hoops. And I can see why.

Both boys were there with my wife and their grandad (I was in the press box), taking advantage of the club’s generous ticket promotion.

For those that don’t know, season-ticket holders had the opportunity to buy heavily discounted tickets for family and friends. The boys’ tickets only cost £1.

Don’t get me wrong. It was a well-intentioned, appreciated gesture and on the day, in terms of the attendance, it paid handsome dividends.

The crowd was 18,000+ – 5,000 more than for the previous home game, against Middlesbrough.

So what a crying shame, and wasted opportunity, that the match went so disastrously wrong - a PR exercise that backfired spectacularly and the worst possible advert for Ipswich and Championship football.

Both my boys love Town.

Sadly, however, neither will be rushing back anytime soon.

One wearily conceded afterwards that he was ‘losing interest’, resigned to the struggle and lack of entertainment. The other apparently wanted to leave at half-time.

Quite frankly, I know how he felt and I’m sure many other ‘floating’ fans – non-regulars who took advantage of the ticket promotion – will think twice before returning.

I have to say it was truly awful – the worst I’ve seen this season, certainly at home, although I fortunately missed the horror show at Hull City. By all accounts, that was just as bad.

Saturday’s game was a microcosm of the season so far, with a dearth of quality at both ends.

QPR’s first goal typified the defensive frailties, stemming from a harmless-looking corner that should have been either cleared or punched away by Dean Gerken.

At the other end, Grant Ward’s missed chance summed up the lack of threat as he bundled the only serious chance hopelessly wide.

I’ve gone from frustration and exasperation to desperation, because I genuinely fear for this side.

On current form, they’re just not good enough and if you can’t keep clean sheets, while packing so little punch up front, your chances of success hover somewhere between nil and zero.

Paul Hurst was asked afterwards if he considers his team to be in a relegation battle.

Sadly, there’s absolutely no doubt about that.

Town are in the thick of one and while there’s plenty of time and points to play for, it’s going to take something momentous to revive their fortunes.

Right now, I just can’t see it happening.

What are the options within the squad?

You could point to the impending returns of Emyr Huws and Teddy Bishop. Young Jack Lankester looked bright when he came on as a late substitute on Saturday, too.

It comes to something, though, when I’m pinning my hopes on two injury-plagued midfielders and an 18-year-old.

Still, that’s where we’re at with the current crop and Hurst has to pull some rabbits out of the hat when the transfer window reopens in January.

It’s going to take the performance of the season to get something at Leeds United on Wednesday and then Town face Millwall, Preston and Reading.

Three sides languishing in the bottom six and three sides who are there to be beaten (although I said that before the QPR game).

The Preston match is back at Portman Road on November 3 and it’ll be interesting to see what the attendance is. My guess would be something in the region of 13,500.

That’s a shame and will obviously detract from the atmosphere and sense of occasion.

But while I hate to say this, after another weekend of bitter disappointment and anti-climax, I can’t blame anyone for staying away.