But this is West Ham. Nothing is straightforward. Four minutes later Ipswich were level, as Liam Delap neatly turned Lucas Paqueta to shoot low.
West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola though should have done better to allow the ball to squirm past him and into the net at the near post.
Lopetegui’s side needed to cool things down after that hectic start, and gradually they began to regain a measure of control, as Muric foiled Bowen and then saved Mohammed Kudus’s shot.
West Ham’s defence struggled to contain Delap early on, but Ipswich’s shaky defence was always a problem, and Soucek was unlucky to see his shot deflected wide.
Jacob Greaves headed just wide as Ipswich threatened again, but Kudus hit the post with a header – and when Ipswich made an awful mess of the clearance, Soucek had the goal gaping, but Dara O’Shea managed to clear off the line.
Two minutes from half-time, West Ham broke through again, as Emerson’s fine run and cross saw Antonio thump his header against the bar. The ball bounced down and out – and Kudus was first there to nod home.
Shortly after the break, Ipswich crumbled again.
Muric could not control a Ben Johnson back pass, and Antonio pounced but the goalkeeper managed to block. The ball though came out to Bowen, who cut in from the right and arrowed his shot into the far corner.
