Town boss Joe Royle said that Dean Bowditch's winner was reminiscent of Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier after watching his side defeat Gillingham 2-1 at Portman Road. Bowditch struck Town's second goal straight after the break, curling the ball into the top corner of Steve Banks's net.

Royle said: "He scored an outstanding goal and he meant it too. I am not going to compare him to Matt Le Tissier but it was the kind of goal Matt would have scored."

The Town manager felt his side ought to have won more comfortably despite a disappointing first half: "In the second half we could have had three or four goals as we hit the post and missed chances.

"Before the interval we gave the ball away too freely. I was angry at half-time and my players were angry because they knew they hadn't played and needed to do better.

"We operated a 4-3-3 system because we had only three available midfield players. We need replacements sooner than later because when you look at our bench it seems a bit thin.

"Now we have scored four 2-1 victories but this one counted. The others were in friendlies.

"The goal we conceded was from the Ipswich Town horror book of defending, but we can work on that. Kevin Horlock gave us something we have not had before in midfield and he passes the ball exceptionally well."

Gillingham player-manager Andy Hessenthaler couldn't play in the game as he is suspended and is also subject to a touchline ban at present. He missed Dean Bowditch's goal but was unhappy with his defence: "I am told the goal the lad scored was fantastic but by all accounts it was another sloppy one so far as we were concerned. That's just like us.

"The first goal we conceded was also sloppy from a set-piece. The lad who was meant to be marking Richard Naylor admitted he lost concentration. If you lose concentration against good sides you get punished.

"I thought we deserved something out of the game because we more than matched Ipswich, we created as many chances as they did. I was pleased with the performance but not with the goals we conceded.

"Pundits say we are one of the favourites to go down but I am convinced we can have a good season. Darren Byfield is always going to score goals, and we create chances. There were lots of positives but there were negatives as well."

Hessenthaler admitted that former Canary Iwan Roberts was less than composed at the start of the game when he caught Drissa Diallo with an elbow: "We had to calm Iwan down a bit because he was really fired up but he did well for us until he tired at the end."

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