Blues boss Paul Jewell felt his side deserved to have beaten bogey side Watford after the Hornets came from behind to claim a 2-1 victory at Portman Road. The loss means Town’s winless streak against the visitors stretches to 14 games and their run of defeats is up to seven.
Jewell said: "We should have had three points. On Tuesday we were abject, but today you could see the determination — we just didn’t have any luck.
"I’m not one for blaming luck, I never have been, but for their first goal [John] Eustace goes to lay it back, it sticks under his foot, the little ricochet goes their way and they go on to get a penalty.
"We should have dealt with their second goal, but we’ve had balls flash across their box, we’ve had shots saved, we’ve done everything but score another goal.
"I’m hugely disappointed to lose seven games in a row, but effort-wise I can’t question the players today.”
Jewell said there were few arguments from his players about the penalty: "There were no complaints from our side.
"I didn’t have a great view from where we were, but Sonko didn’t complain. You’re not the first person to ask me that, someone else said it didn’t look a penalty but the lads didn’t complain.”
Jewell admitted his 21st-placed side are now in a relegation battle: "No doubt about it, we are. After 19 games we’re fourth bottom of the league, so of course we’re in a relegation battle.
"But I just saw that two weeks ago Burnley were fourth bottom, now they’re 10th, so it can change quickly, but it’s seven games on the bounce now and I’m aware of that more than anybody.
"It was a day to stand up and be counted," he added."There was no hiding place for any of us. The only thing that went against us today was the result.
"Maybe I see it wrong, but I think I’m an honest enough manager to know when we’ve been outplayed and been bad and today I think we were dead unlucky.”
Watford manager Sean Dyche was pleased to grab the three points: "With Ipswich’s unfortunate run you don’t want to be the team they turn over because that run will end at some point.
"We knew it would be a tough game and we knew we’d have to go all the way through the game whatever the ref played minutes-wise, and we didn’t.
"It wasn’t always silky from us, it wasn’t always our best performance but the desire of the players and the work ethic of the players was fantastic, I thought.”