Caretaker-boss Bryan Klug said Town’s game plan went out of the window after Grant Ward’s sending off three minutes before the break, a decision with which he had no complaints.
"Up until then I’m not saying we were the better team but I thought we were in the game against a very good team,” Klug said.
"We had a plan for the game and then when that happens it goes out the window, I’m afraid.
"It was right in front of us. I don’t think there was any malice in the challenge but he did catch him high and it gives the referee a chance to do that, so I’ve no real complaints about it really.
"But, like I say, there’s no malice in the challenge and it did look like he was hurt, although I don’t think he was, but that’s no criticism of him. It was not even rash, I just think Grant didn’t see him.”
It made what was already a difficult ask even harder for the Blues, who had already gone a goal behind at that stage.
"As it turned out it made it impossible,” Klug reflected. "We tried different ways of trying to get something out of the game and obviously that left us a bit open and they’ve got some fantastic players, who were able to capitalise and in the end we were well beaten.
"But it’s not through lack of effort. As I said to the lads down there, we made some uncharacteristic mistakes for that group in the way we gave them the ball in certain areas, but they’re a good team.”
Klug says he fully expects to remain in charge for the final two matches: "Unless the owner can find somebody else. I’m expecting to be but I’d be delighted if I’m not!”
The 57-year-old academy head of coaching and player development reiterated that he has no intention of applying for the role on a permanent basis.
"That’s always been well-known,” he said. "That’s not for me, I’m sure the owner’s going to find somebody who can lead this club.”
Klug had praise for the crowd, at 20,034 Portman Road’s second highest attendance this season after the Norwich derby, for staying behind his side despite the margin of Villa’s victory.
"I can’t speak highly enough of them,” he said. "I think they recognised that the team were still putting the effort in, we weren’t getting too close to certain people, but we were putting effort in
"That was one of the things that was important to me and all I can do is really, really thank the people who came along today and supported the club.
"It was my biggest nightmare of a result, obviously, but I felt it was what Ipswich Town is about really, so all I can do is thank them.”
Villa’s assistant manager Colin Calderwood felt Ward’s dismissal played a significant part in the result but thought his side was getting on top by that stage anyway.
"It was a big moment,” he said. "I think we’d gained ascendency with the goal and then that certainly made it easier for us with them with 10 men.
"But we were exerting a bit more control and a bit more composure and I think the work that happened in the first half contributed to the openings in the second.
"It’s a red card because of the way it has to be interpreted today but there was no malice in it, no intent, so as much as you feel sorry for the boy, you’ve just got to accept it’s a red card. The referee had nowhere to go.”