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Joe: Changes Monday - Ipswich Town News

Boss Joe Royle admitted that the Blues weren't good enough in the 2-1 defeat to Brighton. The Town manager says he will make changes for Monday's game at Watford.

Royle said: "In the first half we were unlucky to be behind. The loss of Richard Naylor made a difference because he would have been marking tighter when they opened the scoring.

"In the second half we never got going until it was too late. It was a pivotal moment when they cleared off the line from Danny Haynes, but all round we were not good enough.

"The consolation was that the performance was better than the one we gave against Stoke last week.

"At Christmas people were tipping us to go down but then we had a great run and were flirting with the play-offs. Injuries have played a big part. I'm not making excuses but there have been reasons.

"I shall be making changes for the visit to Watford on Monday to freshen us up a bit. Until last month we dominated midfield in every game we played. That's not the case now.

"It's been a muddling season with too many forced changes but I want it to end high on hope."

Royle says that Naylor is a doubt for Monday's game at Watford: "Richard has taken a heavy knock on the side of his head and we will have to see how he is.

He is slightly concussed and didn't really know where he was so we had to take him off, but he came around in the dressing room.

"Chris Casement came in and did well and will be in contention for a place against Watford on Monday and we will certainly make changes in that game.

"Some of the players are looking a bit leggy at the moment, especially some of the youngsters.

"Vemund Brekke Skard will start at Watford for one. He will certainly be one of the fittest players on the pitch and has the ability to find a blue shirt with a pass."

Brighton manager Mark McGhee says that the signing of Gifton Noel-Williams has made a huge difference to his relegation haunted side: "We have only been beaten once in our last six games, so we are in a decent bit of form.

"It has stemmed from the arrival of Gifton Noel-Williams on loan. We had been looking all over the place for a centre forward and tried everything. Gifton looks like a centre forward, does the job of a centre forward and has made us a better team. It's not rocket science, but it's probably too late.

"We have unrealistic prospects of staying up but playing Sheffield Wednesday in our next match gives us a chance.

"Then we meet Wolves, who may be vulnerable before a home match with Stoke. If we play like we did today we can win all those final games.

"My job is to see the club into a new stadium in as high a division as possible and by spending as little money as we can by using young players and any we can secure by wheeling and dealing. I think that our supporters consider it a bit of a bonus our being in the Championship."

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