Boss Jim Magilton felt his side failed to make the best of their periods of dominance in Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Crystal Palace. The Town manager also confirmed that Alan Lee will be fined after being booked for dissent.

Magilton said: “We dominated possession for large parts of the game and had our chances, but I didn't feel we were brave enough on the ball.

"We didn't show the necessary desire and quality on occasions to take advantage, and that is very disappointing.

"Palace didn't create much but we never exploited that and that has left everyone in the dressing room feeling flat.

"We had chances in the first half and, when you are on top, you have to take them. Their crowd was ready for turning and if we'd scored then, that would have added to that but we switched off at a set-piece and paid the price again.

"We have been defending much better lately so that was disappointing to lose a goal in that way and going two down, it was always going to be hard from there."

Magilton was angry with Alan Lee for picking up his 10th yellow card of the season, which will see the Irishman miss the next two games: "It was a silly booking and Alan will be fined for it."

The Town boss in particular now has problems for the Watford FA Cup match with Jon Walters cup-tied.

Crystal Palace manager Peter Taylor is eyeing a top six finish: "Even though we are still 10 points away from the play-offs, I know that with the group of players I have in the changing room, if they were to get some consecutive wins, the confidence would build.

"We are very capable of putting in a run of good results, which we have to do after the first half of the season.

"I was delighted for Paul Ifill to get his first goal for the club and he looked a threat during the whole of the second half. He needs to get match fit and the 90 minutes today will have done him the power of good.

"We didn't have the best of starts but kept going and scored the goal to get us on our way and I thought we were very professional in the manner we played after we had taken the lead."

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls