Ten-man Town will count themselves unlucky to have exited the FA Cup 1-0 at Watford. The Blues dominated the first half but had George O'Callaghan harshly sent off on 45, however Town, who hit the bar twice and had a goal ruled out continued to impress, but succumbed to an 87th minute sucker punch.

Skipper Jason De Vos failed to recover from his cracked metatarsal in time and missed out along with Richard Naylor (toe) and Fabian Wilnis (hamstring). That meant Alex Bruce was partnered by youngster Chris Casement at the centre of the defence.

As expected, Jim Magilton named a five-man midfield with stand-in skipper Sylvain Legwinski, Matt Richards and George O'Callaghan, making his first start, the central three with Gary Roberts and Jaime Peters wide, while Danny Haynes was the lone striker. Alan Lee and Owen Garvan were suspended and Jon Walters cup-tied.

Watford had the first chances of the game in front of a 4,500-strong Town support, Steve Kabba seeing an early strike deflect over. From Johan Cavalli's corner, Kabba headed wide. Soon after, Tommy Smith stabbed the ball goalwards, Kabba tried to add a final touch but Price was on hand to save at his feet.

But from there, the half was all Town, the Blues passing the ball around with ease and dominating the play.

Legwinski came close to putting his side in front in the 16th minute with a superb 30-yard effort which cannoned off the bar with keeper Richard Lee beaten. Two minutes later, an excellent move down the Town left involving Dan Harding and Gary Roberts led to Danny Haynes taking the ball on a few strides inside the area before hitting a shot into the sidenetting.

On 20 Matt Richards played in Haynes but the linesman's flag was raised. Town were on top on the field and off it with the huge following, the largest for a couple of seasons, winning the vocal battle on the terraces.

Jaime Peters shot wide, then George O'Callaghan saw an effort blocked and Haynes had a strike deflected wide as the Blues looked more likely to score than in the previous two games.

On 41 Dan Harding got his name in the referee's book for a foul, Steve Bennett angering the Town support for not having previously shown a card for a number of challenges from Watford players which seemed more worthy of cautions, most notably a shove on Alex Bruce as the Blues defended a corner.

Four minutes later, Mr Bennett was to antagonise the Blue Army far further. Danny Shittu and George O'Callaghan collided as they went for an aerial ball and as they untangled themselves, with no appeal or reaction from Shittu or any other Watford player, referee Bennett adjudged that the amazed Irishman had stamped on the former QPR man.

O'Callaghan was clearly upset and angered by the decision, which seemed at best harsh and at worst simply bizarre, and at the half-time whistle which followed several Town players surrounded the official.

The red card had ruined what had been a hugely impressive performance from the Blues with O'Callaghan, Matt Richards and Sylvain Legwinski running the game in midfield. Danny Haynes tireless and electric running giving the home defence problems.

Referee Bennett, who even prior to the red card had seemed somewhat generous to his hosts with a number of decisions, was booed by the Town support as he made his way back onto the field for the second period.

Watford started brightly, but the Blues quickly regained their confidence and Haynes hit a shot on the turn in the 47th minute which was saved. At the other end, Darius Henderson's downward header was half-cleared by Dan Harding and a subsequent effort was blocked for a corner. The ball was sent in to the box and Richards nodded Henderson's header off the line.

Jaime Peters hit a shot on the turn in the 50th minute which Lee did well to tip over. From Matt Richards's corner, Sylvain Legwinski's header lacked power.

The Blues momentarily thought they were in front in the 56th minute when Dan Harding's 25-yard strike hit the underside of the bar and was nodded into the net by Danny Haynes. However, a linesman's flag had been raised and the Hornets quickly got the game restarted while Haynes and Jaime Peters were still showing off their celebratory dance.

Just before the hour, Steve Kabba shot wide after an over-elaborate freekick after yet another questionable Bennett decision. Soon after, Henderson headed a good opportunity over the bar.

On 71 a Legwinski shot failed to curl inside the post, prior to Billy Clarke taking over from Danny Haynes, the young strikers being given standing ovations on and off the pitch respectively.

Three minutes later, Richards sent in a cross from the left and Clarke appeared to be pulled back by Shittu on the edge of the area but probably wouldn't have reached the ball in any case.

Kabba shot well wide for the Hornets, then Liam Trotter took over from Jaime Peters in midfield, the Canadian having received treatment for a knee injury a few minutes earlier. Referee Bennett personally escorted the winger off the field to prevent any time being wasted, something which did little to improve his standing amongst Town fans.

Shittu headed over the bar after a corner, prior to Lee saving a Billy Clarke curler, a defender getting to the loose ball ahead of Trotter. Gary Roberts was shown a yellow card for apparently time wasting.

Another controversial freekick led to Henderson again heading over, before Watford scored a goal their performance had hardly deserved. Dan Harding was caught too far forward and Tommy Smith crossed low into the box and Damien Francis stroked the ball into the net.

Town went looking for an equaliser but the all-action 10-man display was starting to take its toll, although Alex Bruce managed a run forward and shot over the Watford bar.

As the final whistle drew near, the Blue Army sang “1-0 to the referee” and given Town's complete dominance of the game up until the sending off, it was difficult to argue with that viewpoint.

Mr Bennett blew his last and Jim Magilton came on the field to make his point to the official and to hug each of his players in turn. The squad went to applaud the away following and ended up throwing shirts, boots and shin pads into the crowd.

A brave performance from a Town side which looked completely transformed from the team which was so dismal against Leicester last week. The midfield three of Sylvain Legwinski, Richards and O'Callaghan controlled the game completely before the red card.

But it wasn't just about passion, even after being reduced to 10 men, with some excellent football played and a Premiership club largely bettered, although on this display Watford look like they might struggle in the Championship.

Difficult to pick a man of the match with top showings throughout the side, but Matt Richards's end-to-end, box-to-box lungbuster of a performance just about nicks it, the midfield appearing to have a better balance with the former England U21.

Jim Magilton will hope that his side can take this sort of performance into their final league games of the season and improve their Championship position before May.

Town: Price, Wright, Harding, Casement, Bruce, Legwinski, Richards, O'Callaghan, Roberts, Peters (Trotter 79), Haynes (Clarke 71). Unused: Supple, Sito, Currie. Att: 17,016.

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls