Boss Paul Jewell felt his side should have been “out of sight” at half-time as Watford came from behind to beat the Blues 2-1 at Vicarage Road. Town’s winless run against the Hornets stretched to 15 games and back to 2004 with their last win on Watford territory having come a year prior to that.

Jewell said: “We should have been out of sight at half-time. We created six or seven really good opportunities that we didn’t take on a very difficult playing surface.

“In the second half we didn’t do enough with the ball, we gave it away cheaply, we didn’t keep hold of it, we didn’t create like we did in the first half and obviously the manner of the goals was hugely disappointing.”

While Hornets sub Chris Iwelumo caused the Blues’ backline problems, the Town manager felt the goals were more down to his side’s errors: “He’s always going to do that, he’s a big handful but the goals we conceded were really nothing to do with his physical presence.

“He pushed us back a bit, but the reason we are where we are is because we concede bad goals and the two we conceded today were two more. It’s another game that we should have won but because of bad defending we’ve lost.”

While Jewell says skipper Carlos Edwards was to blame for the second Watford goal, he says the 33-year-old has been one of Town’s best performers of late: “He played a short backpass and it’s sloppy but Carlos has been magnificent for us lately, but it was definitely a mistake by him.”

As well as the defensive errors, the Liverpudlian thought his team should have made more of their chances before the break, particularly Michael Chopra, who missed a gilt-edged opportunity just after the half hour: “It was a sitter, wasn’t it? It was a great move. He switched it over to Emmanuel-Thomas and he got in at the back post and it was a great opportunity.

“I think Daryl Murphy’s had five really good chances in the first 20 minutes and we could have been out of sight [at half-time].

“They had a chance where Alex McCarthy made a good save, but after that it was one-way traffic. Every time JET got the ball he looked like he was going to create something. Second half we just didn’t get the ball to him.”

Jewell says his side was never going to control the match as they did in the opening period for the full 90 minutes: “They’re at home and you can’t go anywhere and dominate games all the time. I think we were the best team [first half] and it was hot out there, for both teams.

“They got up a head of steam and got the crowd behind them, but up until then, other than the chance early on, they hadn’t really created much.

“We didn’t win enough battles second half, it was a battle out there on that pitch. It was a scruffy game, it was never going to be a free-flowing game on that pitch and when Iwelumo came on they had the impetus. But the manner of the goals, it wasn’t as if we were getting absolutely battered, they were just basic errors.”

He says the much-publicised hoodoo wouldn’t have been in his team’s thoughts: “I think it plays on the media’s minds rather than the players as most of the players haven’t been here since 2004. There’s always a story about a bogey team, but I don’t think that was the case at all. I just thought we were disappointing in the second half.”

The Town boss says his side have no new injuries, while striker Jason Scotland assessed ahead of the Middlesbrough game after suffering an adductor injury in training.

Watford boss Sean Dyche, who says the Hornets plan to relay their pitch in the summer, admitted his team were second best before the break: “Make no mistake, they were the better side in the first half, considerably better.

“We actually started very brightly, we had arguably the best chance of the first half and should have been 1-0 up.

“But then we gave away a really poor goal and we could have been at least two down at half-time. Ipswich, all credit to them, they were by far the better side, they played the game and the pitch better than us.

“But it’s the marvel of half-time. We managed to get them in only one down which kept us in with a shout.

“We just really reminded the players of what we’re about and how they might have to play the pitch to get back into it in the second half, and I’m pleased to say they did that really well."

Photo: Action Images

Crazee added 18:04 - Mar 24 Ah well, I guess that should put pay to all the talk of reaching the play-offs this season!
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TractorBoy666 added 18:09 - Mar 24 So annoyed at losing this game because we would of been 6 points off the play-offs if we held on to a 1-0 win. Get back to winning ways next game boys! COYB
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TimmyH added 18:14 - Mar 24 No point drawing away to the likes of Southampton and Hull if your going to lose to Watford!! - but that's this division all over. Funny thing is the last time play-offs were mentioned in the EADT we lost to Brighton, it came up again after the win against Burnley in the paper and we lose again.
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Keaneish added 18:25 - Mar 24 I'd rather give up the 6 points at the start of every season than endure playing that garbage football club and suffering the same injustices every time we meet them... Play-offs? Need to win every game between now and the end of the season...!!
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Garv added 18:37 - Mar 24 First half good, second half bad. Ironically everyone has been calling for youth, but towards the end we had too much of it and no experience e.g Scotland (unlucky injury) to put some ideas together, we had no clue whatsoever to do. Crying out for an Andrews type player really. I agree Bowyer probably had to go though. Absolutely gutted because we could/should have been two nil up...looking at you Michael. I do disagree with Jewell's hoodoo comment. It's not an excuse at all, I'm not going to say "oh we always lose there so its alright", but its just one of those things I think. Football is a strange game. Both goals preventable, so I suppose that's a plus if you like because we weren't being out played, just two silly bits of play. But very disappointing. MOTM I guess JET for his first half performance, scored a goal and set up what should have been 2-0 and was generally a threat, and his incredible run from right back second half was something. Can't expect him to do it all himself though. Gutted. Onto Tuesday. COYB

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Markthehorn added 18:41 - Mar 24 I pretty much agree with your manager (and ours) A strange game...of 2 halves.
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Devontractor added 18:42 - Mar 24 Our defence would get battered in PL. Another season in Championship will do us good - PJ knows what players we need and assuming we can get them we and they form a decent defence then we can look forward to challenging for automatic promotion next season. I must confess to dreaming at half time but in my heart of hearts I know we're not good enough. Town are still a work in progress but I believe progress is being made.

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Mick_Mills_Tache added 18:43 - Mar 24 15 games must be some sort of record surely?! I think the FA should clamp down on pitches. Home teams playing on the same sh*t pitch every other week are going to have more of an advantage than those that play on a carpet (like FPR) Especially when Sean Dyche has said go out there and play the pitch. Not making excuses though. Onwards and upwards with a win against the Boro on Tuesday. COYB

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Langdon_Blue added 18:44 - Mar 24 Win our game in hand against Middlesbro' and we are still looking good. No one aiming at a top 6 finish is showing any consistency, so this set back is not a major problem. Come on Town!
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walberswick added 18:45 - Mar 24 No backbone. Soft as baby's nappy.
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blueherts added 18:52 - Mar 24 First half we were so good , second we stayed in the changing room but if people pay to watch the hoof ball served by Wtaford year on year is amazing - what a shocking football team - play one way and it is ugly - still we were abject second half so prob got what we deserved
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djc75 added 19:01 - Mar 24 Once again Edwards was at fault and found wandering!! And so many of you want him as your player of the season, I wonder how many goals have we conceded from poor defending from the RB position.. and yes I know he is been playing out of position but after 2 yrs and by now he should know not to get caught wandering!!! PJ sign a decent RB please!!
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NoCanariesAllowed added 19:09 - Mar 24 A lot of positives first half but took our foot off the gas a bit after the break and were ultimately architects of our own downfall. I was impressed with JET's attacking threat today (even if he still doesn't win nearly enough aerial balls for a guy of his size) and thought Cresswell was good again for the most part. Delaney and McCarthy didn't really put a foot wrong first half but the second bore the hallmarks of an error prone defence that has been our weakness all season, even if today's collapse would've looked more in place earlier in the season compared to our recent results. Lot of work to do for any substantive improvement next season.

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fourth added 19:10 - Mar 24 We need a Captain. PJ doesn't believe in them. He is wrong
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Dissboyitfc added 19:18 - Mar 24 one swallow doesnt make a summer,one loss doesnt make us a poor team either. We all know the areas that need improving, this is a reality check for those dreaming of the play offs, i agree with devontractors very accurate assessment above... lets just enjoy the run in starting with a victory over Middlesborough...coyb
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kipper added 19:44 - Mar 24 Until we learn how to beat teams like Watford that play dedicated long ball football we are always going to struggle to get out of this division. Yes they are awful to watch and the pitch was dreadful but they have still taken 6 points off us again this season. Not sure why we stopped passing the ball in the second half but this was a game that was there to be won. Frustrating to say the least.

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Pip50 added 19:50 - Mar 24 We are a poor team. Concede easily through mistakes and poor penalty box defending. Play offs what 2014-5 maybe if we can get some quality defenders and a goalkeeper in. At least Mr Keane was pushing youth forward. We are bottom third and will be next season unless some serious money is spent to support Chops and we persevere with Hyam etc. Oh Sharp hit a brace today didn't we talk with him?

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Blue041273 added 19:54 - Mar 24 Great day for football, shame about the pitch. Still, we seemed to lack that drive and enthusiasm needed to control the tempo of games; we gave them too much of the ball in the 2nd half. Disappointing to concede the winner though the Watford lad took it well. All in all another curates egg performance.
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itfc1981 added 20:07 - Mar 24 My arse, Play off's here we come!
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ipswichtillidie added 20:12 - Mar 24 play-off talk was pure fantasy. Once again our so called defence was shown up for what it really is. There are real positives in our attacking play still despite the poor finishing today. 2 centre halves, a right back and a better left sided player than Murphy and we will go close next year.....
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StowTractorBoy added 20:39 - Mar 24 Once again we never came out for the second half as there was no high tempo to our play and we paid the ultimate price with two shocking errors. Make no mistake Watford are a very ordinary team and we should never have lost that match. Plus points thought McCarthy played very well today - at last we have a goalkeeper who comes for crosses and he claimed every one today. Shame we will be left with ALB after 11th April. JET had an excellent first half but faded in the second. Martin had a really off day but the knub of our problems remain at the back and today in midfield where we badly missed Leadbitter. Sadly Delaney well as he played always has a mistake in him and you cannot keep getting away with this two left footed centre back line up. This scenario led to constant hoof balls up to the lonely Chopra who was not at his best today. You could say Chops cost us dearly as the sitter he missed before half time was unbelievable from where I was. I too am gutted that we could have been 6 points from the play off tonight but to be brutally honest we are nowhere near good enough to make it this season as was confirmed today.

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warksonwater added 20:43 - Mar 24 What the heck is it with us and Watford? Coincidence? No, I'm convinced that a few years ago a Watford gipsy put a curse on this fixture. Come on, who's gonna come and break the spell?
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sadler added 22:05 - Mar 24 good first half, but two costly mistakes at the back cost us again. in saying that, phenomenal support shown today! was a great atmosphere!!
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michaeldownunder added 22:30 - Mar 24 Today's games shows how well our midfield and attack have defended over the last month or so. Once Watford got at our defence with the long ball game in the 2nd half we were in trouble. Maybe we should have brought on Sonko to try and combat this. On the other hand it's only our 2nd loss in 10 games, win our next two home games and see where we are.
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michaeldownunder added 23:07 - Mar 24 Just seen the goals again. How poor was our back five for both goals For the first goal we looked like we were in slow motion and for the 2nd what was Edwards thinking ? plus goalkeeper made it easy for the forward to score.
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