Town boss Joe Royle was angry with referee Michael Jones after Reading scored an offside equaliser in the 1-1 draw at Portman Road. Royle was also displeased that Jason De Vos was forced off the field for seven minutes after receiving a cut.

The Town manager was taking control of a team for the 1,000th time and was adamant he ought to have had his 396th win: "The Reading equaliser was blatantly offside and we were poorly served by the officials tonight.

"We missed good chances but should have had a penalty when Kuqi was pulled down in the second half. We just didn't have the run of the game and I was always worried about conceding a goal on the break."

Keeper Kelvin Davis went off at the break due to a problem which Town had been nursing from earlier in the week: "Kelvin had been struggling for a couple of days with a sore back.

"He felt it again in the kickaround but we injected him before the start so he was able to get through half a game.

"We think he will be all right by the weekend. Lewis Price came on but didn't have a great deal to do."

The Town boss is also less than impressed at the current approach to head cuts which saw Jason De Vos off the field when Reading scored: "The whole thing about players having to go off is ridiculous. In the old days he would have been strapped up and got on with it.

"Even if the Reading lad was offside when he scored, the fact that De Vos was off the field cost us."

Royle said he is pleased to reach 1,000 'appearances' as a boss: "It's nice to reach 1,000 matches in a somewhat precarious profession. It would have been nicer still to have celebrated with a win."

Reading boss Steve Coppell felt his side deserved a point: "As the away team we deserved a point but Ipswich made it hard for us.

"The way they play in a flexible shape in the middle of the park made it difficult for our two midfield players to come to terms with three opponents."

Coppell felt sub Ibrahima Sonko, on for skipper Adie Williams, got better as the game went on: "It was a hotbed environment for him but he became more adjusted in the second half.

"We'll know the extent of Adie's injury in the morning but are hopeful that he might be out for only a couple of weeks."

Coppell has praise for Royle on reaching his landmark: "His achievement is magnificent. I have nothing but admiration for any manager who gets to 1,000 games in this job.

"I have nothing but respect and enjoy Joe's company and his outlook in both football and life."

Photo: Action Images

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