Town manager Joe Royle felt his side were unlucky to lose 2-1 at home to Watford. Royle pointed to a host of chances missed by his side, while Watford scored with virtually all their shots on target.

The Blues' boss said: "I am unhappy at losing but not distressed and there is no panic. Had we lost with a bad performance I'd have been more concerned.

"These things happen in football. Watford scored from two of their three chances, while we have hit the bar and missed openings from zero range.

"We were very unfortunate really and certainly did not deserve to lose. We had most of the game and on another occasion we could have had five or six goals."

Royle feels the out-of-touch Darren Bent could do with scoring: "Darren Bent looked sharp today but he needs a goal. James Scowcroft worked hard for the team but I hope he will be able to provide more of a goal threat when he settles in."

Watford manager Ray Lewington saw his game plan succeed against the league leaders: "We knew we had to play slightly defensively with five in midfield. Ipswich are a side who can really pull you apart.

"We rode our luck, I know that. We needed to respond after a poor performance at Sunderland.

"Sunderland impressed me and have a really good chance of promotion, while Ipswich are a side who can cut you open. It's going to be very, very close at the top because you cannot discount Wigan.

"We had a few players missing today and fielded a very young side apart from Paul Jones and Neil Cox. I was very pleased with the way they overcame an intimidating atmosphere. We took our chances well. "

Lewington said that James Scowcroft had confessed to his players that he had handled the ball in the incident which led to Town's penalty: "Neil Cox told me that James Scowcroft admitted to him in the tunnel that he had handled the ball. If it had been the decider we would just have to have taken it on the chin."

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Ipswich Town Polls