Boss Joe Royle felt the Blues should have been awarded a penalty shortly before Michael Hughes scored Crystal Palace's second goal in their 2-0 defeat of the Blues. Tony Popovic had appeared to handle Gavin Williams's cross but referee Andy Woolmer felt it hit the Australian on the chest.

Royle also thought that Andrew Johnson had also committed an offence prior to Hughes's goal: "We were screaming for a penalty, but I also thought there was a foul in the build-up."

The Town manager, who is targeting one or perhaps two frontmen in the January transfer window, bemoaned his current lack of attacking options: "I have said since I was a player in football that any team is only as good as its front players and we are bereft - we have only one striker."

Royle was in full agreement with referee Andy Woolmer about Jon Macken's red card for elbowing Owen Garvan but thought Ben Watson was unlucky to receive his marching orders: "Watson's second yellow was soft but if you elbow someone in the face next to the referee that is not very clever."

Palace boss Iain Dowie, who said Macken had denied striking Garvan, wasn't keen to get involved in too much post-match discussion of the official: "My new year's resolution is not to let wins be marred by the displays of referees. I am going to have a look at the video, but if that is an eight-booking game and two sendings-off, I am a Dutchman."

But the former Northern Irish international was pleased with his side's display, particularly early on: "I thought for 25 minutes of the first half they could not get close to us, and when you come to a side like Ipswich that is very pleasing.

"They came back at us but in the second half Gabor [Kiraly] did not have a shot to save."

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