BLUES assistant manager Willie Donachie, who was speaking to the press in the absence of Joe Royle who hurried away to catch a plane home, praised man of the match Kelvin Davis' contribution, writes Derek Davis.

BLUES assistant manager Willie Donachie, who was speaking to the press in the absence of Joe Royle who hurried away to catch a plane home, praised man of the match Kelvin Davis' contribution, writes Derek Davis.

The former Scotland international defender picked out the three key players in handing Town their third successive clean sheet.

He said: "Kelvin (Davis) was superb and the two centre halves played very well too. Jason (De Vos) and Bam Bam (Richard Naylor) were very brave and strong and Kelvin was excellent."

The coach also defended Darren Currie's inclusion in place of fit-again skipper Jim Magilton.

Donachie said: "It was not a risk to start without Jim. He is not as effective away from home when we are playing against big physical teams where the ball is in the air a lot. It is better to bring him on later in the game when he can get the ball and dictate the play. Also Darren Currie was outstanding in the game against Cardiff, so Joe couldn't really change the team."

Donachie admitted Town were not at their best and were fortunate to escape with a point.

He said: "We knew it was going to be tough after the way Gillingham have been playing lately and the results they have had.

"We didn't play at our best either so that combination made it even harder for us. In the end we were lucky to get a draw. We have been unlucky on a lot of occasions, so this evens it out."

But he conceded another team's strikers might have made a lethargic Town pay dearly. He said: "Their strikers were very poor, with the amount of chances Gillingham had, if they had someone who was a good finisher we would have been in trouble. We did not get many good chances.

"We were disappointed that we didn't have more chances but we are not worried about it.

"We have just won away from home in Cardiff and before that we won by six goals, so that is not a problem.

"We look tired and, to be honest, I don't feel we supported the front two enough.

" You have to give Gillingham a bit of credit but the system we played and the way we played didn't suit the conditions. But that is Ipswich; always trying to play, sometimes at the wrong times."

The Blues squad are in for warm-down training today as normal and while the international players will go off to meet their respective squads, the rest of the players will be given a few days break.