KEVIN Horlock refused to look for any excuses after Ipswich Town stumbled to defeat at Derby County, writes Derek Davis.The Blues midfielder gave a brutal appraisal of the performance after throwing away a fortunate 2-1 lead to lose 3-2.

KEVIN Horlock refused to look for any excuses after Ipswich Town stumbled to defeat at Derby County, writes Derek Davis.

The Blues midfielder gave a brutal appraisal of the performance after throwing away a fortunate 2-1 lead to lose 3-2.

He said: "They outplayed us and outfought us. It is a sharp kick up the backside so early in the season but hopefully it will be just what we needed. We have a week's hard training to get back to winning ways.

"Derby have lost their last two but they looked as if they wanted it more than us.

"We have not performed in any area of the pitch and you can't pick out any of our players and say they played well.

"That is disappointing after working so hard to get points in the previous two games, we wanted to build on that. This has put us back to square one but it is something we have to work on."

The free summer signing from West Ham, who was making his 400th league appearance, refused to accept that he played any better than any other Town player.

He insisted: "I was as bad as anyone out there and didn't play well at all. I'm certainly disappointed with the way I played. I will be working hard to improve and hopefully get another chance to start and put things right."

And he refused to accept that Town's collection of free transfers and Academy boys are still learning to gel.

He said: "No, we have had enough time. We can't stand here and make any excuses about that performance.

"We didn't get any points and conceded three goals but that is gone now and we have to look at putting it right at our own place on Saturday."

Well-organised Derby, even the ball-boys looked drilled, had German Marco Reich's two goals, and a free kick converted by Spaniard Inigo Idiakez, to thank for their first win of the season.

Horlock added: "Derby are a better side than many may have thought before the season started. I watched the Leeds game they played and I spoke to a Leicester player who warned they are a very good side.

"But we knew they would be like that and wanted to come here and do well ourselves but we didn't and we got what we deserved.

"We will lick our wounds and get on with it and work to get a result against Cardiff on Saturday."

Tommy Miller maintained his 100% record from the penalty spot and Dean Bowditch a minute later gave Town a 2-1 half-time lead.

Miller told the EADT on Saturday he was considering changing his routine and drove his spot kick into the opposite side of the goal than he normally does after working out that keeper Lee Camp would have been tipped off.

He said: "When I went to take it I knew Malcolm Webster was now goalkeeping coach at Derby after being with us for so long. He knows I prefer to hit it to my right and would have told the keeper that.

"So I put it to my left and the keeper dived the way I expected him to and so went the wrong way."

n Blues reserves start their new league season with a home game against Crystal Palace tomorrow at Portman Road, kick off 7pm.