ALEX McCarthy has labelled today’s 2-1 defeat by Watford as a game of two halves.

The loanee keeper watched on as his team mates dominated the first half at Vicarage Road and should have been leading by more than Jay Emmanuel-Thomas’ 18th minute opener.

But he could do nothing to stop the rot against the Hornets continuing after goals from Sean Murray and Troy Deeney left the home fans happy and stretched Town’s dire run against Watford to 15 games.

McCarthy said: “It was a game of two halves. There have been games when we have started slow, but today we came out firing. We knew coming to Watford was going to be a tough game as they never give up.

“The manager said at half-time that we needed to keep our shape and keep turning them. But we conceded two scrappy goals.”

- For full reports and reaction on Town’s defeat at Watford, buy Monday’s EADT and Ipswich Star