CESC Fabregas has launched an astonishing attack on Ipswich Town’s style of play, following Arsenal’s humbling 1-0 defeat at Portman Road on Wednesday night.

CESC Fabregas has launched an astonishing attack on Ipswich Town’s style of play, following Arsenal’s humbling 1-0 defeat at Portman Road on Wednesday night.

Rather than give the Championship strugglers credit for their super-human effort, as did Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, moody Fabregas has accused Town of employing tactics more reminiscent of the rugby field, than the football pitch.

It certainly smacks of sour grapes, on the part of the talented Spaniard.

Fabregas sliced open Town’s defence, with his trademark passing, more than once during a pulsating Carling Cup semi-final first leg tie.

But otherwise the Gunners skipper looked uneasy, exchanging words off-the-ball with rival midfielder David Norris on a night that he would rather forget.

Colin Healy’s well-weighted pass, for Tamas Priskin to run through and score the 78th minute winner, was likened to a rugby-kick by Fabregas.

“I don’t know if it is a long ball or it is a rugby kick, but it worked for them,” rued Fabregas.

“In England a lot of teams play like that and it works for them. Ipswich played well, but Arsenal played the football. The other team refused to play football, and they were lucky to score with that long ball.”

Fabregas even had a pop at the Portman Road pitch, which again suggested a ‘workman blaming his tools.’

“It’s not the same to play at Stamford Bridge as it is to come here,” explained Fabregas, with reference to Town’s 7-0 thrashing at Chelsea on Sunday.

“Here they play in front of their own fans, they are more motivated, and the pitch is not as good as Stamford Bridge.”