PAUL Jewell bemoaned his side for squandering a host of chances in today’s 2-0 defeat at the hands of Portsmouth, but again he had no complaints with the overall performance.

“If this was a boxing match, it would have been called off at half-time,” insisted Jewell.

Powder-puff Town were undone by second-half goals from David Nugent and David Cotterill as Pompey made it four straight wins, and four straight clean-sheets.

For Nugent, it was his eighth goal in eight appearances against Town.

Town squandered countless chances in the first half, and several more at the start of the second period, and they were made to pay by clinical Pompey.

Jewell continued: “That’s why this sport makes you so crazy, because it’s all about sticking the ball in the back of the net.

“We should have been three or four goals up at half-time, and should again have scored early in the second half.

“The worst result we should have got today should have been 0-0, but we again conceded two soft goals.

“However, I feel we are making progress and have some played good football in the last three matches against Hull, QPR and now Portsmouth,” added Jewell.

Pompey boss Steve Cotterill said: “It was a tough game because Ipswich were red hot in the first half.

“I’d have obviously have taken 2-0 today, whatever the performance, because Ipswich is a fantastic club with some very vocal fans.”