BLUES' boss Jim Magilton gave credit where it was due and admitted Norwich showed more intensity than Town in the 90th East Anglian Derby.

Derek Davis

BLUES' boss Jim Magilton gave credit where it was due and admitted Norwich showed more intensity than Town in the 90th East Anglian Derby.

Lee Croft and Matty Pattison dashed Ipswich's hopes of moving up to eighth place with second-half goals and leave the Blues in 13th spot.

Magilton said: “Norwich didn't afford us any time or space and closed us down particularly quickly.

“They started brighter than us although we defended very well first half and Richard Wright made some good saves and we started the second half a lot brighter.

“We probably had the best chance of the game and in tight games like this if you can get your noses in front it goes a long way in securing a victory but we didn't and they go up the other end and score.

“Norwich deserved their victory, their moment in the sun, and it is my first taste of defeat as a manager in a derby game and it doesn't taste nice.”

Magilton's half-time team talk almost had the desired effect as Town stepped up a gear but David Marshall denied Jon Walters and the play swung back City's way.

Magilton said: “I knew we could play better and I told them we needed to get the ball moving and we did start the second half brightly but Norwich's intensity was very high and we at times didn't match that.

“We have to swallow that and move on.

“We have an opportunity to rectify this very quickly. We have two big homes games starting on Wednesday to right the wrongs.”

After defeats at Watford and Doncaster away in live TV games, Magilton bemoaned the extra exposure.

He said: “We seem to save all our worst performances for the Sky cameras.”

City boss Glenn Roeder praised his side who gave him a performance he expected and knew, from their attitude during the week, they would give.

He said: “Our lads were hugely motivated as you would expect them to be. We didn't need to talk about motivation and determination we just talked about tactics.

“We were right from the first minute right on top of it.

“There was a little spell just after half time when we weren't on top but no team dominates for 90 minutes and we got back on that.

“We have started today and we have to do that against on Wednesday against Watford which will be a difficult game for us but we go there with out tails up.

“There is no question that this squad is very talented.”