BLUES boss Jim Magilton accused players of giving up as Ipswich Town slumped to their worst defeat of the season.Magilton felt embarrassed at the 4-1 loss at the hands of Championship strugglers Barnsley whose skipper Brian Howard claimed a hat-trick.

Derek Davis

BLUES boss Jim Magilton accused players of giving up as Ipswich Town slumped to their worst defeat of the season.

Magilton felt embarrassed at the 4-1 loss at the hands of Championship strugglers Barnsley whose skipper Brian Howard claimed a hat-trick.

Town had gone ahead through Pablo Counago but went 2-1 down five minutes after the break. They twice hit the woodwork as they hunted an equaliser but were when sunk by a controversial late penalty decision followed by an abysmal fourth from Barnsley.

Magilton said: “At the end we lacked belief and we looked as if it was getting too much for us and it could have been embarrassing. 4-1 is an embarrassing scoreline as it is and a few people packed in.

“I didn't like the manner in which we ended the game. A lot of our lads packed it in which is very disappointing bearing in mind we have supporters who travelled a long way to be here and that upset me most of all.

“Our defending was poor. These lads have all had an opportunity and have played a lot of games for me but now we need to make changes.”

Magilton was unhappy at the manner of Barnsley's second goal and the penalty decision given against Velice Sumulikoski.

He said: “Jon Macken impeded our keeper for the first goal and handled the ball and got away with it.

“The penalty was never a penalty as Shumi has won the ball but those decisions have gone against us.”

Frustratingly Town looked decent early on and for a spell in the second half.

Magilton said: “We started brightly and scored a good goal but knocked off for their goal.

“We passed the ball well in difficult conditions but Barnsley showed a real resilience. They are riding the crest of a wave and are euphoric. It was never a 4-1. At 2-1 we were pressing the ball, we had corners so it is a hard one to take.”

Magilton defended keeper Stephen Bywater for one of the goals from a corner but was not happy with the defending.

He said: “Stephen was impeded for the first one the second was a shocking goal. We had no one on the post, which is poor organisation from experienced payers.

“In the end it got a little but embarrassing I have to say.”

Town need to regroup if they want to stay in the play-off hunt and Magilton said it is down to the players.

He said: “They need to lift me. They need to lift the people of Ipswich and the people of Portman Road.

“We have a fantastic set up and everyone likes good old Ipswich, but at the end of the day we want winners in the building and if they are not then we will go and get some more.”

Danny Haynes pulled a groin muscle before the game so Liam Trotter was drafted on to the bench.