IPSWICH Town academy boss Sammy Morgan was proud of his side's fighting spirit but could not mask his disappointment at their exit from the FA Youth Cup.

Derek Davis

IPSWICH Town academy boss Sammy Morgan was proud of his side's fighting spirit but could not mask his disappointment at their exit from the FA Youth Cup.

Morgan blamed basic errors for the 3-2 extra-time defeat to Watford and hopes his bright, young prot�g�s will learn from the pain.

He said: “The character, attitude and work-rate was first class but we paid dearly for wrong decisions and mistakes.

“That is something they will learn, or not learn from. They should learn that sloppy mistakes will cost you big time as it did in this tie.

“At least they went out fighting and in open play because it would have been cruel for either side to go out on penalties.”

Ipswich were two-nil down until Ronan Murray and Jack Ainsley struck in the second half to put the Blues on level terms at Portman Road. After such a gallant fightback Town might have won it at the end of normal time and Morgan found that hard to take.

He added: “We almost won it in the last minute when Jamie Griffiths hit a post but both sides had chances.

“To come back from two down and then end up as losers is hard to swallow.

“There was a lot of effort from both sides for two games. Both sides were out on their feet towards the end.

“We are disappointed at going behind but then we pulled it back. It was even more disappointing then to concede a really bad third goal that killed us.

“We always felt we were in the game even after giving away an early goal. We kept plugging away and played the way we wanted to but when we let in the second we had to think again.”

Town's tactical changes worked well enough and the good use of substitutions almost made the difference.

Morgan said: “We changed it around a bit and put Jack Ainsley up front, a little against our better judgement because we don't want to stop his development as a centre half, but needs must and it added an extra dimension up front for is.

“It worked and we got two good goals.

“We didn't have a natural left sided player in the diamond so we changed it and that gave us balance. We also put more bodies up front and that worked for us.

Nearly 2,000 fans turned out on pleasant afternoon and Morgan was delighted with the backing for both teams.

He said: “Credit to Watford and I hope they go on and do well.

“It was played in the right manner and it was entertaining football for the crowd which we are very grateful for and well done to them to.

“They have gone away and had the �1's worth.

“Let's hope they will remember some of the names they saw today and will see more of them.”