IPSWICH TOWN: Skipper David Norris looked back on Tuesday’s 2-1 Championship defeat at bogey club Watford and admitted that the Blues have to pull their socks up.

Just four points from their last five games has seen Town drop down to eighth, and Norris, who scored his fifth goal of the season to mark a late fight back, could not hide his disappointment even though it was a better overall display than the 2-1 weekend defeat by Coventry City.

“We did not play well at Watford last March and yes some progress has been made since then,” said Norris.

“But there is still a long way to go.

“We cannot afford three straight defeats, which makes our trip to Nottingham Forest on Saturday a massive one. We cannot afford not to win that one.

“We showed a bit of character after the break when we owed our travelling fans something as we could hear their frustration at the interval.

“We could have nicked a point by the end, but overall it was another disappointing night.

“We fell apart for the goals – and afterwards for a while – but we must stop making errors with different people making different mistakes. We can’t seem to find the answer.”

Reflecting on his headed 18 yard headed goal, Norris added: “I could see their keeper was out of his goal and just needed to get it on target and luckily it was their smallest player on the line.

“But I gained another booking, which is a disappointing and it appears to come with the territory of scoring. But I’ll take that.

“I was bitterly disappointed at being left out last Saturday and it seemed as though I hadn’t played for ages with the international break. Perhaps I was trying too hard but I was a bit sloppy.”

Town manager Roy Keane confirmed that keeper Marton Fulop had hurt his back in training on Monday but he hopes three or four days rest will cure a problem Fulop first suffered on Hungarian duty.

“We had a silly five minute spell and this cost us and we’re going through a sticky patch, but that’s the Championship and we have another tough game this weekend.

“We were okay until they scored and the first goal was a poor one to concede but credit to their lad who scored their second goal.”

Malky Mackay, the Watford manager, said: “It’s really pleasing to get three points from a really good Ipswich team who have been flying.”