IPSWICH Town manager Paul Jewell admits his side are now firmly in a relegation fight after Watford inflicted a seventh straight Championship defeat on his side.

For the third time in four games, the Blues turned a lead into a defeat – with two quickfire second half goals once again sealing their fate.

Keith Andrews had headed the hosts in front seconds before half-time, but Marvin Sordell netted a 69th minute penalty against the run of play and five minutes later Troy Deeney rammed home a loose ball.

It means the Blues have now gone 14 games – and seven-and-a-half years – without beating the Hornets.

Only a stoppage-time winner from Brighton against Nottingham Forest keeps Town outside of the relegation zone.

Asked if his side were now fighting relegation, Jewell said: “Of course we are, there’s no getting away from it.

“I was just saying that two weeks ago Burnley were fourth bottom and now they’re tenth. It can change quickly, but it’s seven straight losses though and I’m fully aware of that.”

However, despite another defeat, Jewell says he was happy with the reaction from his players following their limp 4-0 midweek defeat at Burnley.

“We should have has three points,” said the Blues boss. “On Tuesday we were abject, but today you could see the determination – we just didn’t have any luck.

“I’m not one for blaming luck, I never have been, but for their first goal (John) Eustace goes to lay it back, it sticks under his foot, the little ricochet goes their way and they go on to get a penalty.

“We’ve had balls flash across their box, we’ve had shots saved, we’ve done everything but score another goal.

“I’m hugely disappointed to lose seven games in a row, but effort wise I can’t question the players today.”

Asked if he had any complaints with Watford’s equalising penalty – given for a tangle of legs between Ibrahima Sonko and Sordell – Jewell said: “I didn’t have a great view but none of our lads complained, so it must have been.

“As I said though, the way the ball gets stuck under Eustace’s foot and takes Lee Bowyer out of the game in the middle of the park is just the bad luck we didn’t need.

“They’ve had a good chance in the first half when he (Sordell) has put it over the bar, but I’m still scratching my head at how we didn’t win the game.”

He continued: “I’m honest enough to admit when we’ve been outplayed, but today I think we were dead unlucky.

“I thought we knocked on their door, had shots off the line, balls flying across the box – how more haven’t gone in I don’t know.

“Fair play to them, they defended well, but nothing seems to drop for us in the box at the moment.”

– See Monday’s EADT and Evening Star for full match analysis and reaction.