IPSWICH TOWN: The Blues did themselves proud at the Emirates last night but failed to reach the final of the Carling Cup when beaten 3-0 by Premier League Arsenal in the semi-final, second leg.

And experienced player Mark Kennedy said that as much as the team deserved praise for the way they held on to their first leg 1-0 lead for over an hour at the end of the day they paid a heavy price for poor defending.

The Gunners now go on to meet Birmingham or West Ham in the final with Kennedy saying: “As a team we should have defended better.

“We were under pressure for much of the time but I never felt that we were in trouble.

“We are all bitterly disappointed to have got so close to Wembley and just as disappointed in the way that we conceded the goals.

“From the pitch you could tell that the Arsenal fans were just getting a bit nervy and then they scored and, although we are not a club that points fingers, they were goals we could have avoided.”

Kennedy says that the Blues can now concentrate on moving up the table and that this experience will hold them in good stead adding: “We shouldn’t have too many regrets and over two legs the team were fantastic and we can all hold our heads high, but it is over now and we must move on.

“I know from when I was at Cardiff that before I arrived they reached the FA Cup Final and took their eye off the ball in the league. We can now concentrate on this when we won’t be playing against opponents who have the skill to take advantage of any slips that you may make.

“Our fans were fantastic and they were right behind us and we could not have asked for more and they should know that we all fully appreciate what they were doing for us and they are a credit to the club.”

David Wright, the former Ipswich Town defender who is now with Crystal Palace was in the stands with Ipswich fans along with another ex-Ipswich player Fabian Wilnis and Wright said: “I am a fan of this club and they played very well and only looked in danger when they were caught a little short at the back after going forward.

“But once Arsenal scored it was always going to be hard for Ipswich but they did very well.”

Ipswich now have a rest this weekend before travelling to Derby County on Tuesday evening for a Championship match and in the meantime manager Paul Jewell has set his sights on bringing in a couple of additional players to strengthen his squad.