IPSWICH Town manager Paul Jewell admitted his side’s defending is once again ‘calamitous’ following this afternoon’s embarrassing 3-2 home defeat to the Championship’s basement club Doncaster.

Having conceded two goals in the opening 10 minutes at Millwall last weekend, the Blues were booed off at the break after falling three behind to Rovers.

Substitute Josh Carson reduced the deficit soon after the break, but the fightback soon ran of steam with Michael Chopra’s stoppage-time goal flattering the hosts.

“We’re giving ourselves mountains to climb at the moment by giving calamitous goals away,” rued Jewell, whose side are now down to 14th following three straight defeats.

“I think we showed a bit of character second half which means it’s not as bad as the Peterborough and Southampton games earlier in the season.

“We’re making basic errors again though.

“The first goal is from a free-kick that doesn’t get cleared and (El Hadji) Diouf’s left with a free header.

“The second one is a cross under no pressure followed by a free header (Billy Sharp), the third sees the two defenders get in each others’ way (Diouf scoring) and then it’s game over.

“It’s not the midfield, defence or forwards fault; it’s the team as a whole.”

He continued: “When you’re not playing very well you’ve got to get in at half-time at nil-nil and still be in the game. The problem with us is when we’re bad we’re hopeless – we just look so vulnerable.

“All those things that we were doing three weeks ago (during a six-game unbeaten run) have just disappeared for some reason. At the moment though it’s like a knife through butter.

“We’ve had to make a few changes in personnel due to injuries, but I’m not going to use that as an excuse.

“Some of the goals that we’ve conceded – not just today, but all season – are not the standard you expect of a Championship team, even a bad one.

“They could have got further goals from set-pieces.”

Doncaster boss Saunders – whose side remain bottom due to Bristol City’s win – said: “We played really well today I have to say. George Friend has missed four open goals so I’m a bit disappointed about what happened at the end.

“If there had been another five minutes you never know in football, they could have got a lucky break and forced the ball over the line somehow.

“I can’t complain though. There were two great crosses from (James) Coppinger who worked his socks off and the finishing from (El Hadji) Diouf and Billy Sharp was great.

“We really needed these three points.”