BLUES boss Jim Magilton blamed atrocious defending for Ipswich Town conceding four times against West Brom at the Hawthorns on Saturday.He picked out goalkeeper Neil Alexander and left back Dan Harding for special criticism after a game that Town dominated for 42 minutes.

By Elvin King

BLUES boss Jim Magilton blamed atrocious defending for Ipswich Town conceding four times against West Brom at the Hawthorns on Saturday.

He picked out goalkeeper Neil Alexander and left back Dan Harding for special criticism after a game that Town dominated for 42 minutes.

“It was atrocious defending,” said Magilton. “The goalkeeper and left back will not be happy with their defending and we conceded goals that could have been avoided.”

Magilton also felt that the Blues should have scored against a side that has now kept a clean sheet at the Hawthorns for the last six matches.

“Alan Lee had a great chance to give us a foothold in the game in the first-half and was unlucky with a header as well but we didn't get the breaks in front of goal,” added Magilton, who is in a far better position than his predecessor Joe Royle was almost exactly four years ago and still has his sights set on a high table finish to the campaign.

Town lost 4-1 on September 13, 2003 and slipped to the bottom of the table. Royle galvanised his troops and led them thanks to the goals of Darren Bent and Shefki Kuqi to the play-offs.

Magilton went on: “It is a harsh lesson for the players because for much of the second-half, we more than matched them and Tony Mowbray was forced into changing his side.

“But if you don't take your chances and give players of the quality West Brom have in their side time and space, then you will get punished and that is what happened.

“We didn't show enough belief in the first-half that we could go out and get a win. We gave them too much respect but we were much better in the second-half and controlled possession and there won't be many teams that do that at the Hawthorns.”

Magilton, who insisted he played a 4-4-2 formation although Jon Walters looked more of an attacking left-sided player alongside Lee and Pablo Counago, felt his side played better than against Watford two weeks ago.

He added: “It might sound Irish but we did better than we did at Vicarage Road. My players gave me everything. They are very disappointed but we have to get on with it.

“We will take whatever flak comes our way but will carry on playing in the way I believe is the right way.

“The players have bought into it but we have to learn from the harsh lessons of Saturday's game.”