JON Macken has apologised for his outburst at Barnsley on Saturday.The 29-year-old striker, on loan from Crystal Palace, let his frustrations get the better of him when substituted after 59 minutes in the 1-0 Championship defeat at Oakwell.

By Elvin King

JON Macken has apologised for his outburst at Barnsley on Saturday.

The 29-year-old striker, on loan from Crystal Palace, let his frustrations get the better of him when substituted after 59 minutes in the 1-0 Championship defeat at Oakwell.

He sent plastic water bottles flying right under the nose of manager Jim Magilton and then kicked the dug-out surround.

“It was a little bit silly and I apologise if I offended anybody,” said Macken.

“I have been told that it did not look very nice, but it was not aimed at the manager.

“No player likes being substituted and I am no exception.

“But it was not just being replaced that fuelled my frustrations.

“It was the whole scenario at the time.

“I want to perform fantastically well every time I play whether that is 60 or 90 minutes, and when it doesn't happen it can get very frustrating.”

Macken is in the Town squad for tonight's Championship game against in-form Derby County at Pride Park (kick-off 7.45pm).

And he is not being disciplined for his actions at Barnsley where he thought Ipswich did enough to win.

“We were one pass away from winning the match,” added Macken, who has scored one goal - a penalty - in eight starts since joining Town in early September. He has been substituted in every one of those eight matches.

“Two or three times it just needed the right pass to be slid through or the right decision to be made.

“There is a thin dividing line between success and failure in football, and you do not always get what you deserve.

“We were in control of the game, but then lost out to a sucker punch. Against Norwich things went for us with Gary Roberts' pin-point cross and Danny Haynes' header. At Barnsley they didn't.

“We know we have got to be better against Derby, but it will not do us any good to harp on about the negatives. We must take the positives.

“Like all strikers I would like to score more goals, but it is not just about putting the ball into the net.

“There are other ways of finding your way out of a dip in form like getting your general game correct.”

Macken confirmed that he will be interested in staying at Portman Road when his loan period ends in early January.

“Everybody at Ipswich has helped me tremendously, and it will be a decision taken by this club, Palace and myself when the time comes. I think I have shown how much I want to win.”