BLUES boss Joe Royle once more bemoaned his side's dopey defending after they threw away a two-goal lead at Watford.

BLUES boss Joe Royle once more bemoaned his side's dopey defending after they threw away a two-goal lead at Watford, writes Derek Davis.

He groaned: “Unfortunately it was two set plays again. A corner and a free kick.

“Our keeper was blocked in for the corner but even so the scorer has got a free header. But it should not have mattered. We had enough free chances. We hit a post and only the referee didn't think it was a penalty when Bent was tripped in the box. So it was frustrating in a game we should have won.

“We had a 10-minute blip after going two goals up and let them come into the game. Ardley's delivery for the corner was terrific but it wasn't even one of his best ones, it was just a high corner and free header. We don't get free headers.

“If we had hung on for five minutes we would have won it. The substitutions helped them but apart from the goals our keeper has had nothing to do.”

Jim Magilton was left on the bench for a league game for the first time since Royle took over two years ago with Town using three strikers.

Royle said “It was just to give him a rest. It would have been his third game in seven days. You have to remind him sometimes that he is 35. We needed to give him a true rest as he has played in virtually every game since I have been here and we are going to have to use him sparingly.”

The manager praised midfielder Ian Westlake who scored one and helped make one of Town's goals.

He said: “Westy was back to his form and their goal apart, which was Bam Bam's man, I thought Richard Naylor was terrific.

“Darren was dangerous, Shefki got through his usual workload and everyone else was fine but in typical Ipswich fashion we managed to throw it away.

“We play that way, we go for goals and we try and entertain. We pass the ball and try and win games but it was pure bread and butter defending which has cost us.”