BLUES boss Joe Royle has warned the rest of the division not to take too much notice of the Blues only getting a point at Reading.He said: “Other teams will look at this and think Ipswich may be slipping, but Reading don't do much wrong and it was always going to be a hard game.

BLUES boss Joe Royle has warned the rest of the division not to take too much notice of the Blues only getting a point at Reading.

He said: “Other teams will look at this and think Ipswich may be slipping, but Reading don't do much wrong and it was always going to be a hard game.”

“I'm not devastated by a point but equally it is a bit hard when you have been a pimple away.”

While his old school pal Steve Coppell accepted a draw was a fair result on the balance of play over 90 minutes, Royle disagreed.

He moaned: “We just edged it. To only get a point after we had taken the lead so late was disappointing. We switched off collectively and were still celebrating. We never got the ball back when we had the chance.

“It is sad, really, because up until the goals it looked one of the best nil-nils ever. But we hit the woodwork twice and their keeper has made a wonderful save.

“I don't know how he made the save from Shefki, he must have telescopic arms or something.

“It looked like a great three points so to lose two of them to a goal like that in injury time is a shame.”

Royle was caught napping by Reading's formation in the first half. He had to make tactical adjustments at half-time and was not concerned at their failure to keep a clean sheet.

He said: “We changed things because we had to counter their five in midfield. It was a tight game but I felt we edged it.

“I'd be more concerned about conceding if we weren't top of the league. We do trade goals but that is the way we are. It is the best we play when we pass the ball around and get behind teams.”

Royle praised man of the match Richard Naylor but felt the whole side had played their part.

He said: “Naylor was outstanding and has been all season He is certainly in the running for our player of the year.

“Jason (De Vos) was good, too, but we never really had a weakness - everyone did their jobs.”

Darren Bent and Fabian Wilnis picked up bruises but both should be fine for the trip to Sheffield United in nearly a fortnight's time.

derek.davis@eadt.co.uk