Jim: Don't let it end this way

By Elvin King

PROUD skipper Jim Magilton looked back on Sunday's 2-0 Championship defeat at Reading and said: “This is not how I want to end my career with Ipswich Town.”

The 36-year-old midfielder has already made it known that this will be his final playing season with the Blues.

And he made no excuses for a comprehensive defeat that continues Ipswich's up and down campaign.

Magilton said: “We have two games at Portman Road this week, and this is a good thing. It gives us a chance to get back on our feet after a very poor showing.

“We appeared to be in awe of Reading, and this is not how I want to end my career with Ipswich.

“Yesterday's game is not an experience I want to go through many more times. It drains confidence and Reading were individually better than us.

“With our small staff we cannot afford to carry anybody. The manager and coaches have faith in us, but once we cross the white line it is down to the players.

“Hopefully we will have learned a lesson from yesterday and can get things back on track against Coventry tonight.

“Reading showed us what is needed to mount a promotion challenge.

“We have just given two poor performances. We managed to get away with it against Crewe, but we were clearly second best on Sunday.”

Around 2,000 Town fans made the trip to Reading, while thousands more watched the game live on television.

Ipswich have played well at times this season, but many more showings like this and they will finish in the bottom half of the Championship.

To be fair, Reading are one of the better sides in the division, and Magilton found a couple of positives.

He added: “Having Nicky Forster back fit and the introduction of Adam Proudlock will hold us in good stead.”

Coventry are not playing well and they were beaten at home by Crystal Palace on Saturday. Ipswich have no injury worries and It remains to be seen where they keep the 3-5-2 formation they started with against Reading.