JIM Magilton promised to keep his team passing the ball despite the disappointment of a last-minute defeat at Burnley on Saturday. The Ipswich Town manager said: “I never compromised as a player, and will not do so as a manager.

By Elvin King

JIM Magilton promised to keep his team passing the ball despite the disappointment of a last-minute defeat at Burnley on Saturday.

The Ipswich Town manager said: “I never compromised as a player, and will not do so as a manager.

“We will continue to pass the ball in the Ipswich way.

“The one thing I have had since becoming manager is tremendous effort and I got the same at Burnley.

“I feel sorry for the lads because we did enough over 90 minutes to have got something from the game.

“We started well, controlled possession for long periods and could have been ahead.

“But you can't give players free headers three or four yards from goal at this level, at any level and we paid a big price for one moment of slackness.

“It doesn't matter whether it's the first minute or the last minute, you can't switch off. It's not the first time it has happened this season and we have spoken about how important it is to keep our concentration for the whole game.

“It's something we have to put right because we are getting punished for it and that will carry on happening until we learn our lessons.

“It has been a testing week with three games and two long trips but I was pleased with our fitness.

“Our central defenders did well and Gary Roberts had a good full debut.“

Burnley boss Steve Cotterill said: “My players don't give up. You put Alan Mahon on because you want something a bit different.

“He played in a fantastic ball for Chris McCann.

“McCann was immaculate. The midfielder saved me making lots of changes by playing at the back.”