IPSWICH striker Richard Naylor today reflected on the weekend home flop against Grimsby and owned up: "I was one of the main culprits."Naylor was a half-time substitute as Town boss Joe Royle looked to pep up his attack in search of three points after he had seen his team fall behind twice before the break.

By Mel Henderson

IPSWICH striker Richard Naylor today reflected on the weekend home flop against Grimsby and owned up: "I was one of the main culprits."

Naylor was a half-time substitute as Town boss Joe Royle looked to pep up his attack in search of three points after he had seen his team fall behind twice before the break.

And the robust forward, who will be 26 on Friday, was given a quick chance to haul his side level in the 59th minute, only to send his close-in header well wide.

He said: "One of their defenders just jumped in front me and I saw the ball very late, but I wouldn't make excuses.

"It was a gilt-edged chance and I know that I should have at least got it on target."

Naylor, whose previous first team action was in the FA Cup win over Morecambe seven weeks earlier, at least had the consolation of playing a part in his side's late leveller.

His header from Martijn Reuser's corner came back off the bar, then Thomas Gaardsoe nodded against an upright before Darren Bent swooped to rifle home the rebound.

Naylor, who rejected a loan move to Grimsby earlier in the season, was frank in his assessment of the game.

He said: "That must be one of the poorest performances I can remember for a long, long time. The biggest problem is that we are conceding such ridiculous goals.

"We are finding ourselves trailing early on in games, which is putting a dent in our confidence.

"Our confidence is already fairly fragile as it is and goals like Grimsby's first gave them a huge lift and a head start. That sometimes makes it difficult for us to get ourselves back on level terms."

Naylor praised the two-goal contribution of teenage team-mate Darren Bent and added: "His performance was the only real highlight of the game for me.

"He showed some pace and quality and he took his chances well, but otherwise we were collectively poor.

"The upshot is that next week's game at Norwich, which was always massive, is absolutely vital to us.

"It is going to be hard for us to catch the teams in third and fourth places, so it has to be our aim to catch those sitting fifth and sixth.

"If we don't beat Norwich next week it is going to be very difficult to do that."