Plymouth 2 Ipswich 1AN angry Joe Royle today demanded a dramatic improvement from his Ipswich players next season.The Blues boss was still fuming after yesterday's Championship defeat at Plymouth sentenced Town to their lowest finish since 1966.

By Elvin King

AN angry Joe Royle today demanded a dramatic improvement from his Ipswich players next season.

The Blues boss was still fuming after yesterday's Championship defeat at Plymouth sentenced Town to their lowest finish since 1966.

The drab display typified a depressing season that ended with just one victory in the last ten matches.

Nicky Forster gave Ipswich the lead, but Plymouth hit back to make the most of poor defending and fully deserved their 2-1 victory.

The defeat dropped Town from 12th to 15th and 35th in the country. In 1966 - the year England won the World Cup - they were 34th taking into account numbers in the then First and Second Division compared to the Premiership and Championship today.

“It was not good enough,” stormed Royle.

“We should have done a lot better. We have got to improve dramatically next season.

“I have told the players so, and that there will be newcomers coming in during the summer to give competition for places.

“Our fans travelled a long way to support us and the players let them down.

“We missed the likes of Fabian Wilnis, who is our best full back at stopping crosses coming in, and we were not physically strong enough.

“Our central defenders were bullied to a certain extent and we were too weak.

“We failed to stand our corner and paid the penalty. It was a typical of how our season has gone, and it has left me angry.”

Royle had little to enthuse him as the season came to a close, although he picked out Shane Supple for making some fine saves and said that Jaime Peters gave an example of what he could do when he becomes stronger and fitter.

And he praised Jim Magilton for battling away when he came on in his final match after seven distinguished years at Portman Road.

A group of dedicated fans waited for the Town coach to leave Home Park and raised a banner saying 'Goodbye Jim' to the 36-year-old.

It was not a high note for Magilton to go out on, while Micky Evans was able to celebrate his last match for Plymouth after almost 500 games with the winning goal.

Richard Naylor played with minor concussion after taking a blow on the head very early on and his understanding with Jason De Vos at the back was not of its usual standard.

Supple said: “There were very few positives to take from the game and we must all work hard before the start of next season when we must make up for this disappointing one.”

Jay McEveley returned to Ewood Park today (MON) and there is a chance he could feature in Blackburn Rovers' final two games in the Premiership.

“It is a bit of a nightmare not knowing what is happening and Blackburn manager Mark Hughes wants to have a chat with me,” said McEveley.

But he is unlikely to be at Portman Road next season when Colchester United are set to be one of the visitors to Portman Road!