We were punished for switching off

By Elvin King

LEWIS Price limped away from Hillsborough saying: “We were punished for switching off.”

The Ipswich Town goalkeeper took a kick on the outside of his foot in the first half, and had no chance of saving the two Sheffield Wednesday goals in a disappointing Town defeat.

“As the game wore on the pain got worse and kicking became difficult,” added Price.

“But I was happy to stay on, and don't expect the bruising to stop me being available on Saturday.

“Ironically, I had to make two saves with my painful foot in a game where we were punished for switching off.

“Both goals came after Sheffield worked moves through the middle, and we think they could have been prevented.

“Our back four has been playing very well, and we must look to get back to our best form on Saturday.

“Playing two games in three days does take a toll with a long journey in-between, but we can't use this as an excuse.”

Town skipper Jason De Vos looked back on the disappointing defeat at Hillsborough and said: “Both Sheffield's goals could have been prevented.

“We failed to deal with a forward ball for the first one, and then tried to hold an offside line for the second. That is always a dangerous thing to do.

“For long stretches we looked capable of winning the match, with the first goal important.

“We had chances and Alex Bruce somehow got in the way of my header that was bound for the net. If it had become 1-1 we would have had the momentum.

“It was disappointing but now we must use it as a disappointment to spur us forward.”

Town's next game is at home to promotion-chasing Derby County on Saturday.

Alex Bruce said: “There was nothing at stake, but as professionals we want to win every game. I would rather we played badly and won. It did hurt yesterday.

“Both goals came against the run of play and the game summed our season up - good performance but missed chances.”