Boss Jim Magilton was pleased with his side's display for the first hour of Wednesday's 4-1 Carling Cup defeat to Wigan, but was disappointed that the Blues failed to take their chances and gave away poor goals.

Magilton said: "For 60 minutes we were very good. We passed the ball very well. We created some really good chances against a Premier League team.

"We didn't take them. You are always wary they will come back to haunt you, which they did.

"They didn't have to work hard for their goals. If you gift people of that quality those sort of opportunities they are obviously going to take them.

"The harsh reality of this game is such that you can't afford to switch off in the way we switched off at set pieces.

"We were taught a few harsh lessons. We didn't compete for the first or second ball in the box. If you can't do that, you probably deserve to concede goals.

"We got ourselves back in the game with a fantastic goal, but then shot ourselves in the foot."

Magilton was unhappy with the freekick which led to the game's opening goal: "I wasn't sure about why the freekick was given for their first goal. Heskey had his head low and it looked like Ivan got the ball fair and square.

"But we can take plenty of positives from the game and there was a lot of encouraging play from us that we need to take on from here."

Magilton says the Blues could be without Ben Thatcher for a few weeks: "It looks like he may have torn a thigh muscle so the squad will come into play again. David Wright has also got a bit of a twinge, so that is something we will have to watch as well."

If Wright is also unavailable, Pim Balkestein is likely to return to the starting line-up for Saturday's game against Crystal Palace.

Wigan boss Steve Bruce thought the game showed the contrast between the divisions the sides play in: "I think that is the difference between the Premier League and the Championship.

"When you create that many chances and you don't take them, you're going to get punished.

"Ipswich caused us more problems than anyone else has. We ran out easy winners in the end, but it was tough in the first half because Ipswich did very well."

Bruce singled out skipper-for-the-night Titus Bramble for special praise: "I know Titus was here from eight-years-old.

"It was fantastic for him to come back. He has his critics. The one thing about him is he is made of stern stuff.

"For me, he was the outstanding player. I know for a fact he was looking forward to coming down here."

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls