Royle family are down and out

Not even the desperate entreaties of the most loyal fans in football could change that salutary fact. They know their team has not been good enough.

Royle had travelled to Suffolk trusting in omens, wearing his

'lucky' tie, talking of the good fortune he had encountered at Portman Road in the past.

The initial suggestion was that it might continue, with Marcus Stewart failing to recover from his thigh strain.

But this was the night when City had to rely on themselves more than the gods. The equation was that simple.

The game-plan suggested some ambition, Paulo Wanchope as the attacking spearhead, flanked by Paul Dickov and Danny Tiatto. And when Australian Tiatto fed Dickov for an early shot at Richard Wright, Royle might have taken comfort.

Not for long, as Ipswich imposed themselves on the game without really breaking sweat, forcing City ever deeper,

exposing the class gap that has developed between these sides in the nine months since they returned to the top flight.

The strings were pulled with calm assurance by Jim Magilton, the effort injected by Matt Holland. But more important was the manner in which Ipswich spread the play wide, attacking City's weaknesses on both flanks.

Jeff Whitley and Danny Granville were panicky in possession, Granville's worries increased with the ease in which Ipswich found space to advance down his wing, and if Magilton, and then Scowcroft, had been more careful in their delivery after finding space, the opener might have come.

The half ended with Ipswich in command. However, Holland's volley went too high, Reuser's header drifted wide and Nash burst from his line to block Scowcroft.

Royle's interval swap, Goater replacing the utterly ineffective Tony Grant, demonstrated a belated recognition that time was running out.

McGreal's weak header might have led to temporary salvation, with Wanchope's spectacular overhead kick beating Wright's dive but flicking off the outside of his right-hand post.

It looked the last fling, yet all seemed it was to change when Wright failed to hold Wanchope's 20-yarder, and Goater beat Bramble to the loose ball to squeeze home the goal that kept the Sky Blue flame flickering - but not for long.