Matt Holland cuts a despondent figure. The Republic of Ireland midfielder, fresh from a dismal week on international duty, must have been hoping for some respite from the dip in form that has followed too swiftly on his success at the World Cup.

Lying 15th in the First Division with games in hand, Ipswich have already cost George Burley his job and they are beginning to cost Holland his reputation. Certainly his demeanour after this latest defeat was that of a man being dragged down by his side's lack of progress.

"It's a big disappointment," said Holland. "It's a tough division to get out of and we have to do a lot better if we want to progress up the league."

Holland and his team-mates hardly did Tony Mowbray any favours in his bid to take over as Ipswich manager in the long term.

Ipswich were two goals down by half-time courtesy of Nicky Forster, who glanced in Ricky Newman's free-kick and then blasted the ball into the far corner from an acute angle with Andy Marshall poorly placed.

Darren Ambrose pulled a goal back with a 35-yard free-kick an hour into the game, but when Pablo Counago was sent off for reacting to a heavy Adie Williams challenge Ipswich's hopes disappeared. Forster completed his hat-trick by poking in James Harper's pass.

But Holland believes Mowbray is still well placed to replace Burley. "There's no rush - the important thing is to get the right man," he added. "Tony is in a good position and I know the players have a lot of respect for him. I've no doubt Tony will be a good manager.

"I haven't been around this week but the feeling is that the players have enjoyed training."

For Forster, it is a case of making up for lost time after snapping the cruciate ligaments in both legs.

Alan Pardew cited Forster as the main reason for Reading's promotion last season and suggested he could have become a top player had injuries not interrupted his career.

But Forster has not featured as regularly as he would have liked. "It's been very frustrating because I felt I could give something to the side," he said. "I haven't been too outspoken about it because we have some excellent strikers at the club. The important thing is that we're playing very well again."