Ipswich manager Joe Royle bemoaned his side's inability to convert their chances following the 1-1 draw with Hull at Portman Road and believes it summed up their season.

The hosts created enough chances to have won comfortably but were denied by the woodwork, goal-line clearances and smart goalkeeping by Boaz Myhill.

Darren Currie gave Ipswich a 23rd-minute lead before Leon Cort equalised for the visitors 10 minutes after half-time and Town had to be satisfied with just a point which keeps them in 10th place in the Coca-Cola Championship.

Royle said: "It is symptomatic of our season. We played well but hit the bar and had shots cleared off the line. Another shot whistled past the post. We were so nearly there. It was a terrible shame.

"We are playing well enough to be capable of putting a winning run together. The clubs above us are wobbling. People say we cannot reach the play-offs but we will keep playing our passing game and see what happens.

"Our fans will have gone away delighted with our football but disappointed with the result. We will be a little stronger next week with the return of Richard Naylor and Jimmy Juan.

"The only danger to us was from corners and free kicks because Hull are one of the biggest sides I have seen. Their two front men were like bouncers."

His Hull counterpart Peter Taylor praised his side's approach to the game and believed it was another valuable step towards Championship survival.

Taylor said: "In this division you have to work hard every match and we want to be here again next season playing in front of big crowds.

"Our attitude was first class and we scored a very good goal. Leon Cort is tremendous in the air in both boxes. He must like East Anglia because he also scored at Norwich.

"In the second half we created a couple of very good chances and I don't think Ipswich made many more openings than us.

"I think 47 points is what we need to keep us in this division and now we have 45. I would have settled from a point at Ipswich before the start so I am very pleased with it.

"Joe Royle has worked wonders at Ipswich. They have had a lot of injuries and no longer have the great players they used to have. Even so they are a very good footballing team and enjoyable to watch."

Hull Daily Mail/East Riding Mail