Ipswich Town 1 Barnsley 0: Robins rues goalkeeper error

The play-off chasers were left red-faced after an "embarrassing" early blunder by goalkeeper Luke Steele.

He lost possession by the touchline, having raced out of his area, and when Pablo Counago's angled effort hit the post Daryl Murphy was on hand to bury his sixth goal in 11 games.

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"We gave them a stupid goal," said Tykes boss Robins. "It was a comedy of errors and not one we want to repeat.

"He (Steele) can't explain it. He made a bad, poor decision to come out and then he left the ball on the touchline.

"After that he was always going to struggle to get back in goal. What we saw was a hot head. We shot ourselves in the foot. It was an embarrassing goal and something you rarely see.

"We're normally organised, fairly resolute and hard to break down, but today there was no doubt we gave them the goal."

Robins was less than impressed by the way his side started but felt they came more into it after the break.

"We didn't get started and were second-best all over the park in the first half," he said. "Ipswich were hungrier and more energetic. In the second half we came out and had a go, but we'd already shot ourselves in the foot by then. It's not good enough and we've got to change that mindset.

"We had chances in the second half and huffed and puffed, but it was all about desire. Someone's got to want to go and put the ball in the back of the net.

"There were chances there but we just didn't take them. We were powder-puff."

Aside from the goal, Town controlled the early stages of the first half and went close through Jack Colback, Gareth McAuley and Jon Walters.

But the remainder of the game was much more even and the hosts were left hanging on in the latter stages.

Ipswich manager Roy Keane said: "It was a decent victory. To win without playing particularly well, we'll take that all day.

"It wasn't pretty but we'll have to take it, particularly given our position in the league – beggars can't be choosers.

"It was a good start. We went a goal up in four or five minutes and should have scored one or two more after that but I will be happy to take this win."

Ipswich: Brian Murphy; David Wright, McAuley, Delaney, O'Connor; Edwards (Peters 56), Norris, Colback, Walters; Counago (Wickham 56), Daryl Murphy (Leadbitter 81). Unused substitutes: Lee-Barrett, Garvan, Healy, Smith.

Barnsley: Steele; Hassell, Foster, Shotton, Potter; Teixeira, Colace, Doyle (Butterfield 81), Hallfredsson (Noble-Lazarus 73); Macken (Hume 71), Bogdanovic. Unused substitutes: Preece, Moore, De Silva, Gray.

Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire).

Man of the match: David Wright.

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