AIDY BOOTHROYD sympathised with Ipswich Town after they came within three minutes of taking Watford to an FA Cup fifth round replay this afternoon (Saturday).

The Hornets admitted his side did not play well, even though they won courtesy of Damien Francis' late strike, and said: "I'm not going to sit here and say it's a tenth clean sheet and we were great because we weren't. They were the better team for 85 minutes which is a bit of a problem when you play for 90.

"I feel for Ipswich in many ways because their fans were great and the team gave their all and it's obviously disappointing, but we know what that's like. We've been that soldier and numerous Premiership managers have said that to me, you know unlucky, you've been the better team if it's any consolation' and we've gone away with nothing. That's how it is I'm afraid.

"We took our chance at the end and that's it, we're in the next round and that's what counts."