Martin: It hurts a lot

Saints fell behind to an early strike from Leif Davis, but rallied with an instant equaliser from Ché Adams within a minute.

Adam Armstrong notched his 20th goal of the season as Martin's side began to take control of the encounter either side of half-time.

However, the hosts found an equaliser through Nathan Broadhead and, with Saints down to 10 men after James Bree was sent off, dealt the killer blow in the final minute when Jeremy Sarmiento scrambled a shot away to snatch all three points.

"Yeah, it hurts a lot. I'm actually really proud of the performance, I might get criticised for saying that, but I thought we were brilliant." Martin asserted.

"I thought we were by far the best team. We scored two goals of the highest, highest quality, really fantastic goals.

"They'd scored two goals from three moments. That was it in the [second half], they'd hit the post once and scored two.

"At 2-1, we'd come back in the game so well. We were so dominant, quietened the crowd down and at the start of the second half we should score again and again.

"We have two massive chances, we don't take them, and then we have a sucker punch up the other end. Then at 2-2, I still think we were the dominant team, we looked really, like, really dangerous and then Breezy [James Bree] gets sent off and it's a different game.

"I'm not convinced it's a sending off, I think Taylor Harwood-Bellis is probably going to get across, but it is what it is."

Despite accepting that one passage of play that led to Ipswich's winner ultimately cost his side, Martin stressed that his disappointment was solely with the scoreline rather than his side's efforts.

"I love the lads throwing caution to the wind because we're trying to win the game - a draw is a draw, but we're still trying to win.

"Then we kick the ball back to their goalie and we need to, if we're going to kick it, kick wide in an area a bit more safe and a few more numbers and then they come at us and score.

"It really hurts and it's really frustrating, I don't think they deserve it but they found a way to win and we didn't.

"It was a brilliant performance. In football, people only ever see the outcome, that's it.

"Ultimately, that is all that matters, but if we play like that for eight games, wherever we go - I loved watching the team tonight, so much good stuff, so many brilliant things, so many top performances.

"I've got nothing but pride and praise for the players and the way they approached the game but both boxes have really, really hurt us."