OWEN Coyle says defender Gordon Greer ‘took it like a man’ after being told he was dropped for Saturday’s defeat at Portman Road.

Coyle handed an immediate return to the starting line-up to Darragh Lenihan after he served his three-match ban following a red card at Barnsley on Boxing Day.

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Scotland international Greer had done well deputising in his absence alongside his fellow countryman Charlie Mulgrew.

But despite conceding only twice in those three games – the 1-1 draw at Huddersfield Town, the 1-0 home win over Newcastle United and 2-1 FA Cup triumph at Queens Park Rangers – Coyle reunited Lenihan and Mulgrew in the heart of the Rovers defence against Mick McCarthy’s Tractor Boys.

While it could be argued that the decision didn’t pay off, with Rovers tasting defeat for the first time in 2017, it was only for the second goal that fingers could be pointed at the central defenders,.

That strike, after Hope Akpan had equalised Tom Lawrence’s free-kick opener, saw Cole Skuse win a flick-on at the near post from a corner to give Christophe Berra a tap-in.

Explaining his decision to replace Greer with Lenihan, Coyle said: “I think Gordon had done well, but Darragh as we know is a very good player.

“He had come in while Darragh was suspended and they are always tough calls.

“Gordon is a great pro, very conscientious, and he took it like a man as he does.”

Ipswich’s first goal came when Ben Marshall gave away a needless free-kick on the edge of his own penalty box, and the third arrived when Lawrence larruped home a 35-yard screamer after being gifted the ball by Liam Feeney’s loose pass.

The Rovers manager said: “I think we worked hard and showed a goal threat all day, and showed a lot of spirit and heart to come back in to the game – but we gifted those goals to Ipswich.

“The first one, the ball comes in to the box, just clear your lines.

“The second, win the first header, and the third one, we’ve won possession and then given it away and we were punished with that one.

“We fought to get back in to it because we have got that spirit within the club.”

Injured duo Corry Evans (thigh) and Craig Conway (hamstring) both missed the trip to East Anglia, but Coyle is hopeful they will be available for Saturday’s home clash against Gianfranco Zola’s Birmingham City.

He added: “You want a fit and healthy squad available and hopefully we might have Craig and Corry available for the weekend, and we continue to try and add to what we’ve had.”