Joe Royle heaped praise on his Ipswich Town side after watching them sweep to an emphatic win over Barclaycard Premiership new boys Portsmouth.

The Blues secured a convincing win thanks to first half strikes from Martijn Reuser, Tommy Miller and Pablo Counago.

And manager Royle, whose play-off hopefuls are now just a point behind sixth-placed Wolves, said: "I didn't think we had a weak link in the side from one down to 11.

"The midfield four were outstanding and ran the show in the first half."

Royle admitted he has an embarrassment of riches in midfield.

"We've got so many riches in that department, we had to leave a player like Jermaine Wright on the bench," he said.

"He'd make any other side in this division.

"The back four limited Portsmouth to one chance in the whole game and that's a terrific achievement.

"We defended properly today, as a team and as a unit. If we'd done that in our last home game against Nottingham Forest we'd be even closer to the top six."

Royle also praised the hard work of his strikers.

"Up front, Pablo was fantastic and Marcus Bent has never worked harder for the side than he is at the moment," said Royle.

"People will say Portsmouth might have eased up a bit because they've already got promoted, but quite honestly we could have scored three goals in the first half when we played down there in December."

Ipswich head to Rotherham on Easter Monday, desperate to hoist themselves closer to the play-offs, and Royle said: "On our day we can beat anyone in this division.

"People keep trying to write us off but we use that to our advantage. We know we're capable of doing it - it's down to us."

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp refused to criticise his side after the defeat and was more than gracious in his praise for Ipswich.

He said: "They played really well and are a terrific side. If they make the play-offs they'll probably go up.

"We weren't at our best today but I can't be too critical.

"The players have given me everything they've got this season but it's impossible to win every game.

"Ipswich have got some fantastic players and they keep producing new young talent like the lad Richards.

"It's never easy coming here and I can remember getting mullered here during my time with West Ham."

Town got off to a dream start when Reuser intercepted Arjan De Zeeuw's woeful crossfield pass, burst forward and sent a dipping 30-yard shot beyond keeper Shaka Hislop.

It was 2-0 shortly after when Matt Richards' low cross was half cleared by De Zeeuw, leaving Miller the task of drilling home.

And Town were three ahead on the half hour when Miller played the ball over the top of the defence for Counago, who twisted past De Zeeuw before unleashing a rising effort past Hislop.