Manager Mick McCarthy saw some positives in Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with Peterborough United, amongst them his side’s defending, despite “the really poor” goal they conceded in the first half.

McCarthy said: “We can pass it better and the goal we conceded was really poor, but what really pleased me after that was the fact that we didn’t look like conceding again, maybe until the last five minutes when it became end to end and we got done on the break a couple of times.

"Us trying to win the game could have cost us. That’s always a worry to every team.

“But overall I thought we were really solid, organised, defended well for the main part, so that part of it was good, and then if we can pass it better, but that will come, hopefully, with results and performances and keeping practising at it.”

Posh’s goal came from the type of mistake which has been Town’s downfall on all too many occasions in recent seasons.

Getting them out of the players’ collective system once and for all is something the Blues manager says he and his staff are working on: “You first have to show them the defensive errors and then you work with them, be it individually in one-v-ones or two-v-twos, on the organisation of a back four and the people who are in front of them, and then build it up into a team that’s defending.

“For the main part, the team defensive unit was good on Saturday, so that’s an improvement. And the fact, of course, that we conceded a goal and were 1-0 down and didn’t lose the game is a real positive.”

McCarthy isn’t sure the result was as much of a disappointment as has been suggested by some: “So, we got a point on Saturday, everyone thinks that as it was Peterborough at home we should have won, but it just doesn’t happen like that.

“As I said the day I walked in, it might be the last day of the season that we stay up because we are where we are because we’ve not been very good.

“That’s the upshot of it. Between us all - myself, the players, the staff here and the scouts, we’ve got to make us better and make sure we do stay up.”

Yesterday, he revealed he had added to his scouting ranks and he says they may have to find the players to replace some of the current loanees: “Ian Evans and Dave Bowman will both be joining us. They’re working with me now and it’ll be official asap.

“We have got a real issue with so many players on loan that might go back. Who’s to say that they don’t decide they won’t go back?

“There was discussion in [a previous press conference] about DJ Campbell coming on a permanent move, but who knows? And of course, anyone who comes in on loan and does well, the value of them goes up. That just becomes difficult to manage.

“So, we might have to replace those. I need all hands to the pump doing that, Dave and Taff Evans and Steve McCall. We’ll be scouring everywhere, all the scouts.”

McCarthy says he is yet to speak to new QPR boss Harry Redknapp about Campbell’s future: “I haven’t and until he gets his feet under the desk I won’t be pestering him. We can’t do anything about it until January anyway.”

Overall, he says he’s happy with life in Suffolk so far: “Fabulous place, great club, I’m loving being here. We need to make sure we have enough points to stay in this league and then we can progress after that. And I think we will.”

Photo: Action Images

bluefeast added 07:04 - Nov 27 Im in total agreement with delivering the positive message. However whether MM likes it or not Posh were the worst team ive seen at portman rd for i dont know how long. And they were the better side , passed it better and got themselves into scoring positions. We did not threaten their keeper apart from a looping header. We looked soft at the back and only seemed an attack away from conceding. Thats against a poor team. We see what happens against a good one. However MM will sort it .COYB

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francisb123 added 07:51 - Nov 27 lots of positives from not being able to beat teams like peterborough at home!
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warbeat78 added 08:15 - Nov 27 “So, we got a point on Saturday, everyone thinks that as it was Peterborough at home we should have won, but it just doesn't happen like that. Well MM very true words spoken!!! Would like to wager that 99% of midd/boro fans thought that they should have won at home as well. Keep up the good work in MICK we trust COYBS!!!
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warbeat78 added 08:20 - Nov 27 And they got nothing out of game!!!! THAT'S FOOTBALL as they say To run with obove post
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Marcus added 09:32 - Nov 27 We got a point. At the moment we have a mess of a squad with the loan players showing more passion than the experienced permanent players. Every point is a bonus as it means we haven't lost. Someone said Peterborough have been the worst team to play at Portman Road this season - I respectfully disagree - Ipswich have been the worst team. MM's task is to scrap out as many points as possible until January and then get the players in to start the rebuilding. It's a tough task.

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TimmyH added 14:28 - Nov 27 Not sure I totally agree with MM on the defense, after they scored the game became very broken up with very little quality from both sides (hence no opportunities from both sides), second half when ever they attacked after we equalized they looked like they could score, at times they passed the ball around far better than what we did also think that the Central midfield did very little to help the defense which also contributed to panic stations.

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