Town boss Mick McCarthy admitted that his side didn’t play particularly well in their 3-0 home defeat to Brighton, but was happy with the seven points his team has picked up over the Christmas period.

He said: “We’ve not played particularly well, I think we played a good team, but I would have taken seven points from the games we were having.

“I always see the big picture, I was brought in to keep the club in the league and get points and that’s what we’ve done.

“I admire the players, the way they’ve gone about their business. I think they’ve been amazing and to have got us 30 points by January 1st, I think is terrific.

“Then we lose a game, so what does that mean? That we’re all suddenly bad guys and bad players? Not at all, it doesn’t and I’ve said that to them.

“I think they’ve been remarkable, I think it’s been a great turnaround, we’ve got ourselves in a good position, but we’ve lost to a good team.

“We haven’t played particularly well, but perhaps we should give them some credit for playing well and for looking a bit fresher than us.”

While the festive fixtures threw up the occasional odd result, McCarthy says today’s loss might not have been a great shock: “It’s a strange league but is this such a strange result? Brighton were a team which has been pushing for the top six.

“We’ve been away at Charlton and at Wolves, put a real shift in and we got done. It was one of those days unfortunately.

“Some of the bounces [didn't go our way]. Someone tried to clear one at the end of the game and he made a right hash of it, it hit one of our players and went for a throw to them and I just laughed, I thought it kind of summed the day up.”

He felt the first goal was crucial: “We conceded from a corner, which was disappointing because it was unnecessary. I think they got a bit of a block on Guirane and [Dean Hammond] got a free run, but that’s part of the game, they’ve worked something from the corner.

“I think when they scored it took something out of our legs. We just didn’t have the pass or the final cross. For whatever reason, I’ve no idea, it wasn’t our day.”

McCarthy admitted that Brighton having had one game fewer over the Christmas period had an effect and that he might have made more changes to his side: “I think it probably did, but if you look at the bench there aren’t that many places I’m going to freshen it up really, are there?

“But then, it’s always the same, the team’s winning, we’ve had the same team for five games, they played great, they’d won two away.

"If I’d changed it and we’d got beaten I’d be wondering about it. If I don’t change it and we get beaten I’d be wondering about it, so it’s getting beaten that’s the problem.”

McCarthy, who will be looking to add to those options during the transfer window, spoke to loan striker DJ Campbell, who returns to QPR tomorrow, as he left the pitch at the end of the game: “I was thanking him for his efforts, he’s been terrific, he’s been a really good player for us and he’s a really good fella.

“I’d like to take him back, but he’s got to go back to QPR and they’ll take a look at him and decide what they’re going to do."

Midfielder Andy Drury missed the game due to illness and McCarthy doesn't yet know whether the former Luton man will be available for Saturday’s FA Cup tie at Aston Villa: “I think he’s got a bit of a virus, it depends what it does to him and whether it takes it out of him.”

Brighton boss Gus Poyet was asked whether it was a comfortable victory for his side: “I think it was a much-needed win, comfortable because of the goals. A few weeks ago we had 27 shots, 17 on target and we scored one goal.

“Today we hit the target three times and we scored three. Is that normal? No, but every now and then it happens in football and that’s the difference in this division.

“I have been watching Ipswich and they’ve been very good, clinical without being exceptionally good or on top of the game. They were winning games because they were scoring at the right time.

“We didn’t for so long, and today something happened. I don’t know it if it’s God or luck or the new year, everything went our way.

“So, without being very good, we were clinical today. Comfortable? In the end, the last five minutes, yes. A good day.”

He says his players weren’t happy with the Portman Road pitch: “We needed to adapt because the players came back from the warm-up and they were not very happy with the surface in terms of the ball running properly. It was a bit bumpy and, as you know, we need to pitch to be nice and sometimes you need to adapt.”

However, he stressed he wasn’t being critical of the Town groundstaff: “I’m not going to blame the groundsman, I’m just saying it was because they made it very flat, very, very flat, it was really firm and flat and it became a little bit bumpy and the ball didn’t really roll because there’s not enough grass at the moment.

“It’s flat but not full of grass when the ball can roll on the top. It’s like when you sometimes play on Astroturf, you pass the ball on the floor and for some reason the ball jumps.

“That happened a little bit today, for both teams, it’s not an excuse. You need to adapt to that and we’re not a great team at adapting to those situations.”

Photo: Action Images

Chris_ITFC added 18:36 - Jan 1 No wonder Brighton have been on such a bad run if they want a pitch better than ours to play on! a "very very flat" pitch, yet "bumpy". Good stuff from Mick. 7 points from those games is a good return and the big picture still looks promising, especially when you think where we've come from. COYB.
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chippyblue added 18:44 - Jan 1 Well that's a new one lol "" or did he mean very very bumpy" but "flat " !!!!!!
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kuyski added 18:45 - Jan 1 Today we knew something we‘re not good and strong enough ，MM must know what he need after this game to do I trust.
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PSGBlue added 19:04 - Jan 1 Firstly I agree 7 points from 12 is a good return over the Christmas period. But to shrug off a 3-0 home defeat to an average Brighton Team isn't acceptable. Time for MM to get real, a 3-0 home defeat should not be swept under the carpet. Especially when we are only 5 points above the drop zone, winning or at least drawing the home games is a must. With Cardiff away next match we needed to get something from today's game. The manner of the defeat also was worrying, you cannot say it was just one of those days Mick. The midfield was woeful at times, the front two never got any service. Why didn't JET come into midfield to liven things up when we were two down. On the plus side Chambers and Smith have formed a good understanding at the back, but we look short of quality midfield players who can link up with the front two. Chops, regardless of service is out of sorts, we need a frontplayer (DJ or otherwise) soon. Mick, you maybe on £1M bonus for keeping us up, but a 3-0 home defeat to Brighton in conjunction with the manner of out defeat is not acceptable. Time for you to get real, some of us have to make long journeys (Sleaford in my case) to see home, don't tell me a 3-0 home defeat is not a big deal! Mick will

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Talbs77 added 19:08 - Jan 1 Didnt go to the game today as really rough but from what I've read on here and heard on radio, we were well beat. Must admit was disapointed to hear reo-coker played, at the end of the its highly unlikely we are going to sign him so bit perplexed he played as he's hardly torn any trees up since he's been here! I think this month will be a bit turbulent with all sorts of rumours flying around but lets hope MM gets in the targets he needs as I thin todays result re iterates we are still poor compared to the decent clubs up the top of the league.

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bluey123 added 19:12 - Jan 1 I hope MM gets rid of the loans Reo Coker was awful Henderson terrible DJ leaving us Murphy should go back to Celtic . Chopra had half an hour to show something Scotland at least tried but no end product Martin flatters but again no end product Edwards should give up. The defence will be ok with a decent keeper Hyam not given a fair run out goodness knows why as for anyone thinking Thomas could do anything they have not seen him totally useless. MM has his work cut out as Div 1 here we come with this load of crap

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Len_Brennan added 19:30 - Jan 1 Bluey: Can you see any positives at all, or would we be better off just fogetting about the whole thing & finding something else to do with our time?
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MattinLondon added 19:35 - Jan 1 Ok so we lost but its not exactly the end of the world. Its still very very early days in terms of MM reign and so far he has done exceptionally well with what players he has. Personally I think the squad is weak and I am sure that MM knows exactly what is required in order to make the squad a promotion chasing squad. I'm looking forward to the transfer window as we now have a manager with a long-term vision rather than a blurred short-term fix.

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h32 added 19:49 - Jan 1 PSGBlue - totally agree with you - it's like using Xmas as an excuse, because we haven't used it lately. At Home - 0-3 is a TANKING - and does nothing for our already pathetic goals against figure.
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DurhamTownFan added 20:00 - Jan 1 bluey123: and what good will it do to have yet another overhaul of the playing squad? You can't just use short-term fixes. Players also get better with good coaching and games under their belts-just look at Tommy Smith! Course I'm also gutted we lost, but the bigger picture is that these kinds of games have been a lot rarer in recent weeks. With so many Championship teams all around the same level, we can get beat by anyone on an off day.

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yorkshirebluehd7 added 20:16 - Jan 1 Went to the game today for the first time in ages due to work. Ok we lost and we was pretty poor today but we controlled the possession just had no killer instinct. Brighton just took there chances. Abit of polishing and we will have a very good team in mick we trust!!!
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StuartBrett8 added 20:29 - Jan 1 Bad result but only positives from here on in, a Mick McCarthy team by the end of January hopefully... stay positive. COYB!
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oscarwhiting added 20:41 - Jan 1 Ref has to take a lot of the blame today. Especially in the first half. Don't know what game he was watching but it defo wernt ours,reckon he had a bet on Brighton because some of his decisions made absourlotly no sense. On the other hand, we never looked like we where gonna even score today because we looked so week going forward. I think mick has over played the team over the last week and today was the day they crumble.

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Dissboyitfc added 20:43 - Jan 1 What MM is saying here, is not that the loss is acceptable or sweeping it under the carpet is acceptable, he is treating a poor result in the same way as he treats a good result, refuses to go over the top with praise and likewise with criticism. Very wise, as he continues to build his own team.....COYB
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truthhurts added 20:49 - Jan 1 What's with the negative comments!? Thought Mick was the be-all and end-all by what some of you have been saying in past! One bad result and/or performance isn't a disaster folks
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HackneyBlue added 20:53 - Jan 1 We were 2nd best from minute 1,we have little technical ability at the back and thus we just hoofed it back when under little pressure,when we realised this it was too late we were 2 down. Defensively we are still fragile and this remains the biggest concern for me-3 shots 3 goals.we also need a bit of pace and creativity in the middle .
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Wickets added 21:00 - Jan 1 Bad day at the office, just cant understand why Reo got the nod over Hyam?
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Knightsy added 21:28 - Jan 1 Well Said Dissboyitfc
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bobble added 21:36 - Jan 1 my bellies sort of flat, but bumpy......cardiff next a handy 3 pts ,we always beat them.....
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bobble added 21:36 - Jan 1 my bellies sort of flat, but bumpy......cardiff next a handy 3 pts ,we always beat them.....
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donore added 21:48 - Jan 1 Probably the finest playing surface in he division ! A bumpy mirage no doubt!
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WarkyWonderLand added 21:55 - Jan 1 MM has had 13 games and won 23 points. We were bottom with 7 points when he arrived so to have 30 points going into 2013 with the same group of players is a huge achievement. We won't win every game and he will make sure we are still in this division next season. This was a big match for Brighton with the run they were on and lets not forget they have played a game less over Xmas. Mick will keep his cards close to his chest and am sure he has a good idea of who will be coming in this month. Seems that too many people are too quick to have a moan after 1 loss. We are lucky with the manager we have and our patience will be rewarded. Keep the faith and Coyb.

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Mark added 22:02 - Jan 1 It was disappointing today, but after wins at Charlton and Wolves then three wins in seven days was probably too much to expect from the same group of players. I was surprised to see Reo-Coker start and he played as badly as I feared he might. He looks like a poor version of Leadbitter, with every pass being a simple sideways one. I think Hyam was unlucky to be on the bench, and Emmanuel-Thomas probably feels a little unhappy not to have featured when the main 11 were tired. I expect Loach will start against Villa with Henderson being on loan and not wanting to be cup-tied. Henderson has been good of late, but not today. As he is on Premier League wages I think we need to be careful about rushing to sign him, especially if West Ham want a transfer fee. It's January now, so will we sign players? My big worry is that McCarthy may get his first taste of ITFC failing to do the deals he wants.

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Langdon_Blue added 22:39 - Jan 1 Well said Dissboyitfc, saved me from writing exactly the same comment.
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chippyblue added 23:36 - Jan 1 Dissboyitfc Well said and good point !!!!
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