An angry Mick McCarthy felt the Blues let Bristol City off the hook after their 2-1 defeat at Ashton Gate. Ex-Town striker Jon Stead netted in the final minute to seal a victory for the Robins when the Blues should have gone in 2-0 in front at the break.

McCarthy pulled no punches after the game: “Livid, pissed off, annoyed, angry, disappointed. We let them off the hook, we should have won the game.”

He added: “If I wasn’t angry after that… and I really should be delighted by the performance in the main, but I’m not because we lost the game.

"Results determine how I feel over the weekend and I’m going to feel pretty pissed off.”

The result dropped Town to 21st with Birmingham and Sheffield Wednesday both winning away. The bottom three sides, Peterborough, Barnsley and Bristol City all have a game in hand over the Blues.

McCarthy believes his team should find themselves in a much healthier position this evening: “I think we’ve had the best of the chances in the game, but we’ve lost it, so there’s no point in me talking about what might have been.

“What has happened is that we’ve been beaten in the game and I see the others around us have won, which makes it harder still.”

Having gone ahead via Daryl Murphy, Town should have gone 2-0 in front when Lee Martin missed a golden opportunity from a McGoldrck cross, an incident McCarthy thought gave the home team a boost.

“Certainly, that gave them a lift coming out for the second half,” he said. “We should have been 2-0 up, there’s no question about that.

“And the goal we conceded just after half-time was awful, à la [the game at] Aston Villa. They’ll look it as a great goal by them, but it shouldn’t happen and we’ve let the right off the hook at the end of the game. We’ve got three defenders marking two, it shouldn’t happen, it was awful.”

The Blues boss admitted that he’s concerned that his team have a tendency to let teams off the hook and knows what they have to do to avoid similar situations from occurring again: “We make sure that we don’t get out of position, that’s all.

“We had a great chance to win the game with Lee,” he added. “But one ball up the middle has taken three of our defenders out.”

Bristol City’s winning goalscorer Stead, who played for McCarthy at Sunderland, was one of a number of players the Blues boss felt was out to impress new Robins manager Sean O’Driscoll: “They had a few with a point to prove.

“Steven Davies came on and played very well having lost Ryan Taylor up front. I thought he played well and Jon Stead had a point to prove.

“They’ve had their noses out of joint. A new manager - does it have an effect? Quite clearly it does, but it has an effect if you let them off the hook in the first place, which we did.

“It wouldn’t have mattered who had come on to the pitch if we’d defended the first. And if we’d put the second one in when we should have done, it wouldn’t have mattered, but all that’s hypothetical now.”

He says he may be able to take positives from the game later on down the line — strikers David McGoldrick and Daryl Murphy combined well — but not in the immediate aftermath of the game: “Of course there will be [positives], but that’s not for this moment in time.

“You’re asking me how I feel and everything else is a silver lining on what is a pretty dark horrible cloud on my head at the minute.”

As we go into the final week of the transfer window, McCarthy says there are deals for potential additions to his squad currently ongoing: “Yes, let’s see what happens.”

Bristol City boss Sean O’Driscoll was delighted with his team’s victory: “It’s always nice to get off the mark at home when you come to a new team.

“We weathered a bit of a storm and changed things tactically and I’m delighted with the attitude and character the players showed more than anything else.”

Photo: Action Images

SickParrot added 18:49 - Jan 26 Rotten result today and just 2 points from the last 4 games, including matches against the bottom 2. However, prior to that we had taken 23 points from 12 games under MM, compared with 7 points from 13 games before he took over. MM is definitely the right man to keep us up but he needs some help from Evans/Clegg. I am concerned to learn that we are looking at loan deals again, rather than permanent signings because Evans/Clegg wish to avoid paying wages after the end of the season! Do Evans/Clegg want us to stay in this league, or not? If so, they must provide the funds to allow MM to sign the players that he wants. In my opinion we need 2 good wingers and a more creative central midfielder but I trust MM to get it right. I would have liked to have signed DJ Campbell permanently but I think the strikers MM has signed will score goals with better service. If we do not get the right players in I am afraid that we will go down. Please Mr Evans give MM the funds he needs to sign the players that can keep us up.

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kuyski added 18:54 - Jan 26 Mr Evans we actually need to survival for this season first
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northdevonblue added 19:11 - Jan 26 Get your cheque book out Evans, you have got a good manager in now give him an chance with some good players.
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mikeybloo88 added 19:12 - Jan 26 Sign some bloody creative midfielders NOW!
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airliner added 19:17 - Jan 26 Yes have to agree if Mick is to build the team for next season they have to back him with hard cash and stop going down this loan route. We should have gone all out to keep DJ as this is looking like another relegation scrap again. This is the typical Ipswich way , new manager but not backing him, would not be surprised if he leaves if the owners/CEO dont back him. It is patently obvoius the midfield is lacking in an out and out provider to the strikers. one step forward 2 steps back.

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Mark added 19:18 - Jan 26 It is very worrying, as the teams at the bottom just keep winning and we can very easily still get relegated. This was Bradley Orr's last match, and I read on here the other day that we're only likely to bring loan players in so that is a big concern. My thanks to Luton for taking away some of the pain of the football day.
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TractorBoy666 added 19:20 - Jan 26 Does this owner have any ambition at all? I hear Dyer is on his way to Boro, and he's a better winger than Lee Martin! If you want to get us to the promised land Evans, let alone stay up you need to get your finger out. With the current squad we have of loanees I can't see us getting very far. Let Martin go, liability and no one will want him. Should of made it 2-0, but we can never kill teams off. We are back in trouble.

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jas0999 added 19:20 - Jan 26 Poor result but have confidence in mick. The question is whether Evans and clegg do the necessary deals. They have both failed miserably in previous seasons. Clearly many of the players inherited from Paul jewell are nowhere near good enough, but as with the vast majority on here, I suspect mick knows that.
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martleshamitfc added 19:21 - Jan 26 agree with sickparrot, but would like to sign players that can take us up rather than just keep us up?
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Daleyitfc added 19:22 - Jan 26 Lee Martin proving yet again today what a liability he is : get rid, very quickly. And in case no-one has noticed, we only average just over half a point per game when Scott Loach is in goal.
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runaround added 19:23 - Jan 26 we're crying out for creativity, most of our chances come from the strikers doing the hard work or set pieces. N'Daw & Hyam battle but arent creative players whilst Martin & Edwards create nothing. 2 creative midfielders hopefully ones who play wide are essential this week, more important than a rightback or keeper, or I think we're going down. Whilst loanees arent the best answer, its understandable club doesnt want up the potential permanent wagebill what with the effect relegation would have on FPP, but I wud take creative loanees now as I fear without them we're doomed. Over to MM, ME & SC, what a massive week in future of ITFC this could be

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afrodids added 19:39 - Jan 26 funny how everyone is now saying what I said after the Brighton game and got slated for it!!!!
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Stato added 19:41 - Jan 26 Spot on Daleyitfc. Too many on here rate Loach for no other reason than he is a local lad.
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Steelmonkey added 19:56 - Jan 26 We can all see the problem, MM is doing a great job with what he has to work with. He is certainly getting more out of the players than some did, for now. Certain players are just not up to doing the job that is needed, if we had the players in that could do the job we would be top of the table. Getting players in is obviously going to be as problimatic for MM just as it has been for our previous managers, wether it be a cash or attracting players to the club problem. Despite the newer players that have arrived, none of them are provern or indeed capable of holding places in their "home" teams. It's a catch 22 syndrome - take a chance and buy a prospective youngster, or take on loanee players that sit on rival teams sidelines, get them fit and back to playing with reasonable good form and hey presto they are wanted back. All this season is going to be about is survival, and finding out who deserves to be retained and who is let go. Ultimatly it is going to be the players performances that decide their futures with the club.

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Lower_North added 20:00 - Jan 26 Did he say Pissed Off? Don't know we would have got away with that if we said it..
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punch_bowl added 20:06 - Jan 26 runaround you got your eyes shut? N'daw is the only creative one dropping balls over the defence! Martin cannot head the ball, cannot tackle, cannot score, cannot keep his temper, cannot consistently take a good corner! we have good players but not good enough for this league or to take us forward, we are back to relegation worries again. MM will get the same treatment from the board as Joe Royle did, no money and free agents and loans!

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Tractamatt added 20:17 - Jan 26 Our strikers COMING good in the future is no good to us now we need strikers who know where the net is get rid of 2 and thats any 2 other than Murphy and make Campbell a refreshed offer then get Wellens on a permanent deal and then a replacement for Martin.
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petermorris added 20:25 - Jan 26 Get used to it Mick - it's the new 'Ipswich Way'........ at least it is since ME n Clegg took over...
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Kikapu added 20:57 - Jan 26 Oh, for goodness sake. Let's face it, at the moment Ipswich can't attract the kind of talent that some towns (never mind cities) in the Midlands and London can attract. Until we can create a centre of excellence, the kind of which we developed in earlier decades, we won't progress as quickly as some unrealistic supporters hope for. Success breeds success. It's not all about money. Some supporters will hope (against hope) that we might attract the like of an Indian chicken farmer, or the like, to pump millions into the club and create instant success. Given the choice most of us would be more comfortable with a proprietor who was intent to develop the club over the long term. MM is the best decision made by the owner to achieve that. He will succeed, but it will take time. I can understand that supporters' confidence diminishes when the team go through a difficult patch, but I ask you to have faith in Mick. He is a star. He will succeed. Supporters have all the anxiety, but no control, so I can understand all the negativity in today's posts. Understand, if Mick doesn't bring any players, there aren't any more worth bringing in at the moment at the right price. Have faith in MM.

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Ipswichbusiness added 20:58 - Jan 26 Daleyitfc; you say that we have only managed half a point per game with Scott Loach in goal. I haven't checked your maths, but please remember that most of his games were with Mr Jewell as manager and the defence in front of him was an utter shambles; a young Peter Shilton would have struggled under those circumstances.
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tractorboy1961 added 21:02 - Jan 26 I believe MM and TC have the ability to take this club forward but agree with others we are several players short of a team capable of staying in this league let alone going up. I have no doubt MM knows what is needed and probably who he wants. I am concerned Evans will not back him and maybe we will lose this potentially great manager. Said it before since Evans took over the club has been in decline. Clegg has no idea how to run a football club and between them I really doubt they have the slightest understanding of what a football club means to its fans. I believe we are seen as customers and not supporters. I think without blinkers everyone can see where we are heading and now it's time for Evans to prove to us all that he wants this club to succeed and back MM in the next 5 days. If he doesn't I fear the worst.

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Talbs77 added 21:14 - Jan 26 I think the last few games have highlighted what the issue is in my view, that due to the ongoing shambles of a transfer policy, the team are struggling in the league. I have to make it clear I lay absolutely no blame at MM door, he can only do so much with the hand dealt him by the club. The powers that be need to get real and realise that, unless MM is backed 100%, letting him display the skills that led to them employing him in the first place, we could well go down. What worries me is nothing will happen, the club will hide behind FFP, MM will end up having to sign players on ridiculous loans or short term deals and god help us. I'm feeling that horrible dark cloud beginning to hover over us agin....

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runaround added 22:10 - Jan 26 Punchbowl, at some games recently I wished I'd had my eyes shut! Agree N'Daw can pass but my point was more that, in our current formation, we need Edwards & Martin to be creative provide width & deliver decent crosses, but both are failing to do this. They are the weaklink/problem & the ones who need replacing. We could have the best strikers in the world but they wont score many unless they get a good service. 29 goals in 29 games is why we're 4th bottom

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BuckieBlue added 22:16 - Jan 26 Lot of negativity around! OK today's result was bad, but as MM said they were all desparate to impress new manager and it doesn't sound as though we were over ran or anything, just two bad goals conceded. Re money, I can't believe MM wasn't promised funds before agreeing to come but as he said the other day Jan signings are a bit of a waste of money, summer wages for doing nothing, so I am confident we will spend in summer. As for our form, ok three bad results recently but I have checked and since MM took over we are equal 4th in form league- and that is with our current squad (OK minus DJ) but if MM can do it with them then i am confident we'll make a good push next season.

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martleshamitfc added 22:22 - Jan 26 5 days left in this transfer window, could be a very interesting few days, plus it will also give us an idea what sort of backing MM is getting? hopefully we can survive this season still a championship club and then allow MM to rebuild HIS squad for next season? (fingers & legs crossed)
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