Boss Mick McCarthy felt that while it was difficult to take the Blues losing to local rivals Norwich City, there was no disgrace in how his side played against the recently relegated former Premier League side. Lewis Grabban's 24th minute goal was enough to give the Canaries the victory.

“It was a hard-fought game,” McCarthy said. “They had the goal and we didn’t. It changed the course of it, as it always does.

“It changed the momentum, I thought they were better than us for 10 minutes after that and being one in front allowed them in the second half to try and catch us on the break, which they almost did a couple of times.

“But we had a gilt-edged chance when we were playing well through Daryl Murphy. He’s just looked at it and he knows he should have scored.”

He had no complaints regarding his team's endeavour: “The effort and commitment is always there from the players.

“I thought we rushed it and tried to get back in the game too much, we didn’t have too much quality in the first half. In the second half we were better.

“But we were playing against a good team, a team that’s come down from the Premier League with good players in it and has signed some good players.

“They’ve got a good squad, it’s no disgrace how we played against them, it’s just difficult when it’s our nearest and not so dearest.”

McCarthy says he always expected the opening few games of the season to be tough: “When I looked at the fixtures when they came out I didn’t think for a minute that Fulham at home, Reading away, Birmingham away and Norwich at home was going to be easy. I always thought it was going to be hard and that’s how it’s proved to be.”

Regarding Norwich’s goal, he said: “Somebody shouted ‘keeper’s’, I don’t know who shouted it. I haven’t got an ear-piece into the six-yard box to find out whether it was and who said it, but no other player should shout it except Gerks."

He added: “It wasn’t Gerks, Skusey’s marking Grabban, so I don’t know, might have been Grabban that shouted it, could have done. None of our players should shout that."

“It certainly looked like a mix-up. We didn’t deal with it well enough. We dealt with the first corner kick but we didn't deal with the ball coming back in.”

Despite Christophe Berra being on the floor not far from goal when Grabban scored, the video evidence still suggested that the goalscorer may have been offside, however, McCarthy was more concerned with his team’s defensive failings.

“If [it does still look offside] then it’ll give me something to whinge about,” he continued. “But in reality we didn’t deal with it. I’m not blaming the officials and I think if you look you’ll find that Berra and Michael Turner are lying on the floor about one yard out.

“I’ve got complaints about how we dealt with it, not how anybody refereed it, which is unusual for a manager.”

He admits he’s been less than happy with the goals his side has given away in the last couple of matches: “In the last three games we’ve conceded very poor goals from our point of view.

“It’s not like we’ve conceded as a back four that can’t defend, it’s been individual errors, the one at Reading, the two at Birmingham and the one today, so we’ll have to get better.

He says he expects the Canaries to be amongst the promotion challengers come May: “We’ve played a team today which will be competing at the top with an opportunity. Without a doubt, they’ve got a very good squad.”

Asked about the very different budgets Town and Norwich - recipients of £60 million in parachute payments over the next four years - are forced to work within, McCarthy added: “Financial Fair Play, that’s bollocks, isn’t it?

“We’re operating within it and they’ve just got a different Financial Fair Play [situation], as have Fulham and the other teams who have come down. It makes it all the more rewarding when you do well without it. And that’s what we’re going to have to do.”

Norwich boss Neil Adams believed his team was worthy of the victory: “It was a well-deserved win.

“I thought we needed to be better in the first half. I said to the players at half-time that we didn’t really move the ball as quickly or as effectively as we’re capable of.

“Even though we were winning the game, I still felt we could have been a little bit better.

“To the lads’ credit they did step it up more in the second half. I thought defensively throughout the game we were excellent and we probably could have gone and added another two goals in the second half.

“We missed some good chances but it was good to restrict Ipswich to few chances if any at all. Overall I thought we deserved to win the game and I’m delighted with the victory.”

Adams apologised for failing to shake hands with McCarthy and his assistant Terry Connor after the match.

“I want to apologise to Mick and Terry,” he said. “I was out of order I didn’t shake their hands. Completely unintentionally, I was too caught up in the moment, so hopefully you’ll all report that.

“I realised when I was on the pitch that that was out of order and I should have shown more respect to them and shaken their hands before I went off on my celebrations. Hand on heart it wasn’t intentional.

“I wouldn’t have been too happy if that had been flipped, so big apologies to Mick and Terry, they’re good people and I apologise unreservedly for forgetting to shake their hands at the final whistle.

“Terry actually came onto the pitch and shook my hand and I realised then I’d forgotten and thought ‘I’ve made a big mistake here’.

“My fault, it certainly wasn’t intended and hopefully they’ll accept that with the grace that they have. I was out of order, not intentionally, I just forgot.

“I don’t want to argue with Mick, there’s only going to be one winner there, isn’t there?”

Questioned about the incident and Adams’s apology, McCarthy said: “He should have [shaken hands]. Sky have just asked me and I said it’s nothing to do with them whether he shook my hand or not.

“Whether they show that or not I don’t know. I tend to deal with my matters with other managers individually and on my own.”

He added: “He’s got a good team, they’re a good side and they’d just beaten us and if it’s a lesson in etiquette then the first person he shakes hands with [should be] me and [then] with TC.

“I’ve had to do it, I’ve had to do it at Leicester when we’ve been beaten 6-0 and 5-0 [at Palace] and that’s what you do. If that’s a lesson today, then fine.”

Photo: Action Images

BenBullock added 17:16 - Aug 23 Another depressing day as an Ipswich Town fan I'm afraid. Without a doubt big Mick worked wonders when he kept us up, but can anyone really say we have progressed?? In terms of management Mick is the best in the business when you are fighting relegation as he makes teams hard to beat and organised. However, He doesn't seem to have found the balance between hard workers and genuine talent. Anyone who went today would see we just played into turners hands by hoofing it in the air with no other game plan. Hyam looked the only player up for it and wanted the ball throughout the game, where as skuse has gone back a level in my opinion. Luke has become twice the player is, as he actually tries to play with some sort of tempo. Regardless of what people say about Taylor's attitude, the man has ability to change a game which no one currently does in our team (other than Mcgoldrick). Whenever I saw him play he would work his socks off, so the fact MM can't come out and explain what the situation is, it frustrates me even more. He got one chance last year, when he started at home to Birmingham and if anyone saw that game they will know that he got motm and received a standing ovation. However after the game, MM refused to compliment him and instead call Jay Tabb "different class". Can't help but feel MM has a sense of arrogance about him that the famous Roy Keane had. It seems if you can run yourself into the ground you can guarantee start, but you need to balance that with some flair. Ok afraid playing cole skuse and Jay tabb is like having 9 men. What do they actually give to the side other than a few backward passes? It's not so much the result that has depressed me, it's the way we played. Realistically a top half finish would be a big achievement with a very average squad.

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IpswichFan26 added 17:18 - Aug 23 Losing today against the scum is just terrible. Today was a disaster and it's something that we, as fans, have to deal with from other supporters. The players/manager don't. From the first whistle, I think Tyrone Mings got the ball immediately and hoofed it up and we lost it in a second. That's concerning. What's also concerning is that the team managed to completely kill the atmosphere of a 25,000+ fans. Under MM, we are known for having a good defence but the last 3 games it was mistakes at the back that lost us points. Then the forwards, Murphy didn't have a good game today, missing an opportunity like he had is more maddening to me than even getting a chance at all, perhaps. The worst thing though, to me anyway, is the lack of interest/passion the players showed. This was a derby match, the first in 3 years and Hyam is the only one, at least to me, that showed any. While its commendable that we're following FFP completely an working on a shoestring budget, this teams is crying out for a few QUALITY signings, Mick, I beg you to spend time this next week to find some and if we can still stick to our budget, then great. On the more positive side, I feel that Mings had a decent game, showed glimpses of quality which justifies why he plays, he can only get better. The more game time DM gets, the fitter he will get, which can only be a positive. And Gerken, he was at fault for the goal (so was 2 or 3 others mind) but he was a plus point to me I though.

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hammo56 added 17:19 - Aug 23 Wake up and smell the coffee we have a very ordinary squad which lacks creativity. Crowds will continue to fall as the quality of football is quite frankly terrible.
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TractorBoy666 added 17:25 - Aug 23 Every interview has something to do with the other team 'oh they're going to be up there this season' (Reading) and 'they've improved a lot since last year' (Birmingham) and also hearing Mick Mills on the radio saying Norwich are a premier league team, no they're not they wasn't good enough for the prem which is why they're in our league!! I hate the excuses people come out with, does this mean we're not improving then?! Our midfield is so so weak, it's so clear where we need strengthening. But yet Evans seems happy with Championship football spending nothing. That performance today was awful, one real chance which was Murphy was the only chance we had. Selling Cresswell to have Tabb as your set piece taker shows how backwards we're going. I honestly cannot see us finishing any higher than 13th place with this current squad. Also to mention which someone above said, Rotherham are loving their new signings! I bet Taylor and Wordsworth are loving playing in an attack minded team, it's different to this dull boring football we experience week in, week out.

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manualthetisfanclub added 17:27 - Aug 23 Feel we going stagnant,league stronger this year and FFP a massive burden.im afraid this club going nowhere if our manager can only strengthen in the pound shop. This team needs a massive injection of creativity,pace and goals but alas cannot see it coming. Feel for mick in that respect.
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TimmyH added 17:30 - Aug 23 Sorry Mick it could have been a disgrace if the Budgies had a bit more composure and touch around and in the box, could have easily been 3 or 4. Also nice to see Mick's usual post match 'bigging up' of the opposition about the quality of their players/squad, money etc. - personally thought they looked no great shakes, we looked poor defensively, particularly 2nd half.
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WashbrookBlue added 17:34 - Aug 23 A check on last years stats shows that our starting midfield today made a combined total of 147 appearances and scored between them a total of but 6 goals, only one more in total than both our centre halves managed on their own! Now there's stubborn and there's stubborn I suggest. And its a pig headed blindness that is preventing the club moving forward. We should remember that both Wordsworth and Taylor are only on loan. Should they really rip it up at Rotherham - and I really hope they do - well then, that's going to be really interesting as "different class" Tabby and co continue to shuffle sideways whilst we go backwards. Wake up Mick.

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prebbs007 added 17:35 - Aug 23 Let's be honest about where we stand in this league. With the players we have currently we have absolutely no hope of being top 6. Gerken continues to make errors average championship keeper at best. Chambers is NOT a full back ! Berra looks rusty compared to last season. Smith solid but error prone. Mings, young but no Creswell and has long way to go to be Championship standard. Anderson gives energy but zero quality Skuse & Hyam are the same player neither are anywhere good enough for this level. Tabb total and utter joke of a player. Murphy won zero headers today got beaten to every ball by Turner and the one chance he got was a disgusting miss he is a lump up front who wins no balls that he should and needs at least 5 chances to score. Didzy is our only player who would have any hope of getting in a top 6 team and he still looks unfit and defo not back to his best. This group will see us in bottom half/ relegation fringes. No creativity. No quality. No pace. No skill. MM must have something lined up to keep letting players leave an already thin squad. ME support your manager with some funds or you will continue to lose money every year as crowds will dwindle and we have no hope of ever going up. Fans are getting upset about the lack of enthusiasm from the owner for our great club to go up. This set if players is NOT good enough. The team is worse than last season the players brought in (apart from Stewart possibly) will not be starters, sort it out Marcus or we are in BIG trouble !!!

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jas0999 added 17:39 - Aug 23 Does mick not realise what this game means to the fans? Any defeat to Norwich is a disgrace in my mind! Big changes required. Evans and McCarthy need to act NOW. Attacking, quality players required and now please. Midfield is shockingly bad, whilst McGoldrick aside, few consistent goal scoring options up front. Sammon ... Oh dear. Where is the flair? Poor.
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Count_Arthur added 17:43 - Aug 23 I'm sorry but MM needs to stop defending his players and have the courage to drop players that don't perform. There are too many favourites who we see week in week out who aren't performing. Bart needs a chance to show that he can take the no. 1 slot that he craves, Henshall, Parr & Badger need to be given a full 90 minutes and some of the regulars need a spell on the bench to wake them up. Skuse and Gerkin particular, both have been poor today and at Birmingham. Atmosphere was also better on Tuesday. Come on MM, this was a massive game for us, we feel let down.

6

Stato added 17:45 - Aug 23 Ok Mick now imagine how you would feel if we put that performance in against Wolves at Portman Road and you'll still only be at a fraction of what us Ipswich fans are feeling tonight. An apology would have been better.
8

buddsterblue added 17:47 - Aug 23 Bit harsh didn't think it was that bad, offers players to play in defensive and attacking positions, gives us a solid six defensively and an attacking four Then again what do I know lost £25 on best cause I was stupid enough to think we would win;(
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buddsterblue added 17:47 - Aug 23 Bet
0

bigfatjoe87 added 17:51 - Aug 23 The reactions of adams at the end showed who wanted it more
3

yorksblue added 17:58 - Aug 23 Gutless, spineless. An absolute disgrace for a derby match. Defenders all over the place, midfield who couldn't string a couple of passes together and a forwards going backwards. Apart from that, I'm very satisfied with the performance. Let's have more of this please Mick!
8

Harlowtractorboy added 18:20 - Aug 23 Where is the cresswell money and we should leave tabb on the brench always drifting in and leaving mings with two players
5

bluelodgeblue added 18:27 - Aug 23 Come on guys is anyone really surprised at this result? the best we could hope for was a draw. All down to FFP What a load of Tosh that is?
4

phillo added 18:28 - Aug 23 Think Tabb should be left on the training ground to be fair !
3

GavITFC added 18:34 - Aug 23 No disgrace!! How can anyone have anything positive to say about that performance? No creativity no pressure no leaders no idea! Been happy with MM but we're not progressing and the squad is worse than last season. The whole town was buzzing before kick off, the pubs were heaving and in good voice but the lackluster performance killed any passion and gave us nothing to feed off. Disgraceful

9

Lathers added 18:36 - Aug 23 He has steadied the ship no doubt, but we are a solid, boring machine with no creativity. Must sign some pace, some excitement, someone who gets us off our seat. We are so far off the top teams in this league and it's painfully clear to see. Agree with those on here - Connor Salmon's signing and the loaning out of Taylor says it all about what MM is trying to create at PR. Can easily see a good 20 years or more at this level unless investment is made. Surely we can spend £1m of the Cresswell cash on a top league 1 striker?

8

warktheline added 18:40 - Aug 23 Time warp. Already 4 games in and there is a gulf in class between us and a handful of teams. There has to be an investment, and if that was to happen,then the managers strategies would undoubtedly be questioned,if the gulf wasn't bridged. Obviously many have questioned Mick's style of play for sometime, and at this point of time, it's extremely hard to argue against their views. We look very predictable,and at best, industrial.Watched the game today from armchair, and have to say, found time to load dishwasher,hang clothes on washing line and keep an eye on my two young sons,whilst game continued. We only looked like scoring once, Murphy header.Paying punters need to be served up better than what was offered today, let's not forget, we were the home team!

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sergeisays added 18:54 - Aug 23 I hate to point out the obvious- but our club is shambles we have a footballing dinosaur in charge of team and owner who's only interest is to get his brand seen by as many people as possible. I fear we areally on a rapidly excellerating spiral downward unless investment is made ASAP. Never thought I'd say it but would rather have lost today than watch fail like that we where terrible gutless and spineless the only way we can change this is to vote with our feet!!!

2

NoelTheDub added 19:06 - Aug 23 Mick I know exactly what bull was coming out.Yes Norwich have come down with big money but they went up trying to play and win a football match.Yes we have no money but what you did get of Mr Evens you wasted Banjar havent seen him since the 40th min v Fulham,Parr hasent kicked a ball for us, Bru the jury is out on him and Salmon i have no idea why.Your tactics of hoofing a ball up to our forwards who flick it on to nobody because everyone else is in our half.My argument is the type of players you pick and the ones you leave out or the ones you let go this is not about no money there was plenty of free agents floating around pre season and clearly you refused to address the issue of no creativity and lack of pace especially out wide.Any team with a bit of pace will kill us get it sorted MM..

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NoelTheDub added 19:19 - Aug 23 The phantom call was the difference today Mick I rest my case ..... Ive just seen the goals from the championship and even teams that got beat try to play ball and have a go.No team this early fear the drop except us by the way we are set up.
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Letchworth_Blue added 19:22 - Aug 23 Used to think MM after match thoughts were a bit querky, funny, bullish. It's getting very hard now to not think that he is just pig-headed northerer who can't admit his current tactics/player selection are wrong.
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