Mick McCarthy admitted that his team was below par as they lost 3-2 at Brighton and missed out on the chance to go top, but also had praise for his friend Chris Hughton’s Seagulls side.

“I could bemoan that we didn’t play as well as we could have done in the first half but that might take a bit away from Chris’s team because I thought they were good,” McCarthy said.

“We were trying to get to the top and they were ready for us. I seem to remember us when we were in the bottom six when I first came to the club we set about Nottingham Forest and ran all over them, we did the same to Crystal Palace, we did the same to Leicester.

“We’re having to live up to a reputation so I think teams are steeling themselves for that and they’re getting something better out of their teams, but our first half performance wasn’t what I would have expected from us.”

McCarthy felt some of his players might have been feeling the effects of matches having come thick and fast: “Maybe one or two of them are knackered, Murph’s played every minute of every game just about.

“Noel Hunt came in and was brilliant last weekend. We start from the front and he’d not played a lot of football.

“I’m not making excuses for them because I don’t have to. There have been one or two who have been missing through illness and injury.

“I thought Skusey was outstanding to come back after nine days [out ill]. But you only have to be down a couple of per cent and they’re up a couple of per cent because they’re playing us and it makes it a difficult evening.”

McCarthy said Brighton would be no easy touch beforehand despite starting the evening in 20th - they have climbed one place - and that proved to be the case with Albion looking a much better side than their current position.

“That’s because I know Chris and I know what he’s about and I know how good he is as a coach and a manager,” he added.

“I think wherever he’s been he’s done a great job. I know there’ll be Norwich fans screaming at me but I seem to remember they were still in the Premier League when he was sacked.

“He’s been everywhere, he’s experienced. He was at Tottenham for a long time. I’m a bit annoyed with him tonight, but he’s a great guy, he’s a mate of mine.”

The Town boss didn’t feel the chance to go top of the table following Bournemouth’s defeat last night had any effect on his players.

“I don’t think so,” he insisted. “The lads were really focused and I think we have to give them a bit of credit rather than me taking [it away from them and giving my team criticism].

“When was it easy coming to Brighton? I know they’ve not had the best record lately, but we always put their team up on a sheet of paper and I can’t think for one minute that any of us looked at it and thought it was going to be easy with the team that was playing.

“I thought they played well in the first half. I’m not happy with the goals we conceded, we didn’t do as well as we should have done, it wasn’t like us.”

Midfielder Paul Anderson apologised for his performance on Twitter afterwards but McCarthy says the 26-year-old has done well this season even if this evening wasn’t his night.

“He came in and apologised at half-time,” he continued. “I don’t really want apologies I just want people to perform.

“But Ando’s been great, maybe it was one of those nights. It happens, I didn’t play well every week. Most weeks, but not every week.”

With the Blues not in action until a week on Saturday when Wigan visit Portman Road, McCarthy is giving his players some time off: “They’re all off until Monday. Have a break, chill out with their families, go away if they can, have a beer with their mates, I’m not bothered.

“They work exceptionally hard. Just recover and we’ll prepare for Wigan next week, starting on Monday.”

Brighton manager Chris Hughton was pleased with his side's first home league victory since he took charge: “I’m delighted. Of course I’m more delighted with the three points because we needed it.

“I thought we showed some good signs in Saturday’s performance and I’m also delighted with the performance.

“We were up against a very, very good side who have shown why they are where they are in this division.

“They’re a tough team to play against. They had direct spells where they do what they do very well so we had to deal with a fair amount, but I thought we showed a lot of quality on the ball and, of course, you can’t do all of that unless you get the goals that we got.

“I’m delighted for Sam Baldock because he’s somebody who has been used to putting the ball in the back of the net and I thought Joao Teixeira was excellent.”

Asked whether he was pleased to get one over on his old Republic of Ireland team-mate, he added: “No, not really. Mick’s somebody I know very well and I have a lot of respect for, and also Terry as well.

“I’m more delighted with the three points because you are. You look at the result last night and you see Leeds winning.

“That’s what happens when you’re in the position you’re in, you’re looking at all the results around you, so I’m most delighted with the three points but also I thought the performance was good, particularly here at home, which is always nice.”

Photo: Action Images

Wark_On added 23:13 - Jan 21 Sensible words from MM. Not berating the team, accepting the loss and importantly letting the players take some time out. As supporters we are disappointed at not going top, however if we can see out this mini-slump and stay in contention, there's still plenty of the season left.
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rkditfc added 23:13 - Jan 21 It should definitely be Chris' not Chris's. Anyway, shame about tonight, but a point off top and 4 defeats with less than half a season to go! Unbelieveable. Out position is only important in May.
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bluefeast added 23:17 - Jan 21 Maybe a few of our scruffy buggers can shave their beards off before monday , might run a bit quicker ANDERSON
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algarvefan added 23:44 - Jan 21 As always wise words from Mick and some tome off for the lads is a good idea. I still think our squad lacks strength in depth and a few extra or a few improvements won't go amiss! When I think where we were last season, this one has exceeded all our expectations I'm sure, I still think we are a few years away from being Premiership ready but confident we will finish in the top 6 this season. Despite tonights result I am proud of what Mick and the lads have done thus far, lets aim to keep the tractor rolling and keep our heads up because the attitude of the fans rubs off on the players. COYB!!!

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Michael11 added 01:01 - Jan 22 I think the weekend break's come at a good time for us. As Mick said, there's a lot of lads who could do with a rest and recharge their batteries. Hopefully by next week, everyone with illness, injury, fatigue etc will be raring to go and start another run!
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chevvymalc added 01:21 - Jan 22 We did lack a bit tonight but on the night we lost to a better side they defended well and attacked quickly and at times run rings round us. But thats now gone take it on the chin and sort Wigan out Sat week.
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UppaTowen added 01:33 - Jan 22 A few years away from being Premiership ready? Really? I understand what you're saying algarvefan, but we've been trying for the best part of 13 years, is that not long enough? We're the longest serving Championship club. This season is the best chance we've had for a very long time and I do feel it is our year! Yes, we'd need a few new players were we to go up, but I think we proved against a top side in Southampton that we can compete, it would just be a matter of building on what we've already got. I don't see anyone leaving by the end of Jan, but my worry is if we do fall short come May, we may see the likes of Mings, Bishop etc snapped up by Prem clubs then if we don't make it there ourselves! Hopefully that won't be the case however. We're having a great season though and if this is our "blip" then it's probably a good time to have it so that we can get it out of the way, ready for a strong finish to the season. A couple more additions to the squad over the coming weeks and we won't be far off, with 4 very "winnable" home games between now and the end of Feb! Put tonight behind us, rest up, re-group and bring on the Wigan! COYB!

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battyblue added 05:37 - Jan 22 Micks fault we lost wrong tactics (went for a point) wrong team selection Parr for one should be starting if players are knackerd Mick should know and not start them i cant see when a player has been ill he can be match fit straight after, what it boils down to is Chris Houghton read Mick like a book .
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jas0999 added 06:51 - Jan 22 I'm afraid I simply can't accept the argument that players have had too many games and are knacked. That's why football is a squad game. It's the owners responsibility to ensure the manager has the necessary funds to ensure we have enough players to rest a couple when required. Most of the top championship teams have that. I remain worried, as I have all season - not after one result- that the very small squad could be our downfall. Time for Evans to release some funds. Many players have left recently. We still haven't signed a jonny Williams type player. Three defeats in our last four games and were poor despite winning on Saturday. Disappointing.

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bluefeast added 07:10 - Jan 22 Will get promoted with a midfield of skuse anderson hyam tabb hunt. We have one midfield player of note and thats bishop. I dont believe we have true balance yet either ,chambers at right back is always a problem. But the big thing for me is playing 442 away when other sides play with 5 in midfield ,we dont get the ball , so its easy isnt it. Play a 5 and expose chambers. Hes a good defender in a central position but does not worry opponents at all going forward as that is a rarity. Why oh why does he not play Parr ,who has had huge influence recently yet gets overlooked. I suspect changes for our next away game on many fronts. Our momentum has been lost with 3 defeats in 4 games. Top 2 is beyond this squad ,play offs very possible. Be great to see tabb and hunt dropped in favour of a midfield of bishop mcgoldrick skuse and stuart ,with murphy and sears up front.

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Kikapu added 07:32 - Jan 22 rkditfc. Chris' or Chris's is okay. Pedant.
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Europablue added 07:35 - Jan 22 We don't need to be top just yet, but I would have liked to have got the point at least. We have got to stop talking about being defeated three times. Southampton doesn't count as we're not in their league. The thing we should remember is this isn't the Premier league where you lose a couple of games and you lose all chance to win. Better not peak too soon, it wouldn't be a disaster to win the playoffs!

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battyblue added 07:59 - Jan 22 Forget playoffs if we don't finish top two we will bottle the playoffs we are not prem quality by any means yet and don't fancy getting stuffed week in week out either.
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Pip50 added 08:05 - Jan 22 Jas099 I'm with you we played 5 games in sept nov and dec and have played 5 in Jan. We rest players for the cup and then moan others are tired. Excepting a half at Southampton this is the fourth inept performance on the trot. Perhaps Marcus will cough up for some warm climate training. Never mind 10 days to think up the next excuse, I think we probably have been sussed ...long ball run about a lot, not rocket science. I'm afraid time to add some quality especially in mid field can't live on this £10k strap line. Mid table beckons!

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Europablue added 08:05 - Jan 22 If we got to the Premier League we'd be like Burnley, we may well be relegated in the first season, but as long as we give a good account of ourselves we have a chance to be ok, and the money we would gain from promotion would leave a wel-run club like ours in good stead for the future.
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MVBlue added 08:22 - Jan 22 Lesson learnt Mick. In the games we won comfortably in the last 4 weeks, rest for Daryl Murphy, Anderson etc would have helped save their legs a bit.
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Blue041273 added 08:31 - Jan 22 Can't believe some of the comments on here. Best season for years and it's still not good enough. Get real people! We all know that we are not quite ready for the Champions League but we are still in a good place. Let's just support the team we've got and enjoy the ride wherever it might take us. One defeat is NOT a season breaker.
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itfc1981 added 08:38 - Jan 22 3 out 4 is a worry though. Thank god one was in the cup.
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Wickets added 09:02 - Jan 22 3 points from 2 away games, sure we would have loved to have won and gone top,but we are still doing great. Right in the mix for promotion.
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Cloddyseedbed added 09:12 - Jan 22 Forget next season, whatever league we're in, that can be sorted in the summer months. We need to get through this season 1st. Best chance we have had for many seasons to finish high in the league, but, as many of us can see changes are needed. We need Parr back in a right back, probably poor old Tommy to make way for Chambers in the middle. Midfield is a real headache this year with nobody able to really shine in any position and manager or supporters can't really name our strongest midfield. If the strongest midfield on paper plays, it performs badly!! Midfield is the most important area, it is the engine room. Strength, creativity and skill is needed in there and I really do not think we have the right mix with who we have at the club to get out of this league. A few matches back we were playing good football and the results were coming, now we are resorting to crap football and hoofball and results and performances have fallen. Recharge them batteries and come back fighting, because the last few matches we have really been off the pace, for whatever reasons.

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Tractorcookie added 09:17 - Jan 22 It's such a shame that we cannot seem to capitalise on the chance to go top every time we get it! They obviously do need a rest but I agree our squad is too small really. We could really do with a creative midfielder which is what most of us have been saying for the past few years. I would love to see Sears start up front with Murph and then Didzy in the hole behind. COYB - let's get behind them for the Wigan game!!

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Guthrum added 09:19 - Jan 22 All this "we have been sussed" nonsense ... Knowing how we play is not the same as being able to do anything about it. There is no "magic bullet" which deals with any particular style of play - otherwise no team would ever win more than a couple of games. And if mangers really are waiting until we play them the first time before discovering how we work, then they aren't doing their job properly. Knowing how a team plays is one thing, having the managerial brains, player quality, team cohesion and morale to be able to come up with a solution and implement it against a lot as good as ours is something altogether different. And, on a final note, Brighton were the team I picked before the start of the season to be competing right at the top of the Championship. Their managerial situation was evidently holding them back, as they have some top quality players (particularly Teixeira) and our now gaining some spirit in the face of relegation danger.

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Pilgrimblue added 09:38 - Jan 22 We're there to be shot and so make no mistake it's going to be a diiferent second half. If MM is not careful we'll get sucked out of top 6 as others gain their form. Remember it's the teams that finish best that secure those top 6 places so we're nowhere unless we can adapt as other teams will do against us. This is the month it went wrong, the break may help MM to put it right. A couple of new quality signings wouldn't go amiss!

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carsey added 09:52 - Jan 22 whilst I agree with those who say footballers shouldn't get tired it does seem to have become a factor. More worrying for me is that our solid back four are no longer seen as solid. If Mick and Terry want to stick with 442 we should put Parr in at RB and drop one of our CB's. The only other option is to play 3 CB's and use Parr and Mings as Wing Backs and attack the opposition. As much as Chambers is 100% and passionate etc he is not a RB and he is the weak link against anyone with pace. This is our best chance for years and I hope we take it because I am starting to wonder if I will ever see Town back in the top division in my lifetime.

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RaymondovicBlue added 10:01 - Jan 22 I'm not worried (so much) about a small hard working squad running out of steam. It happens and after the break we will be back to business as usual. What worries me more is the comment "they were ready for us". I am a big Mick and Terry fan. but ... why wasn't he able to say "we were ready for them" when he had, rightly, identified that they were under-performing...... we HAVE to be ready ! Also - I know Jas "emergency services" keeps going on about the squad being light - he is more consistent than Mick !!! But it IS a worry, DESPITE OUR MASSIVE ACHIEVEMENTS THAT WE ARE RIGHTLY PROUD OF, that we have no-one who can come off the bench to change the game and run rings .... and n-one to trust to play the odd game to give (eg Murphs) a rest to keep his legs and mind fresh. I'd love to go up and come down again - because that would mean we had earned the right to go up in the first place !!! But it would ALSO secure the club financially for years, AND give the funds for Mick to keep building for the next time we go up ! COYB - I still think second behind Bournemouth is a possible - but top 4 is realistic (behind Bournemouth Derby and Middlesborough

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