Town boss Mick McCarthy felt his side had had more than enough opportunities to beat fellow play-off challengers Brentford at Portman Road. In the end the Blues manager had to settle for a 1-1 draw.

“We had enough chances to win the game comfortably but we didn’t take them and that’s the price you pay,“ McCarthy said

“It’s frustrating but I was delighted with the way we played. Brentford are a good side and at the end of it we had to make sure we didn’t lose the game.

“We always set off wanting to win but I’ll take the point and we’ll keep pecking away at all of the others and keep trying to get enough points to get us at least in the play-offs.”

The Blues boss was impressed with the Bees: “Brentford have left three up at corners, it’s risk versus reward. We scored from it because we had a good delivery and we got the goal.

“There was a threat there constantly on the break and I think they play some good football and Mark’s got a good team.”

The Blues played their midweek game a day later than Brentford and didn’t arrive back from Leeds until the early hours of Thursday morning.

“I think against a really good team who move the ball about well and make you work, I think the shift that the lads have put in was terrific,” McCarthy added.

“It was half-three when we got back to the training ground on Thursday morning. No, I was in my bed at half-three, we got back at a quarter-past three. I didn’t hang around, I just took my trainers off and climbed straight into bed with my tracksuit on.

“The alarm went at seven o’clock. It was a microwave sleep. They’re just remarkable, the players, how they’ve gone about their jobs.

“Day in, day out, week in, week out and I can’t applaud them enough. To have recovered as quickly as they have and to have played as well as they have, I think it deserves some merit.”

The most glaring of several second half misses was Daryl Murphy’s just after the break.

“I’m sure he’ll have nightmares about it as everybody’s asking me about it and he’ll be reading it, seeing it, hearing it. I don’t think he needs that!” McCarthy said.

“He has been remarkable this season, he’s scored unlikely goals and then he’s missed one that he’d never really miss. But that’s football, that’s just the way it is.

“I’ve just ruffled his hair and said ‘Come on, now go and score the winner at Middlesbrough, that’s all you can do'. There’s nothing we can do about that now.”

The Town boss was particularly impressed with Jonny Parr’s performance in midfield: “Absolutely, I thought he was our man of the match, I would have thought, he’d be up there. I thought he was excellent.”

McCarthy agreed that Brentford keeper David Button was the Bees’ man of the match: “He did make some good saves.

“Somebody just asked me if I’m disappointed and I said that I’m not, I’m more frustrated that we haven’t won because I was delighted with the performance, not disappointed with the performance. And if we continue to play like that we’ll get more good results than we will bad ones.”

Elsewhere, some of the teams above the Blues also dropped points: “The league’s bonkers, it’s always the same.

“Derby have drawn in the 94th minute, Middlesbrough have lost. Maybe we should be worried about the ones pecking beneath us rather than the ones above us.

“Wolves got a draw against Watford. It’s the way it is. It’s going to be right to the very last game, last minute.”

Asked whether he was disappointed that Town dropped two points at home, he said: “I hate to state the obvious but it is two points dropped.

“But there were chances at both ends, Pritchard got in in the 93rd minute running through the middle and we got a block on it.

“Lose it and we miss out on something by a point, whether it’s the play-offs, it might be a point gained. Maybe that’s the reason why I’m still doing this job because I tend to look on the positive side of it rather than the negative.”

Brentford manager Mark Warburton thought his team got better as the match progressed.

“Everyone’s saying we’re thankful to get the points, I’m not sure I saw that game, I’ve got to be honest,” he said.

“I thought Ipswich started really hard and fast at the start at both halves. We knew that. We went too long at the start of the game, got embroiled in that and Ipswich were by far the stronger team from the outset.

“But once we conceded, we reacted really well and got the equaliser. I thought we moved the football, we looked very comfortable and as the game went on I thought we were getting stronger and stronger.”

Photo: Action Images

didsburyblue added 20:27 - Mar 7 Nice to see South Yorkshire's silver tongued charmer not once, but twice, tell us fans in the Pioneer to 'Foxtrot Oscar' during the booing at the ludicrous Sears substitution decision. I know who I would rather F*** Off
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prebbs007 added 20:28 - Mar 7 ChesnutSe. Are you MM in disguise. Smith and Tabb excellent. Hahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahaha !!!!!!!!
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hairbear added 20:34 - Mar 7 Is it not obvious why Sears went off? He looked lively but no end product today. Murphy was a bit out of sort but still getting chances and Wood is a proven scorer at this level.
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bennyitfc added 20:41 - Mar 7 @Prebsa - correct. Could lip read clearly from the SBR lower, not good. Whole stadium booing and justifiably so. He didn't even give a valid reason for the decision in his post-match interview. I reckon he knows it was silly...
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PJH added 21:09 - Mar 7 bennyitfc-whole stadium booing? I think that is an exageration by about 19500.
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hinchers1066 added 21:26 - Mar 7 So, what have we learned from today!! Promotion does not come easy in this league or any other. Having been a supporter since 1986 and been privileged to see the Town promoted via the play offs in 2000 I am of the belief that the current squad have done ITFC a great service in punching well above their weight this season. Whether MM is the solution for us, the jury is out but he is a damn sight better option than the two previous 2 managers and lets not forget some of the ones prior to George Burley. Yes I would like to see the type of football played by Burley but we have to be patient and understand that neither Rome or ITFC was built in a day. Keep on believing and success will come built on firm foundations and realistic expectations irrespective of FFP!!!!!!

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GeorgeITFC24 added 21:29 - Mar 7 Everyone having a go at MM for swearing at some fans but I'm pretty sure they would have something to say if 19,000 odd people started shouting at you when you were trying to do your job
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TimmyH added 21:43 - Mar 7 Well a few weeks ago quite a few of us on this site were saying that March would be the month that would make or break us and has to be said it hasn't started very well, not outplayed in any of the 3 games so far and infact arguably better team against Leeds and today but worrying that we're now not winning and missing chances a the most crucial time coupled with a defense that has only kept 1 clean sheet since December 30th!! Just wish Mick would sort a few players out in their correct positions - is that too much to ask? for a starter...

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oldegold added 22:18 - Mar 7 In Jan 2011 when Keane swore at fans Marcus Evans took it upon himself to sack him.I think the writing is on the wall now for McCarthy and I have maintained since early January that he has bottled it and since playing a below strength Town against Southampton in the Cup from then onwards he has lost shown a lack of courage and guile in most games which we had to win and his hoofball represents the worst Ipswich playing style since the late 1980s.Not even under Jewell and Keane have we played with such monotony and sterility... His team selections in matches we had to win have beggared belief and if you look around at the teams chasing promotion then you will see they are hellbent on scoring goals..and McCarthy takes off the one player who posed a real scoring threat in Sears. He is a total dinosaur and I think we all know that it is game up.The promotion challenge kept our season alive but the limitations of the McCarthy way of playing football have been shown up for what they are- devoid of any tactical acumen,insistence on a playing style which is obsolete snd sheer stubbornness in not admitting that he has got it wrong since January but won't change. Thanks..it has been fun but time for a change and I won't be hsnging around to watch this crap.

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runningout added 22:31 - Mar 7 think MM's comments have been the story since our slide started v Reading.... We have the team to beat all in this league.. Boro next week will be a decent 3 points in the bag
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bluesince84 added 22:32 - Mar 7 This is a copy and paste from after the Leeds game I wrote " don't worry everybody , next game mm will play 442 and tabb will start " I say again " don't worry everybody next game will be 442 and tabb will start!!! Death taxes tabb !
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BlueMachines added 22:43 - Mar 7 @PJH. It was the majority of the stadium booing and you know it. @ oldegold, Sorry but the football under MM is so much better than the Jewell days. And I'm certainly not MMs biggest fan. Before you try and debate that, check the league table.
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oldegold added 22:51 - Mar 7 Point taken bluemachines but not even Jewell had us playing hoofball all the time.Look around at the teams near us..scoring 4,5,6 all out attack and playing with fire in their bellies. Our relic of a manager takes off our one hope of a goal talisman.Under his playing style,we barely muster more than 3 clear shots on target in s game.Pathetic really when we have to chase games snd he insists on a defensive formation..

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algarvefan added 23:18 - Mar 7 Unless I'm much mistaken the manager of Ipswich Town FC is one Mick McCarthy. It would appear that some of you have ideas and comments well above your station, how well qualified are you to select and train a Championship side? Sears substitution is Mick's decision and only he alone knows why. He has lifted this football club from the foot of the table and without any money has moulded a side that are still challenging for promotion. Show some respect for an experienced manager. We are still in with a shout, get behind the team and grow up some of you!!!!

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BrandestonBlue added 00:20 - Mar 8 For all those of you constantly sniping at the Manager I think you need to be careful about what you wish for - do you honestly think if Mick moved on that there would be a queue of top managers that would be queueing up to manage a club where the budget for signing new players is so tightly controlled by ME?
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BlueMachines added 06:23 - Mar 8 algarvefan. Anybody can make a mistake. Including MM. Sears substitution was a mistake. It weakened the team significantly. Just because an experienced manager made the decision, doesn't automatically make it a correct one.
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GiveusaWave added 08:10 - Mar 8 can't believe some of the comments on here. We are still in with a shot of promotion with the squad we have and people criticise MM and TC. seriously? It's a miracle given our playing squad that we are anywhere near the top 6. We should be battling it out at the bottom with Blackpool etc and with any other management team we would be. People forget so quickly the days of being thrashed game after game under Keane (and a bit under Jewell). MM and TC have turned this club around. Remember the days some of you called our defence a bunch of clowns at the circus? Those days are long gone. Yes, we play hoofball but we have a bunch of players who give their all every match. get behind the team and stop complaining. MM is one of the best managers in the game. We actually competed against Brentford, we should be proud of that.

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MicksZzzTactics added 08:24 - Mar 8 3 games ago Guru Mick uttered these very Einstein worthy words post-game "Nothing in it .... except the goals!" LOL He followed that up the next game by claiming: "We should never had lost!"after missing a late penalty ... and finally he comes full circle in today's post-game circus with this shrewd almost Sherlock-like observation: "We had enough chances to win!"after Murph should have scored at least a Hat-trick! Total point harvest in those 3 crucial promotion chasing games = 1! Thus speaking of my main man Albert "E=mc2" Einstein he once allegedly also formulated insanity the following way: "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results". Well Guru Mick has undeniably been "trying" the same things TACTICALLY over and over again for a very long time now .... and somehow he still have a hard time understanding that the results ain't all that different! LOL Get my drift dear Mick??? :-) BTW later in today's Guru Mick's post-game drivel he also came up with his BIGGEST managerial delusion and PR lie yet, when he insisted"“We always set off wanting to win ...."???!!! HaHaHaHa Sure you do Mick .... as sure as The Earth is flat and The Moon is made of Green Cheese! ----- Hmmmm something tells me that Guru Mick generally has a very low opinion of ITFC fans' IQ and eyesight etc. don't you? :-)

6

loudnproud added 08:28 - Mar 8 MM is indeed paid well to make decisions,Supporters are also paying through the nose to see good football and good decisions being made from all levels. MMs retort in aiming the FO towards supporters is unforgiving,MM should apologize or as mentioned risk loosing the hearts of the supporters. This town squad playing this style of hoofball has no part to play in the EPL. I like MM as a person,he is honest and says it as he sees it,But i'm none too sure we are ready for the big boys just yet. Give me 11 passionate players with a manager who believes in them any day of the week

2

stevelincsexile added 08:30 - Mar 8 To be fair I enjoyed the game and only one team was ever going to win it but it was one of those days. Our record shows that we have only failed to score in about seven of our league games and we could have lots more points if we could keep a clean sheet. That used to be our strength and that's the area MM needs to look at. On a separate note our injuries are perplexing, no one is really sure of Mcgoldricks problem and as for Ambrose he was only supposed to have a tight hamstring, how can it take weeks to heal?

1

PJH added 08:58 - Mar 8 BlueMachines-well at least your majority of stadium booing is a step down from bennyitfc whole stadium. I would accept that it was maybe more than the 500 or so that I suggested but well short of the 10000 or more that you suggest. Nobody other than MM is being paid to make decisions on substitutions so decisions that he makes are what he thinks are right at the time.
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bohslegend added 09:08 - Mar 8 Steveinexile - a hamstring tear is minimum 4 weeks. I think there's a noisy minority on here who refuse to put their criticism in any form of context. I've no issue whatsoever with people stating their opinion on games or performances. But what we mostly see on TWTD is full blown unreasonable hysteria and an absolute insistence on not taking all of the factors at play into account. For me I would love to see Parr playing RB and a 433 shape. But luckily for me I don't have to stand over that if it doesn't work.. MM is the manager, he sees the players day in day out and as such knows more than all of us. I'd consider myself a footballing person, I'm a coach qualified to UEFA B level. But the team under MM is still challenging for promotion (5 points from the top in March!!!). So I trust in MM to get the best out of our small squad. Derby, Boro, Watford and others all struggling this season to break away from the chasing pack. Maybe Harry from Bath can give us a flavour of the 'manager out' comments on their websites? And they have spends £millions more than us on their squads.. Don't throw the baby out with the bath water peeps. 5 points from the top? Even now, we could still find ourselves winning this bonkers league and it might be in the last minute of the last game..

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prebsa added 09:36 - Mar 8 People on hear are having a go at others for booing MM and his decisions. The people that come to watch the game that buy the food that buy the shirts are paying his wages. Just because he is an experienced manager doesn't make every decision the right one. He made a wrong decision in his starting line up and a wrong one in his sub with Sears and the fans have the right to show that frustration. And kick should be taking it on the chin not arguing with fans over it!

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brittaniaman added 09:44 - Mar 8 5pts from top two !!! But it is 6pts we need for top 2 ??
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Warkys_Tash added 10:24 - Mar 8 All said and done, most people would agree that the promotion winning team of 2000 was stronger than our current? Better midfield, etc. However, remember folks they never won the league at a canter, they finished 3rd & then won the play-offs. Maybe this team will do the same, yes we were wasteful yesterday but also could have been 4-1 up at half time, at least we were creating chances. Let's back the team as we are only 5 points off the top we 10 to go. Middlesbrough lost yesterday & Derby's form - for all Bent, Ince & Lingard - is no better than our own! Yes, it was a poor sub, taking off our best threat - Sears is scoring & on-form - but I am sure Mick knows it this morning. Let's hope he puts Parr at RB when he has other midfielders available.

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