Town boss Mick McCarthy admitted that the Blues were “very poor” during their 2-1 defeat at Huddersfield. Nahki Wells and James Vaughan gave the Terriers a 2-0 half-time lead and Town were unable to add to Luke Varney’s goal three minutes after the restart.

“We were very poor but when you say that it takes away from the other team’s performance and I can’t because I thought that Huddersfield played well,” he said.

“It’s easy for me to say that we were poor, which we were. We weren’t as competitive as we’ve been all season and that’s been a real hallmark of my team and we were nowhere near as competitive.”

He added: “I thought we started well, we hit the post, we had a good chance. I thought we were settling into the game and then we gave a goal away and it seemed to dent everybody’s confidence, knock everybody.

“It certainly helps when you get the first goal. Had we scored when Tabby had his chance, it would have been a lot different.

“I think it affected Zeki as well for the first half, that really put it on him and Sean Scannell was having a good time.

“But, of course, the first goal changes everything. You can relax. And we didn’t play well and then the second goal left us with a bit much to do and although we had a bright start to the second half, we never really followed that up.”

McCarthy admits he was annoyed by the performance but says he’s not one for throwing teacups: “I was pretty angry but I don’t throw things around because it really is counterproductive, I don’t see people responding to that.

“People look at the floor and say they’re hanging their heads in shame, that’s not the case, they’re just saying ‘Come on, shut up, let’s get on with it’.

“Strong words were spoken rather than shouting, and the same at full-time. Screaming and shouting at people doesn’t get a reaction and I’m not going to start now.

“I did walk off, I had to walk off to calm down slightly after the game. I would normally shake everybody’s hand coming off but that wasn’t the case, I waited until I got in the dressing room.”

He says that while Chris Wood and Richard Chaplow were subbed at half-time, anyone else could have received the hook.

“The two lads that have come off have not been regular starters, I feel for them because I could have taken off any two off at half-time but I chose those two,” he added.

“Teddy Bishop wouldn’t have got through a full game today anyway. I decided to change it, it’s not worked so I take the responsibility for that.”

The Town boss says the Blues are now behind his personal points target for the current games.

“I was thinking privately beforehand that we’ve got this game and two home games, would I take seven points from them?" he said. "Yes, I would have taken coming here and drawing and winning our two home games.

“It’s put a massive pressure on the two home games now and we’ve going to have to find something at Wolves or something at Blackburn, that’s made it even more important.”

Despite the disappointment of the defeat, he doesn’t expect it to significantly impact on Saturday’s game against Blackpool.

“I can hardly come in here and be ‘happy slappy’, can I, because I don’t feel like that and I won’t feel like it tomorrow,” he continued.

“I’ll go in with TC and watch the game at seven o’clock in the morning and start repairing myself and get ready for Saturday.

“That’s not happened too often with us and I don’t fear for Saturday’s game at all.”

McCarthy gave Jonny Williams his third debut from the bench but warns that the on-loan Crystal Palace midfielder is still a long way from full match fitness.

“I’d like to have him starting and had him fully fit but in terms of how he is, it was tough for him because he’s not match hardened.

“He hasn’t played, that’s the first time he’s played since we played Watford in November.”

The Blues boss also revealed that David McGoldrick has suffered another setback and now seems likely to miss the rest of the season: “He’s injured, he hurt his thigh in training on Saturday morning.

“He’s had a bad injury and it keeps niggling away at him, sadly. We missed him at the end of last season and we’ve suffered again this season, I reckon.”

Huddersfield boss Chris Powell felt it was probably his team’s best display since he took over in September.

“It was a first class performance by my team today,” he said. “I think our display in the first period was arguably the best we’ve played since I’ve been manager.

“We scored two but we quite easily could have scored more and for us to do that having played less than 48 hours ago is a testament to my players. I’m very proud to be their manager the way they played.”

Photo: Action Images

Bluetone added 18:57 - Apr 6 "The Blues boss also revealed that David McGoldrick has suffered another setback and now seems likely to miss the rest of the season: “He's injured, he hurt his thigh in training on Saturday morning." These excuses become more and more unbelievable.
6

TheSelkirk added 18:58 - Apr 6 If nothing else, I hope that MM learns from this season and, perhaps more in hope than expectation, that we can lose this awful (well deserved) hoof ball tag by playing some attractive, fast flowing, positive and entertaining football.
9

big_gaz67 added 19:03 - Apr 6 "Yes, I would have taken coming here and drawing..! Nuff said MMcC - if you don't got to teams like Huddersfield at this point of this season with the attitude "Let's go and win" you get what you deserve. How do you tell somebody like Freddie Sears, who was outstanding on Friday, that he's being dropped for an unfit donkey like Woods? Untrue....
46

superblue70 added 19:04 - Apr 6 No Mick you were very poor !!!
22

Frase1987 added 19:05 - Apr 6 I can't believe how dumb some people are, especially the muppets who phoned into Radio Suffolk. For years we flirt with relegation and celebrate a relieving midtable finish. Suddenly we lose out on auto promotion - in April - and the first reaction is 'sack the manager'? If you want a young attacking minded manager to 'build on this', what exactly are you expecting him or her to build on? The only reason we're this high is because of MM and TC, not the team. I don't believe this squad (with the little money spent) has any right to be near auto promotion at all. We may have to consider the defensive obsession eventually, and today was apalling - but he's more than earned another season ffs.

9

essextractorboy93 added 19:05 - Apr 6 Absolutely gutted like everyone else, we sometimes just don't turn up in games like this against very average teams. Same was the case in the home games against Wigan and Reading and the away games to Leeds and Rotherham. We still have a chance of the playoffs but its going to be really difficult. Our last three games are very tricky. Two very winnable home games coming up but we said the same about today and previous games. Genuinely don't think that any other manager we could realistically get would do a better job than Mick at the moment. Got to keep the faith and go again next season if we miss out on the playoffs.

5

Michael11 added 19:09 - Apr 6 I've just got home and it's sad that my only positive is that I didn't have as far to travel back as most of our other 1,400 fans today. This whole attitude of settle for a point away from home whether we're playing Chelsea or Barnet is what really winds me up. We made a poor Huddersfield side look like Barcelona in that first half. It was an absolute shambles and one of the worst I've seen in a long, long time. I think my gran would have been better down that left side than Fryers and Tabb. Berra had his worst game in an Ipswich shirt for me. Chambers gets away with being crap every week because he fist pumps when we win. We're so far short of being Premier League material that I don't even want play-offs anymore.

11

ian_marshall added 19:10 - Apr 6 ⬆️⬆️⬆️ We've been saying "next season" for a long time now!
3

bluesince84 added 19:14 - Apr 6 And you know what mm will do. Start wood against Blackpool , go 442, the usual . People down arrows me for months slating me for saying we won't see anymore of Mcgoaldraught , and buffer me....... Look who we won't be seeing again. Wonder who bid for him ???
-8

Pip50 added 19:15 - Apr 6 What the fcuk is he on about. It's been this way since we beat Charlton on 30/12 6 wins in 19. Hardly promotion more like relegation thankfully we were not found out in first half of season. Doesn't look like much progress to me. Please move on we'll risk someone coming in who wants to play football!
9

battyblue added 19:16 - Apr 6 I wish i could throw something at you Mick and scream and shout perhaps you would hang your head in shame but i doubt it time to move on at the end of season with a new manager in charge. Jog on mm.
-2

NoelTheDub added 19:19 - Apr 6 Mick you got exactly what you deserved today end off.
6

prebsa added 19:19 - Apr 6 It was the lineup that did it, it was Micks fault not the players. Play the right people from the start then we would of created more and won the game. Hoofing the ball at Murphy and Wood will do nothing. As for mcgoldrick this "injury" that he has is bull sh*t and we know it. A deal has been done and we will not be seeing him in a town shirt again. However I really hope I'm wrong! Blackpool, Cardiff and Wolves are 9 points we need. Don't get those and we can forget the playoffs

3

toxtethblue added 19:20 - Apr 6 Damn right MM utter pish. Just got home (to Liverpool.) Could you have possibly started with a more undynamic and creative midfield and forward line?! If we dont make playoffs I think its time for a new young and dynamic manager who wants to play football... Plan A is hoofball, no plan B
8

yorksblue added 19:21 - Apr 6 Good luck watching that Shi*e again 1st thing in morning. Most inept performance for a long time. Back 4 were absolutely crap.
3

HarleydavidsonBlue added 19:21 - Apr 6 Another disappointing result !! if I did not know any better, I get the impression that MM would rather be in the top 10 of the Championship, than struggling in the Prem !!
1

Bergholtblue added 19:21 - Apr 6 We need to win all of our next 5 matches and that isn't going to be easy with Forest, Blackburn and Wolves included in those 5. Having said that we will probably win those matches and hand Blackpool their first away win of the season Saturday.
0

EssexTractor added 19:22 - Apr 6 The most disappointing aspect is the lack of desire, the going the extra mile, the rolling up the sleeve and going for it. Bournemouth Brentford Wolves today all displayed an attacking quality and a fully motivated approach. The finishing line was there to be seen by them. We true supporters are realistic, we knew in January our owner had had his pockets sewn up so success was down to continuing team spirit and management skills of the highest order. But sadly every dog has his day and maybe MM that day arrived for you today We are up to our muddy knees in a sea of fog.

1

H1960 added 19:23 - Apr 6 Mark Warburton (Brentford) anybody? He is gettting his P45 at the end of the season and will be seeking new employment. He likes to keep it on the deck and play with width and pace, i am sure he could get our current squad playing a more exciting brand of football than what is currently on offer.I would like to thank Mick for getting us out of the mess that were in a couple of years ago but feel he has now taken us as far as he can and has run out of ideas.This current negative, defensive and outdated style of football is not enough to get us out of this league, not to mention the tactics and odd team selections we are witnessing at the moment. We were in a great position at christmas and unfortunately it has been lost down to the stubborness and inflexible nature of our manager, time to mve on? coyb

4

Frase1987 added 19:28 - Apr 6 I've said it since day one, if you're going to play dog sh*t football then you'd better take us up with it. Any plan B MM?
4

Green_Army added 19:28 - Apr 6 Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A Pts GD
0

OldClactonBlue added 19:29 - Apr 6 Did he not even try to explain why Sears didn't start? And he never plays Teddy for more than an hour anyway so even if he can't last 90 that can't be a factor. Trying to play matches with minimal quality is just unbelievable.
4

runningout added 19:29 - Apr 6 minimal mental strength shown by too many of our lot... Can't be average and naive and expect rewards
2

blueboy1981 added 19:35 - Apr 6 Sorry Bluesince84 - minused your post by mistake - totally agree with you.
1

dangerous30 added 19:35 - Apr 6 Well if the muppets we had before mick had not wasted the money we could of spent some. As for spending in the future it will not happen because are gates are poor. This has been are best seasoning for a long time and that's down too Mick and TC. As for getting a younger manger in unless he brings free players with him then we have nothing to offer him.
6

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls