Town boss Mick McCarthy was pleased with his side’s response to having gone behind and eventually draw 2-2 at home to Bristol City, Ryan Fraser netting an 86th minute equaliser.

“I thought they started well,” McCarthy said. “I had to change the shape of the team and we got to grips with it and I thought we were the better team in the first half, having had Gerks make a fantastic save to keep us in it early on.

“Having scored and started brilliantly in the second half, the deflection’s a real kick in the ging-gangs, of course, but we should have done better to stop him getting in there and then their second is a good goal by them but it’s appalling defending by us.

“Then I have to admire the response that we had to get back in the game, as always. I’m delighted with the lads for the way they kept going. And we’ve had plenty of chances, we’ve had enough chances to win that game.”

He felt the first Bristol City goal, Luke Freeman’s shot deflected past Dean Gerken off Tommy Smith, was more than a touch fortunate: “A large slice of luck, don’t you think? I’m not so sure the shot was going to reach, it wasn’t going anywhere.

“If you get that break, then good luck to the opposition, I can’t do anything about that. We’d take it if we get it.

“It’s funny because we had a shot which was deflected and it went wide of the post. We kept going, that’s the really pleasing thing about them.

“They’re a handful, they play real open football and make you defend, so they’re no mugs. It’s a point in the end, a good point, I think. Five minutes to go to get a point back is good.”

The Town boss felt the flat performance in the first half was due to the way his side was initially unable to deal with the Robins’ 3-5-2 system: “It was probably the shape of the team.

“I was tempted to change and play 4-3-3 against them and once I went that way after 10 minutes, probably less than that, I could see I had to because we couldn’t get the press on because of the shape of the team - you go chasing in it and suddenly it’s gone elsewhere.

“So that made it difficult for the lads. There’s always that hope that we would start well, start aggressively and powerfully but we didn’t and I think Bristol City had a part to play in that, that wasn’t only us.”

He added: “I think they are a better side [than their position suggests]. They played far better today than they did at home against Reading [last week].

“It was different, Reading scored two goals very quickly on the bounce and the chance [we had] just before they got their first, if Freddie had got across the keeper and we'd scored a second, who knows what would have happened.

“But they’re no mugs, they can play and I don’t think they were as wide open as they were against Reading. I thought the three defenders were far more diligent and weren’t rampaging up the field which I’ve seen them do. They were a far more solid unit today.”

McCarthy was impressed with his side’s well-worked second goal: “Ryan Fraser was on the move in the box, he wasn’t stood still and we had a number of those when we were.

“He got across his defender and he deserved it because I thought he was great, Ryan, I thought he had a good game.

“He’s terrific, he really is. We’re delighted to have him and he’s a constant threat, a good player.

“I wouldn’t doubt that he’s a Premier League player in the making, he’s got that lovely touch and a low centre of gravity and he can go past people both ways, and he’s got a goal in him. I’m glad we’ve got him for the year.”

The Blues boss said his skipper Luke Chambers is OK, despite having been substituted late in the second half: “He got cramp, I think. He’s fine.”

Bristol City boss Steve Cotterill felt his side could have won the game: “I think we should have gone on and won the game. I’m a little bit disappointed with us, if I’m totally honest.

“If you’d have looked at the game before we came here you’d have said we were going to get a draw at Ipswich, I think we would have looked at that thinking it would have been a decent one.

“But I think at 2-1 we stopped playing once we’d got our noses in front.

"So that was a disappointment really because I think if we’d have carried on playing like we did to get the two goals, albeit one a bit fortunate with the deflection, we’d have have gone on and got the third goal.”

Photo: Action Images

bluefeast added 18:35 - Sep 26 well that central midfield pairing is a shocker ,clearly. Please can we look to dominate games by playing a wing back system like bristol did. Chambers , Smith and berra with knudson and parr raiding forward on overlap. Yet another team made to look like barcelona by our average side and very stubborn manager.
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cromwellblue added 18:36 - Sep 26 Once again a disappointing result. Our two holding midfielders continue to lack the bite required . Far to much hoof ball again. No doubt we will now see dozens sprouting on about the Man U game. But if this 11 can't beat Bristol then why do you think they would have won mid week? This will be followed by demands for Bart, Bru & Parr who you all banded as reserves and second string a few days ago. I don't deny things need to change but let no go to the usual extremes that follow days like today. I live in hope

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Mark added 18:38 - Sep 26 It was disappointing to draw the two home games I hoped to get six points from, especially today as I didn't think Bristol were that good yet we nearly lost it. Oh well, could have been worse as with five minutes to go Norwich were 2-1 up and Ipswich 2-1 down, and both games ended 2-2.
2

brian_a_mul added 18:39 - Sep 26 433 at home could be the tonic with bru back. Would give us more control in midfield and let us use our pace and threat out wide
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TractorBoy666 added 18:40 - Sep 26 I'm fed up with the excuses of 'they're a good side' bla bla bla, they're down there for a reason. Douglas is too much like Skuse and I do think Skuse is the better of the two, Bru or Bishop need to come back in there. We had this problem with Hyam and Skuse so hasn't Mick learned?! I have never felt so nervous with our defending but I can't help but bite my nails at it. We need to pick it up, and QUICK if we want mount a promotion charge this season.

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warktheline added 18:41 - Sep 26 No excuses McCarthy, I mentioned prior to game how open City play, therefore it wasn't rocket science to see them play exactly as expected!!!! Your the professional with all the data needed on opposition, bewildering!!
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battyblue added 18:43 - Sep 26 So why are they bottom if they are so good Mick your summing up is as bad as your team selection and tactics .........you get the formation wrong every week.and use that as an excuse does that mean you are not very good at your job.
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battyblue added 18:47 - Sep 26 I don't wish injury on anyone but thought this will be the only way to get a proper capable right back in that position.
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footyblue added 18:47 - Sep 26 the big problem we have become too one dimensional and teams attack dowm our right side knowing its a weak point. the only times we actually played football on the floor Bristol City couldn't live with us but sadly that was glaringly obvious from kick off that we needed to play football, so we played long ball right in to their hands with Luke Ayling beong the midget of their back 3 at 6'1 poor tactical performance today we were lucky to get a point most definitely 2 points dropped

5

bluefeast added 18:49 - Sep 26 433 is not the answer as sears then gets pushed wide right ,that is a nonsense
1

Pip50 added 18:51 - Sep 26 Hahahahahahaha what a plank mid week blarney and excuses today they are League one material promotion forget it. Sad thing with some sensible management we could probably make it. I know what lets rest this eleven for next week. Absolutely no clue.
0

battyblue added 18:51 - Sep 26 And good point my ar-e should of been an straight forward three against a awful BC.
7

dukey44 added 18:52 - Sep 26 Bad defending ... again. Please someone explain why he dont change it then?
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muccletonjoe added 18:52 - Sep 26 Everyone keeps saying with bru back it will make a difference in midfield but Douglas looks very much a permanent fixture in the team along with gerken
0

Stato added 19:04 - Sep 26 I'd like to see us play 4231 and I would be playing Sears up top with Oar, Mcgoldrick and Fraser behind. Bru and Skuse behind them. Parr at left back. Berra and Chambers in the middle. Bart in goal. Maybe bring a loan signing in for right back ?
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jas0999 added 19:05 - Sep 26 Unacceptable from Mick today. To try to suggest Bristol City are a good side really rubs salt in the wound. We should be beating them, but yet they walked all over us for 15 minutes and in the end deserved at least a point. Douglas/Skuse in midfield won't win you anything, not even a play off place. We need a central midfielder who creates and scores at least ten a season. That player may be Bru. It's certainly not Douglas or Coke who are two very poor freebie signings.

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KINGCHAPPO added 19:10 - Sep 26 oh dear, poor again. Looking forward to a Bru or Bishop and maybe a proper RB at last, and hopefully Bart. Bart Parr Berra Smith Knudsen Skuse Bru Fraser McGoldrick Sears Murphy
2

Bluetone added 19:17 - Sep 26 Quote “They're a handful, they play real open football and make you defend, so they're no mugs. It's a point in the end, a good point, I think. Five minutes to go to get a point back is good.” They are 24th in the league and the only reason they are not 25th is because there are only 24 teams. 'strewth.
13

Bluetone added 19:19 - Sep 26 Arnold Mühren and Frans Thijssen are in town any chance of persuading them to take on the management challenge.
2

sidtheswan added 19:31 - Sep 26 Poor opposition poor performance we deserved what we got . MM has a good squad maybe he should utilise it . The reserves are as good as Sunderland 1st team as they also lost 3-0 !
3

bluefeast added 19:31 - Sep 26 The more i think about it the more i wonder whether MM has kind of lost the plot. Clearly there were no central mid targets in the summer although we were desperate for creativity, Coke comes along on for a trial and then gets signed ,but why ,then douglas gets released and we sign him but why. There is no strategy there is there ,its kind of he's available i will sign him. When Mick arrived he got rid of our then right back as he said square peg in round hole ,so Edwards was gone. Chambers is playing there , did all last season etc , I get the feeling if we could play Messi for one game Mick would put him in goal. Terrible ,we don't look like a unit ,we are no more than hoof ,thats tactics as much as player ability.

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JustSpivvyChops added 19:32 - Sep 26 They were not a good side by any stretch of the imagination, we made them look good.....we have several under performing players, a different starting line up and formation every game (never the right one) making it difficult to obtain and maintain any consistency. The thing I find odd is MM saying how "open" they played......well Mick we played an open game against Reading and got tonked 5-1......why weren't we punishing an "open" Bristol City team resting at the bottom of the table?? The team looks totally unbalanced and the enthusiasm that was present last season seems all but gone, strange days indeed......on the plus side, if you're side is a mess but still sitting 7th in the table 2 points off second, one can only think it's positive for when we finally get our sh1t together!

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Wickets added 19:33 - Sep 26 Not sure what Luke Freeman has done to get the freedom of Portman Road but he certainly got it today!
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ArnieM added 19:35 - Sep 26 Whats new? Town NEVER deal with 3-5-2 . We need to wise up. How about we try if ourselves , we've got the players for it ( when all are fit).
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Kesgraveblue57 added 19:36 - Sep 26 What ever way you look at it today was a very poor result The defence still has many faults committedby senior players
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