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

Bluewelshman added 09:11 - Sep 27 I would look at 3-5-2 as a possible for town, I was saying it all last season. Bialkowski Chambers Berra Smith Skuse Bru Fraser McGoldrick Niles Pitman Sears As Chambers is not a right back, his best position is in the centre a back three makes more sense, and moving McGoldrick in to the midfield will putt a bit of creativity to supply the forwards until Bishops return. Well that's my personal opinion, I'm not MM. COYB

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bluelodgeblue added 09:53 - Sep 27 That's Fortress Portman road put to bed for this season?
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mroberts added 10:18 - Sep 27 I'm getting fedup with Micks post match responses. We were poor in defence yesterday and we still have nothing in midfield. What does 8 million get you not a great deal after yesterdays performance. Without our attacking 4 we would be in the bottom half of the table. Its obvious to me Mick has no aspirations of making the top two if we cant polish off a bottom of the table side. We didn't sign Jonny Williams who is now at forest because we simply are not prepared to spend money and without that forward thinking its going to be the norm again.

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cats_whiskers added 10:37 - Sep 27 Take away "Ryan Frazer" from the team and just think where we would be as his goals have been so important... fortunate to have his scoring ability in a otherwise rather inept McCarthy team filled with moderate performing players.
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blueboy1981 added 10:59 - Sep 27 In other words - satisfied with the 'proverbial point' yet again. With this philosophy, we will generally hold our own - but win nowt. McCarthy has, and always will, work to this principal - not the man to take us any further forward.
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prebbs007 added 11:17 - Sep 27 You are deluded Mick in your stubborn world. You pick the wrong players and every time try to tell us how good a side we have just played against. We have the 2nd worst defensive record in the league fact. Hello Mick it's not hard to see where the problem is !!!!! Wake up. He back 7 is not good enough. Gerken is nowhere near a top keeper at this level. Barts record is so much better. Chambers is the worst rb in the league and only gets selected coz he is captain. Smith has no right foot and can't play rcb (was actually our best defender yesterday by a distance) Berra looks to have lost his organisation this season and has no cover from his left. Knudsen is no Mings and all the people who criticised Ty should be sorry now as our Dane is not in the same league. Skuse is miles off the pace and Douglas looks every year of his age the two of them can't play together. Mick until you fix this we have no chance at all. We are 2 points off 2nd place with the 2nd worst defence. It's so clear so obvious sort it. Bristol City were not a good side Mick. Stop covering our deficiencies by saying it. They were awful but so were we. Stop picking ur favourites based on last year ( Murphy is prime example) pick players who can do the job we need now. A RB at RB, the better of our keepers, bru and bish (when available) pitman and didz. ROUND PEGS Mick NOT your pals !!!!!!!! Stop it or we will fail again !!!

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Blue_Moses added 11:22 - Sep 27 Only had a brief look at the comments thus far but haven't seen anything yet about Murphy. Genuine question for those who made the trip to OT midweek...what did he do on Wednesday to make the starting line up yesterday as I thought he was very poor?
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blueboy1981 added 11:45 - Sep 27 Wake up all - this past week has been the epitome of: MICK McCARTHY. Like it, or not.
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warktheline added 11:51 - Sep 27 Have to mention since the departure of Stearman, yes some time ago, we've struggled against any team that has shown positive intent. Unbelievably, apart from a short spell with Parr, McCarthy has continued to play his square pegs in round holes in defence. This is usually followed by a shutout in the following game or two, in which the manager trumpets his tried and failed back four. Berra's slight dip in form was inevitable, and this really has compounded the situation. Sorry to say this but my faith in the manager is dwindling, and can anyone see him changing this back four unless forced to by injury. Any manager worth his salt will tell you the same old thing, you start with a good keeper and solid back four, thereafter the rest will follow.... This appears to of been totally forgotten.

5

yorksblue added 11:51 - Sep 27 Should have started with the team who finished at OT
2

Warkys_Tash added 16:32 - Sep 27 1 Defeat & 2 draws against, 2 poor sides. Fortress PR? Not happy, get it sorted Mick & fast. Derby had a bad start & now 1 poin behind. Not happy.
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bournemouthblue added 16:51 - Sep 27 Coterill's certainly a bit delusional, they came here, sat back and were gifted two goals They were never really in the game, in fact I thought their best period of play was when they had scored bless 'em They were really there for the taking, we simply didn't get the ball down enough to really test them. I suspect had we have got a foothold in the centre of midfleld, they'd have collapsed like a pack of cards. You can see why they're down there, they're a very ordinary side indeed!

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warktheline added 18:10 - Sep 27 @bournemouthblue, with that said, how does that reflect upon us as a team? I prefer to concentrate on our club, rather than finding faults with the opposition! Maybe McCarthy should be taking more informative notes on such like!!!
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bohslegend added 18:37 - Sep 27 Poor performance. Bad result. I think it's fair to expect a positive reaction from all after that. We need to be winning these games.
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warktheline added 18:43 - Sep 27 @bohslegend, yes that's exactly what I'm expecting,' shut up shop time ' , with undoubtedly the same players in the same position . Sorry pal, we've been here too many times!
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Pilgrimblue added 20:37 - Sep 27 If MM was pleased with that performance then its time for him to go. Yes the squad maybe a stronger than last season BUT MM hasn't got them playing anywhere near their potential. He's staying loyal to players that aren't delivering and to a system!! that just wont work unless Murphy is on his game. What puzzles me is that in the prematch warm up the squad is passing and shooting. But as soon as the whistle goes its back to hoof it and hope. On present form we'll be lucky to finish above half way

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ChrisFelix added 21:10 - Sep 27 I begin to wonder if Mick has lost the drive and ambition he bought to the club. I thought that this season it was going to see us win the league but since Brighton it's been a reality check. Don't understand the goal keeping position or the decision to play no midfield creator
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SpiritOfJohn added 21:41 - Sep 27 Expectations are much higher this season. The performance against Bristol City was below par. The form of Berra is a concern and things are not going for Murphy as they did last year. Both players are coming back from injury so that could be a mitigating factor. Mick will probably keep faith with them again next time out. It is understandable that there is frustration with some of our play and the poor goals we have conceded lately, but one hopes that Town fans are not seriously calling for Mick to be sacked while we are 7th in the league?

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Blue1990 added 11:11 - Sep 28 As someone has mentioned previously, Mick was brilliant a steadying the boat and bringing us up to a decent standard, but i feel he will not be the chap to get us promoted.
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BuckieBlue added 11:22 - Sep 28 Our goals for column shows there is no basic problem up front, but goals against! Frustrating becos if Brighton continue to drop pts there is a top two place for the taking on current form. Certainly league doesn't look as strong as last season. If we're still thereabouts by Jan. but defence/midfield still an issue hopefully ME will invest to get us over the line.
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Lightningboy added 15:19 - Sep 28 Saturday's performance/result makes a mockery of the Man Utd selection. If you think about it,between the Birmingham game on the 18th of September and the coming Blackburn game on the3rd of October,our first choice 11 will have played 90 minutes of football in 15 days..surely they could've coped with the Man Utd game in that time period and let's be honest a few of them could've probably done with it to get their fitness levels up (Berra). Fed up with excuses.

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