Boss Mick McCarthy revealed that skipper Luke Chambers apologised to his team-mates for his overall performance, despite having scored the last-gasp winner as Town defeated QPR 2-1 at Portman Road. Chambers powered home a header in the 92nd minute of what McCarthy admitted was no Boxing Day classic.

“I think it’s a really important result and maybe it’s got the monkey off our back at home because we needed to win a game,” McCarthy said, the Blues having previously won just one of their last nine at home.

“I don’t think it was wonderful entertainment, I think it was a fairly turgid, horrible game which was going nowhere.

“It had 0-0 written over it in the first half until we defended abysmally and conceded a goal which was just appalling for us to concede from a number of levels.

“Not just one player, it was typical of us, it was about five little errors which ended up as a huge one and it ended up in our net.

“That gave them the spark and was the reason they were able to sit in and leave one up front, which they did, they left the big fella [Sebastian Polter] up front and he was a handful.

“If anything we’ve won it because of our belligerence, tenacity and the aggressive way we play and kept going. That’s what won us the game.

“And Chambo, who came in and apologised for his performance to everybody else, that’s a captain’s performance - if you’re not having the best game come up and score the bloody winner and everybody forgets about it.

“He can put his performance behind him because that won’t be written down in history but scoring the winner will. I love that about my team, that they keep going.

“He just said ‘Sorry lads, not my best performance’. I said ‘Don’t worry, you scored the winner’. I’m not going to tell you what else I said to him.

“He made up for the first goal because he had a hand in that, Junior Hoilett got across and beat him, but there were a whole load of other mistakes as well, and it should never have ended up as that.

"I love that about him, I think he’s a really top lad, top player, top captain and he has a real influence on the team.”

The Blues manager says he’s been delighted with the way his skipper has adapted to life at right-back: “He’s scored a couple of goals, he’s bought into it, he’s a good professional.

“When you ask people to play in a different position, they can do one of two things. Go and do all right a couple of times, then become a square peg in a round hole and then be left out. But he’s not done that.

“There are days when he’s centre-half and you can see that he’s not a full-back, it’s not all going great for him, but he sticks at it and he’s done that brilliantly today. Well done Chambo.”

Asked what the difference was between the sides, McCarthy added: “The fact that I’ve got a central midfielder [Jonathan Douglas] who has got in and scored because we were putting pressure on them and we were susceptible to getting done on the break on a number of occasions

"They’ve got Junior Hoilett and Matt Phillips, Premier League footballers, and the big fella up front could hold it up.

“And the fact that I’ve got Dougie, who’s 34 and covers about 12km every game, he’s there putting it in and takes his chance.

“He [adds to the goal threat in midfield], he scored eight last year [for Brentford] and he’s got three this year now.

“And I’ve got a full-back, who says himself that he’s not had the best game but is in the box in the 92nd minute and scores. That’s the difference.

“We kept going - I’m not saying they didn’t keep going - but Derby beat us, Middlesbrough beat us, but none of them could have said that it was an easy game. So, what was the difference? We kept going and we wanted to win it, and we nicked it.”

He continued: “You could also say Cole Skuse clearing it off the line [from Leroy Fer]. If it goes to 2-0 we’re goosed.”

McCarthy was delighted that the 23,615-strong biggest crowd of the season will have been sent home happy after the drama of the late winner, but admitted: “They had to wade through 93 minutes of shite before it got great, though!"

The Town boss was pleased with the impact wingers Ryan Fraser and Tommy Oar had from the bench: “I don’t think Freddie and Ainsley are shy at being attack-minded and Ryan needs to be fully fit, but he certainly always has an impact.

“And Tommy Oar, poor old Tommy, he was knocked out [against Huddersfield], then he did his knee ligaments, but he was brilliant this week in training. The best week’s training you’re ever likely to have. I’m sure he’s got a contribution to make.”

McCarthy, whose side remain sixth in the Championship, says that the result has made his Christmas at least semi-happy.

“I’d sooner play well and win,” he admitted. “But I’ve just said to someone else ‘Screw ‘em, I’ve got three points’. I’m not bothered, just win, the object of my job is to win games’.

“That’s what will enable me to have at least a semi-happy Christmas now because we’ve got three points and nothing else really matters to me.

“Sad, but my life is conducted around football results and the way I feel and my mood, my demeanour all revolve around football results. It’s a fairly shallow, sad old life but it f–k it, I feel great today!”

QPR manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was disappointed with the way his side defended as they fell to their first defeat under his management: “It comes down to this, if you don’t defend properly, if you switch off, you’re going to be punished. And Ipswich capitalised on that very well.

"I thought the first goal was a little bit flukey, he mishit it. Douglas was very sharp but it was a mishit but you still have to stop the cross going in.

“I think in the first half we really well organised and we couldn’t have scored at a better moment.

“We had a chance to make it 2-0 but we didn’t take it and when it stays 1-0 then you know you have to be resolute and defend until the end, 96 minutes, you have to defend properly and then try to capitalise when you have the ball.”

Regarding Town, he added: “Ipswich are a good side, we always knew that it was going to be a very difficult match.

“The gaffer here, Mick, has got them playing a certain way and has been doing a magnificent job since he has come in and they are going to be there or thereabouts.”

Photo: Action Images

Dissboyitfc added 14:51 - Dec 27 We didnt have a wealthy benefactor when promoted in 2000. And maybe we would match the likes of derby if we played round pegs in round holes, even mm says chambers is a centre half and not a rb .... and a left footed cb as support. MM admits it, but when we say it, somehow we are wrong! THose small attention to details are leading to mistakes and costing us points. Thankfully we grabbed the points in stoppage time. Football should be entertaining, i suppose a last gasp winner is exciting, but some of us want better and i dont buy into this we should be grateful attitude because things could be worse, things could be better as well. i want us to play in the top tier again.

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Dissboyitfc added 14:54 - Dec 27 Keanish... well said top post!
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liam88 added 15:37 - Dec 27 Bohsegend got it bang on
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terryf added 15:52 - Dec 27 Had to laugh at the guy on the Radio Suffolk phone -in after 5 pm who was knocking the supporters who saw our performance for what it was......sure we all want the same thing, for our Team to win, but when the football is isn't great people are entitled to say how it is. The trouble is alot of people have got used to us playing a territorial game rather than possession football over the last few years....kind of reminds me of the Pink Floyd number 'Comfortably Numb'. As far the game was concerned the turning point was bringing on the two wingers and playing Freddie up front. Ryan's infectious and his extra pace seemed to increase the tempo of the rest of the Boys. Credit to MM though he admitted the Team weren't playing great, but was brave enough with the substitutions. COYBs... 3 points on tuesday will be the best Christmas present for all of us.

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armchaircritic59 added 16:02 - Dec 27 Bohslegend, like you, i didn't attend and havn't for some time, but can we get one thing straight. The ability to pass a football accurately over a range of distances (most of the time) has to be a basic in football. You shouldn't need to be Andres Iniesta to achieve that!
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bohslegend added 16:14 - Dec 27 Cheshire you are spot on too, a "handful" of noisy, easily angry people on here make more noise than those of us (in the substantial majority) who recognise the achievement of the current management and playing staff. Worth noting: the minus marks are consistent. Always the same 5 maybe 6 realists marking down anyone who they disagree with. And kudos to them, they're entitled to minus people. The fact that they each band together on every comment which asks for positivity shows team work. On the supportive supporters comments we don't seem to have that team work unfortunately. I know I'll give a juicy minus to stuff I disagree with but the fact that we all don't band together gives the realists a sense of justification and righteousness. This makes the noisy critics noisier. Just sayin'.

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HackneyBlue added 16:49 - Dec 27 Keanish-at last someone has explained it in simple terms-i am in my 50s and have seen dross and have seen pure quality,we are watching dross at the moment but are competing purely with grit and determination,not that theres any thing wrong with that its just replacing entertaining football,we all want success but do we want it playing medievel football? No one can blame Chambers for being the worst fullback in a town shirt,MM put him there,you ask me to fly a plane -same results. The John Duncan era was worse but we had no money whatsover then ,we have more choice who we buy,loan now and have some good players,we choose not to play those players to their strengths,Tommy Smith,Luke Chambers,Kevin Bru,Sears,Parr. We have to stick with it ,i will because you have to take the rough with the smooth.

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Keaneish added 17:39 - Dec 27 Bohslegend - it seems your posts have strayed away from the subject matter and have become personal. There's no anger here, we're 6th in the league and we've given credit for MM and TC for that but we're questioning the merits of the style of 'football'. If you go to the cinema, watch a film and think it was awful even though it had a happy ending, why would you put up with watching it another 46 times? HackneyBlue - I'm in Hackney too. We should catch-up for a pint when we're next on Sky and discuss eras past and present.

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hinchers1066 added 18:05 - Dec 27 Sorry bluesman. Marked you down in error checking on Essex57 seemingly marking every one down.
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oddball added 18:11 - Dec 27 Bohslegend is spot on boring whiny baby curse afflicts this site, support yr team or shove off. How was that last gasp winner not exciting.
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warktheline added 18:56 - Dec 27 @bohslegend, read post by keaneish, you know it makes sense! Think you're find your wrong about how fans view what McCarthy achieved in first two years of tenure. Nowt short of a minor miracle in my book. That said, time stops for no man, and for me, sorry to say, things have stagnated, for an array of reasons. Personally ,at present I'm not happy with the way our club has stopped evolving . That's my stance, which I'm fully entitled to, your angle on things are different from mine, that's fine with me! Nothing personal.

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warktheline added 18:59 - Dec 27 @oddball, really don't believe Bohslegend needs your inept posts to support his viewpoints! Whiny babies and all that!
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jpring89 added 19:16 - Dec 27 Im ecstatic we beat QPR even though it was awful i know the football is terrible at times but i bet most teams below us would love to be in our position
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TimmyH added 19:59 - Dec 27 Change of starting 11 on Tuesday Mick? - No they've all been fantastic all season (in a draul yorkshire accent). AMN to be replaced by Fraser - at least!
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alfromcol added 20:27 - Dec 27 William Hill have stopped taking bets on the same Town line up for the next 2 games!! There's a rumour going round that MM might make changes to the bench though.
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bohslegend added 21:31 - Dec 27 Warktheline the fact is we have not stagnated we are 6th (same as our finish last year) with the potential to finish higher this year. That's progress by any measurement. When we start going backwards, maybe I'll start to appreciate your point of view.
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warktheline added 22:45 - Dec 27 Bohslegend, agree to disagree. Time will tell.
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oddball added 01:04 - Dec 28 Its been another excellent season, well done mm and the boys coyb, could not be better :-)
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Dissboyitfc added 07:07 - Dec 28 Could not be better, really? B4 Saturday we had recorded 1 win in 9. That is not good enough by any strength of the imagination, thats poor home form in anybody's book.
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Cheshire_Blue added 10:27 - Dec 28 I do not worry about the handful of 'supporters' posting negative comments as I appreciate the vast majority of the 18,000 or so regulars at Portman Road go to support the team and MM. Empty vessels make the most noise! The silent majority is, perhaps, more understanding of the circumstances and appreciate the team for what it is not what we would all like it to be. Keanish, the difference between MM and those you list is that MM has a team in the top six of a very competitive Championship playing his way. Onwards and upwards in 2016 and if you don't like what's on offer stay at home. I am sure your absence will not be noticed!

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Dissboyitfc added 11:39 - Dec 28 Cheshire Blue.. you do know that larger crowds generate more income? Football is a business more than a sport these days (sadly) and for a business to succeed it needs to achieve its objectives and one of those objectives is to provide value for money quality and entertainment... a football club is nothing without its supporters. Also dont forget we all support the same team, others are more easily satisfied. its all about expectations . Wouldn't it be a dull world if everybody had the same aspirations. People who are not easily satisfied with second best are no less a supporter nor can they be called negative...

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runningout added 11:44 - Dec 28 Squad have plenty of room for improvement.. Good to hear they may know it
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Seasider added 11:55 - Dec 28 Agree with most on here that football dished up by McCarthy's teams are not easy on the eye. I thought we would be subject to this style when he took over,and he has not let me down. Like most supporters,we go to watch our team,two of us in our car from Essex have over 100 years support between us. Even this stubborn Yorkshireman considers the game against QPR was poor;but as usual he is proud of the way it was achieved,praising Chambo and Douglas the goal scorers. It therefor seems unlikely that he will make any changes in the foreseeable future apart from appearances off the bench for the likes of Oar,Fraser,Bru and possibly Hyam against Brighton. I live in hope that,especially at home,he will play more attacking players and football;but doubt it. As others have said,we have the players now,but McCarthy seems reluctant to use them;even though he admits the game was poor;so we just have to put up with it whilst he is charge,which could be many years unfortunately

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Dissboyitfc added 12:04 - Dec 28 Seasider... spot on.
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oldegold added 14:02 - Dec 28 Clearly the MM camp is divided both ways and I'm firmly on the side that expects entertainment whilst watching my team play..it is fundamentally an entertainment business after all. I think we have a manager ( whom I like ) who takes affront when someone dares to criticize his style of playing and will go out of his way to do the exact opposite of what logic calls for. The Ipswich way of playing will NEVER change under him and we will never see a variation of tactics during the game, will never see players playing in their strong positions, never see a change of strategy during a match to counter the unexpected and we will grind out results hoping that the hoof upfield will do the trick. This is what I expect now and will not get worked up about it. The Royle battle cry was "We will score more than you " and under George Burley, he essentially emulated Sir Bobby's mantra which was of free flowing and attacking soccer. We all knew that under MM that this would never happen and if you speak to Sunderland and Wolves supporters they will recount tales of games played when it was more pleasing on the eye to see paint dry. No, we will continue to grind out results and maybe make the play offs at best but no more. The Championship favours attack based soccer and the history shows that generally these types of teams get promoted as soccer has become faster and based on direct passing style in getting the ball played to feet and not just a hopeful punt upfield - that is long gone and belongs to another era. We will be caught out as we were last season when we had to raise the tempo but were incapable and relied on hoofing. MM is a solid manager but lacks the " bottle " to adhere to a dynamic and modern style of play and in situations when dynamism is called for i.e cup matches ( playing below par teams ), play offs -( 1 promotion in 8 ) his record is appalling. Nobody will be happier if we are lucky to make the play offs but it will not go further than that with this style, rest assured.

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