Striker Daryl Murphy says Town need to look at how they start games having conceded early on in their last two matches. The Blues recovered to beat Leeds 2-1 having conceded after 12 seconds last Tuesday and again began Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Preston slowly, with the visitors netting after seven minutes before Murphy hit back with his eighth of the season on 38.

“We’re always disappointed when we play at home but don’t win but, overall, it’s probably a good result,” the Irishman said.

“It’s sloppy from us, we never started well and they obviously scored early. I thought they played quite well for 15 or 20 minutes until we got into our stride.

“They’re a decent team and they’ve got good players, so we knew what we were up against but we were sloppy at the start.

“It’s something to look at, we always go out to start well and sometimes it doesn’t work. The last two games we’ve not done too well from the start so it’s something we need to sort out."

The 32-year-old was pleased with his goal: “It’s a good finish, I’ve turned well and there’s space there, nobody really closed me down so in the back of my mind I was always going to shoot. Thankfully it went in.

“I don’t think I was ever going to do as well as I did last season, with 27 goals, but obviously you want to do as well as you can.

“This season we’ve shared the load, Pits [eight, seven in the league] and Searsy [seven] are nearly on the same number of goals so we’re all chipping in. In the run-in after the new year we need to be consistent, hopefully I can keep scoring.

The results of Saturday’s fixtures saw the Blues drop to seventh in the Championship, albeit on goal difference from Sheffield Wednesday with the Owls and now-fifth Brighton both winning their fixtures, but Murphy is happy with his side’s current situation.

“We’re in good position, there are some good teams there and it’s all about consistency really and picking up points where you can,” he added.

“The gaffer’s said that it’s about where you end up at the end of the season, we’ll see. It helps, the hurt of going out in the play-offs, so we’ll see where we end up. If we’re in the play-offs then I’m sure the lads will be eager to go one better.

“Everyone does [look at the table] and if they say they don’t then they’re lying because the television is on when you go in after the game. You’ve no choice but to see where you are.

“It’s not something we think about after the game, we think about how it went, the gaffer will have a chat but the TV will be on and you see it.”

Reflecting on the increasingly tight top of the division, he added: “It was always going to be the case [that the table would get congested]. The teams at the top aren’t going to win every game and do well every week because teams at the bottom beat the teams at the top.

“It’s such a close league that they can’t take anything for granted. We’re disappointed not to be winning our home games but our away form is brilliant, so if we can sort it out at home we’ll be alright.

“We’ve done well away from home but we need to keep doing it, and if we change our fortunes at home then we’ll be there or thereabouts.”

Meanwhile, Preston defender Paul Huntington has dismissed Town’s claims that they ought to have been awarded a penalty when he appeared to ‘save’ Luke Hyam’s second half shot with his hand.

“I blocked the first one [from Luke Varney], so I was on the floor already, and then it was just two or three yards away and the lad has blasted it at me and it has hit my midriff,” he insisted.

“There is no way I could have got out of the way and there was no chance that the decision was going to be anything other than play on.”

Meanwhile, Town’s U21s are in home action against Colchester United at Playford Road this afternoon (KO 1pm).

New signing Kevin Foley, whose international clearance hadn’t come through prior to Saturday’s game, could be involved as he is ineligible for tomorrow’s FA Cup replay at Portsmouth as he wasn’t with the club for the first tie.

Otherwise, few if any senior players are likely to be involved with Town set to field another much-changed side featuring several fringe players at Fratton Park.

Elsewhere, Blues scholar Sam Ford scored a last minute winner while on trial for West Ham’s U18s as they beat Aston Villa 2-1 at their Little Heath training ground on Saturday.

Photo: Action Images

bluefeast added 07:15 - Jan 18 Need to go two better not one if we are to be promoted via playoffs
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runaround added 07:16 - Jan 18 Hit him in the midriff?! I'm sorry Mr Huntington but the TV replays but stills in the media suggest you are being economic with the truth
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ArnieM added 07:26 - Jan 18 For a professional Club the mental prep appears to be woeful.
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DurhamTownFan added 07:41 - Jan 18 I think it could be because MM doesn't ever seem to tell us to go all out for it. The strategy is play the percentages, keep it tight and work an opening, rather than go 100% at them from the off.
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Benters added 07:44 - Jan 18 We should come out of the blocks flying get at them !!! ffs
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Europablue added 07:50 - Jan 18 If you really go for it all attacking straight from the beginning you can still concede first. Maybe they could do something about being half asleep from the start. The goal we conceded against Preston was woeful. I certainly would have appreciated some hoofball in that particular case.
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Jimmy86 added 08:08 - Jan 18 It did hit the defenders midriff, after he initially handled the ball and he then rolled it under his body.... I can only imagine the ref, who was in a good position didn't give it because he was grounded. I remember years ago when Stewie was playing for Sunderland and Steve Bennett awarded a very harsh penalty against Wilins, when the ball struck his hand as he was falling to the floor. Thought at the time how was he meant to get out the way of that

1

planetblue_2011 added 08:22 - Jan 18 Still need creativity in midfield. Thought we would be after Moncur from Col u. I know I'm not talking about conceding early, just think if we had someone like him in the team we might get an early chance & score for once. Defence is always a bit shaky for town should be ready for early pressure by now at home. still need a couple of decent players for a promotion push. Mr Evans please give us some funds to spend..

1

carlo88 added 08:41 - Jan 18 Hull, Burnley and Boro looking very strong. Looks like Derby will impode again. Reckon we're on for fifth.
0

oldelsworthyfan added 09:25 - Jan 18 Our defence was dreadfully shaky at the start. Kept giving the ball back to the PNE attackers leading up to their goal. Yes, it was a clear penalty - but not all those decisions have gone against us this season. Agree about Moncur. Cannot imagine MM has not considered him.
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Jimmy86 added 09:30 - Jan 18 Planet blue2011 how do you not know Evans hasn't got some funds available and it's Mick, who is chosen not to spend it?? He always seems happy with the situation and doesn't seem too bothered about spending money. Think it's coz if we achieve the play offs again on a shoestring he will be praised and rightly so. If we spend money that makes top 6 a minimum and then puts pressure on him

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muccletonjoe added 10:10 - Jan 18 No first team players involved tomorrow, we won't be holding our breath for Bournemouth at home then
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BrettenhamBlue added 10:54 - Jan 18 ArnieM For a professional club, our lack of adaptable tactics is woeful too. All we ever seem to do is launch the ball up the pitch as far as possible and hope someone gets on the end of it. Surely if we mixed it up the opposition would get confused. I am grateful for our 7th spot, but I have never seen such woeful tactics played at Portman Road ever. We were once known for passing football. We are now known as Missile Launchers. Somebody mentioned a while back that we should play air raid sirens when our team comes on. With that poster 100 percent. It's more like Rugby League than the game we know and love.

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carsey added 11:23 - Jan 18 Just watched the high lights again and looked like a penalty to me but some you get some you don't. My biggest concern is the Preston goal and the apparent lack of communication from Gerkin to Knudsen. Surely if he didn't fancy coming to get it himself he should have shouted at him that he had time or to put it out behind or how about chesting it down for Gerkin to collect. There wasn't an opposition player close enough to cause him a problem and the keeper should be telling him - it's basic Sunday park stuff. Sorry to those who praise Gerkin as a shot stopper but it is his all round game that lis the problem (and Bart isn't much better).

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greenkingtone added 11:49 - Jan 18 Its Norwegian lessons then for Mr Gerkin.
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MathieandMarshall added 12:29 - Jan 18 "3 yards away and hit my midriff!".... hhmm.. ok mate, whatever you say!! my first instinct sat behind the goal was that he blocked it with outstretched arms and pulled it into his body.... having watched it several times since that is exactly what happened! Clearest Penalty I have ever seen and was amazed to see the Ref (who was poor throughout) wave it away! Saying that, I am not sure we deserved more than a point to be fair.

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Jimmy86 added 15:55 - Jan 18 Greenkingtone, Knudsen is Danish...
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Westy added 17:40 - Jan 18 Nothing like stating the obvious.
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MattinLondon added 19:34 - Jan 18 Sam Ford is on the cusp of leaving for West Ham. So our better young players are leaving for nothing. The sooner we achieve Category One status the better so that this cannot happen regularly.
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