Town boss Mick McCarthy admitted that Portsmouth fully deserved their 2-1 victory over the Blues in this evening’s FA Cup third round replay at Fratton Park.

“I thought Portsmouth played well again tonight and deserved to win,” he said. “I think that we’ve given barmy goals away, to be honest with you, and you’re never going to win against anybody if you’re going to give goals like that away.

“A bit like at home, I thought we were better in the second half. But, as I said, we gave the penalty away and we didn’t defend a cross which was pretty routine.”

McCarthy had no argument regarding the penalty, awarded in the first half after Piotr Malarczyk had fouled former Blue Gary Roberts, who netted the spotkick: “None at all.”

Having changed his entire XI, the Town boss says the performance reaffirmed his belief that his regular team is the best he has available: “It’s confirmed to me what I probably already know, that the best side is the one that’s been playing.

“With Christophe Berra with a shoulder injury and Chambo playing with a calf strain on Saturday, I need them this Saturday and to have a chance of being in those play-offs I need that best team playing week in, week out.

VIDEO: Mixed emotions for 'skipper' @LukeHyam19 following FA Cup defeat at Fratton Park #itfc https://t.co/V3saC1Jkns

— Ipswich Town FC (@Official_ITFC) January 20, 2016

“And unfortunately, that’s why some of them had to play [this evening]. Did any of them give me a problem about picking my team over the next few weeks? I don’t think so, no. But I know the ones who are capable of playing.”

McCarthy felt sent-off defender Malarczyk’s second yellow card was a touch harsh but wasn’t interested in debating the minutiae of the game: “He’s run across him. There’s no intent in it, he’s just running back and he’s run across him.

“I’m not here to complain, they deserved to win, so complaining about other things is irrelevant to me.”

Does he have any regrets about fielding such an extensively changed team? “None whatsoever, except that our fans didn’t see a particularly good performance from the lads who came in.

“I think Brett and Reg up front have had to work damned hard, and Ainsley, Luke Hyam, Tabby. Some of the young ‘uns who have come in, if I need them over the next 19 games they’re going to have to perform.

“Like I said, none of them have really given me any great headaches in terms of picking them, I know who the best players are.”

He added: “I’m disappointed to lose, of course I am. I didn’t come here to lose. Maybe the fact that these haven’t played for 10 days meant that they were fully fresh and they played well at our place. They deserved to win there.”

Portsmouth assistant manager Leam Richardson said: “From both the games, first we went to Ipswich and we thought we gave a good account of ourselves down there and were disappointed with the goal to take it to a replay.

“But you’re playing against a good team in Ipswich, a top Championship side with a class manager and management team, so to get ourselves through was a great credit to our lads.”

Despite Town exiting the competition, Reading’s 5-2 victory at home to Huddersfield means Town’s Championship game against the Royals set for a week on Saturday will be postponed and will be played on Tuesday 2nd February.

Photo: Action Images

daniellay19 added 09:11 - Jan 20 Lets all forget! Its done with now. Disappointing, yes. Poor team selection, yes. Roll on saturday!
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TractorClarke added 09:12 - Jan 20 I have seen a couple of comments regarding refunding of the tickets for the supporters, i cant say agree completely with this. My reasons are that a club will have a squad of players, your first teamers and your not first teamers. The priority is the league we all know that. Mick put out the second string side, for the most part at least, and there was always a chance this would happen, especially as we were not able to beat them at home. We are not the only team this has ever happpened to, it happens to utd, chelsea etc etc the list goes on, because you travelled to see a cup game where you knew the team was not full strength well that is not Micks fault. The thing is well done you for going and supporting thats dedication, but also live in the real world a bit it does not just happen to us, and to be honest in my opinion promotion is far more important than a cup run that we most likely can not win.

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blues1 added 09:26 - Jan 20 Just as after the 1st game there are people posting the same rubbish about this showing the lack of depth to our squad. It's obvious that if you change all 11 players you are going to struggle. If one or two of these players were picked in the team you'd probably not notice the difference from the 1st choice team. But 11, ridiculous. And the same would be true for any club, other than the likes of man city, Chelsea. The only person at fault for last night is mm. I hope for his sake that history doesn't repeat itself. If, as after the man utd game we fail to perform on sat he really needs to take a long look at himself. I for 1 will not be happy

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brittaniaman added 09:37 - Jan 20 Well MM. You have got to come back from Birmingham with 3pts. on Sat. to prove you were right by resting your first team last night ????? Frazer and Smith subs. saved your blushes in the first game, but last night you took no back up whatsoever ??? I suppose you thought our reserves could cope with a division 2 side. ?? the way Portsmouth are playing they will soon be joining us in the championship !! so watch out MM.

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dirtydingusmagee added 09:47 - Jan 20 anyone for a Pint !
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Kesgraveblue57 added 10:44 - Jan 20 I am still grateful to McCarthy in the way he saved us from relegation but I would like the man to go he insults traditions of the club and its supporters firstly on the way we play football now by hoofing ball forward, it is not the Ipswich way, what the fans want is passing football. Let's say by some miracle we get to the Premier League via the play-offs McCarthy would still be there in the premiership playing the same type of football as a supporter I want to be entertained a leopard can't change its spots McCarthy has one style of football and nothing will change him now

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Lightningboy added 10:56 - Jan 20 If McCarthy's still here next season why don't we just veto the cup competitions and save our supporters a bit of cash? "Magic of the cup"???!...nobody in the top 2 divisions really cares anymore as proved again last night.
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TR11BLU added 11:07 - Jan 20 Hang your head Mick, A sad day for our club and its proud FA Cup history
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nhabo added 11:46 - Jan 20 No-one likes losing. You can bet the players that played didn't enjoy losing. Look at Hyam on social media - captaining meant a lot to him. This wasn't a 'cobbled together' side either. The entire starting eleven last night are either in the first team squad or train regularly with them. They will all know the set pieces, the routines etc. The league is everyone's priority and given the limitations of our squad we have to prioritise. We could have played the best eleven last night, risked injuries and then Saturday looks an even tougher game. It's a squad game, the squad was given a chance and I think McCarthy and us are a bit clearer today that although stronger than last season, the squad still lacks real depth. I would expect the squad to be stronger again next season and once we have that strength in depth we will see better results in the cup. It has to be this way.

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jas0999 added 12:17 - Jan 20 I sincerely hope we beat Birmingham, otherwise the decision to throw away a cup run and potentially lucrative revenue at home to a PL side will look even more disastrous than it does already. Completely agree with other posters questioning our squad depth. Quite right to be worried. Let's hope evans and Mick seriously and urgently review our weak strategy. Let's look at our transfer strategy this season. Significant money received for Mings plus thousands saved on wages for the likes of Taylor.and Parr. Our signings in contrast have been cheap options. Only Fraser any good and improving of our squad, and he's not our player. Pitman is adequate. Otherwise, it was cheap youngsters who aren't ready yet or players like Coke, Toure, Oar, Douglas, Varney, digby, The Polish fella who wouldn't get in any other championship side and simply aren't good enough or past their best. I bet they were cheap though! Music to Evans ears. If we continue along these lines, I can't see us staying the course for a top 6 finish. We lack quality options and that creative spark in central midfield. Our fringe players were totally outplayed by a division two side. Yet, more annoyingly, despite bringing in sub standard players, Evans still rips the fans off with ticket prices.

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roytheboy added 12:39 - Jan 20 Mick doesn't need to tell us that he has no interest in Cup Competitions, he made that perfectly obvious last night, well done to the Supporters who attend these Cup matches, I am a Season ticket holder, however I stay home and listen to the Cup matches on Radio Suffolk, even that was painful last night, until I fell asleep with the boredom, I appreciate Mick's motives however that does not totally please me, 11 changes says it all really, let's look forward to the league this weekend and hope the we come away with all 3 points.

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WorcesterBlue added 12:54 - Jan 20 Some great posts on here, notably from Len_Brennan and Carlo88. I have never been a fan of Mick's football, though he undoubtedly stopped some considerable rot at the club and was just what we needed after Jewell and Keane. Last year I actually began to believe in him, until the failure to strengthen in the January transfer window (about to be repeated!) and square pegs in round holes and since then I think he's gone past his sell by date. But this takes the biscuit - his treatment of the back four in this match is a disgrace and if I were Digby (whether he is good enough or not) I'd be off like a shot. And to disrespect the fans and the FA cup says it all. We are not going up regardless of resting players as our football is awful and aimed at not losing rather than trying to win. Our 1st choice defence is average as even with two (albeit not very good) defensive midfielders ahead of them we ship goals for fun. And so on and so on.

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Stato added 12:56 - Jan 20 Well beaten over 2 legs by a 4th division side who ain't exactly tearing up trees in that division. I think every manager of every club should send a side out they think is capable of winning every match but not convinced Mick did that last night.
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Kesgraveblue57 added 13:18 - Jan 20 So true jas0999
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runaround added 13:32 - Jan 20 I didn't set out to lose?? Sorry Mick but your team selection & comments in the build up to the game say different. Massive pressure on team for Saturday now as failure to win will see the recriminations continue.
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essex57 added 14:32 - Jan 20 Prebsa your comment makes no sense if my comments in your opinion are cr@p surely they should fit into your category of bad opinion in your opinion, it still doesn't answer my question if a fellow supporter marks me down for wishing my team/our team luck before the game they can't be a supporter and just want to see Macarthy fail you either don't understand the question or you don't want to understand I feel it's the latter.

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warkthelint added 15:44 - Jan 20 essex57..why does it have to be so personal with you.Can't you get it into your thick head that there are people who simply don't agree with you. It's an open forum and supporters are merely voicing their opinions. Live and let live...voice your opinions without offending and let others do likewise please. Nobody wants Town to fail but there are serious reservations about MM and people have the right to express their ideas..doesn't make them disloyal. What makes you so special ? I suppose fellow supporters would quite rightly believe that you hate fellow Blues simply from reading the bile and the tirades you often print. Prebsa and Len_Brennan have got you sussed mate and it makes uncomfortable reading for you I know.

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Seasider added 16:45 - Jan 20 I said before the game that 11 changes were too many,and I would like to see Tommy Smith in his favorite position captaining the side,with 2 or 3 other first teamers on the bench at least to stand a chance of winning;but it was not to be. Mick has made it obvious in the past that he has no time for anything other than the league,so to shed crocodile tears after the game was ingenious,as we all know he doesn't give a damn. However to slate the team he put out(most unlike him)and go on to say it proved they are not good enough for the first team,will hardly boost their ego. This arrogant Yorkshireman will readily heap praise on the opposition however,quite often rightly,as yesterday ;but never accepts that he may take some of the blame for some of the dire stuff we regulars have to endure most weeks. He tells us,like a politician,that things are better than they were and we have a larger and better squad.Certainly the squad is larger;but Ipswich were 3rd this time last year;although Mick hasn't any time for stats. ,He has Coke,Toure,Digby,Tabb,Henshall,Alabi,Malarczyk,Stewart,Varney and Foley;thats ten players who's combined wages must be substantial,much better I feel to have a couple of class players who would cost a fee than these so called 'bargains' An extended cup run would have brought in some extra cash;so Mr Evans could perhaps afford to spend a similar amount to what ITFC did 25 years ago instead of less as now. Finally my mate Bob (also a supporter for over 50years) thinks Mick should offer refunds to the supporters who went to Pompey out of his deep pockets.Oh and the FA should fine the club,as used to be the case,for fielding a weak team. Tantamount I think to throwing a game.

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SW1_Blue added 16:49 - Jan 20 HOOF.
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essex57 added 17:51 - Jan 20 Wark the lint I don't think my comments are personal another poster tells me my comments are cr@p so I merely ask them why I never use bad language or personal comments against other posters so I think you are wrong on all counts I still can't get an answer to the original question why would someone who supports the same team disagree with you for wishing them luck before the game.

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warkthelint added 18:07 - Jan 20 it's not rocket science essex57..it's simply because you have turned so many people off with your personal attacks on fellow Town supporters that when people see your posts that their stomachs turn and they wince and just your name will provoke a turn down. You deserve it mate because you're a trouble maker and just annoy people and nobody is remotely interested in what you have to say...can it be any clearer than that...how can I say it....you've lost the plot sonny.,

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essex57 added 18:13 - Jan 20 Wark the lint practice what you preach and don't get personal please.
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essex57 added 19:06 - Jan 20 And my final comment on the subject: I do get lots of agrees on my comments it's just a small hardcore of about 6 people that continually mark me down if that's there opinion that's there perogative and doesn't particularly bother me however I apologise to those posters that don't care about it I will ask the question one more time how can a fellow supporter mark you down for wishing the team we both supposedly support Good luck?

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prebsa added 20:29 - Jan 20 Walkthelint spot on
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tallguy6767 added 21:33 - Jan 20 essex57 if you look up deluded in the dictionary you will find your name you complete mug! !
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