Town boss Mick McCarthy felt the Blues played very well for 65 minutes despite falling to a surprise 2-1 defeat to Belgian second division side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in the final friendly of pre-season at Portman Road.

“I should be stood here waxing lyrical about a really good performance and a comfortable win, but then we gave away [two goals],” McCarthy said.

“By the way, [the first was] a good goal by them, they’ve broken on us, but it’s a dereliction of duty on the edge of the box and gross stupidity from our point that we’ve conceded.”

He added: “We played very well, I think it was a good performance. I don’t think they really troubled us in the first half and I’m not sure they troubled us much in the second half until we gave the goal away.

“We all know, putting the goal in the net is the hardest part of the game. Performance-wise for 65 minutes for great and I should be here talking about that rather than the stupidity of giving the first goal away and then conceding the second pretty softly.”

McCarthy, who was by no means as annoyed by the defeat as he was by Cambridge’s late equaliser in last week’s friendly, dismissed suggestions of defensive frailties, despite conceding three poor goals in the last three games.

“I wouldn’t call it a frailty, I don’t like that word, we’re not frail,” he insisted. “It was a mistake, and in fairness rather than frailty it was probably Jonas Knudsen wanting to go and compete for a ball he shouldn’t have.

“I love his attitude when he’s going to compete for it but he should have just let Dozzer do it and we would never have had that happen.

“But, the fact that it’s been highlighted by conceding goals, I’ve been able to speak to them about it and I hope it doesn’t happen to them in league games.”

Regarding trialist Roland Lamah, he says he’s not yet ready to sign him up, as requested by sections of the support during the game.

“He’s one of a few players we’re considering for that position,” he said. “But I thought he did really well, he contributed.”

The Town boss says the Blues are still working on making additions to the squad: “We’re still doing that, but I’m hopeful we’ll have somebody in before Saturday.”

Regarding injuries, he says Christophe Berra’s half-time withdrawal was planned rather than due to a knock: “He was always going off, him and Tommy were always having 45 minutes.”

McCarthy says he expects Brett Pitman (toe) and Luke Hyam (knee) should be fit for next week’s opening Championship game against Barnsley, while keeper Dean Gerken is set to return to training after his hamstring injury.

“I think so, they’re both improving, they should both be available. Let’s hope we don’t get any more injuries, but they should be available for the squad,” he added.

“Gerks injured his hamstring. I spoke to him before the game and he’s training on Monday.”

Photo: Action Images

TractorCam added 18:18 - Jul 30 Well tough, you aren't. And not 1 fan is surprised, as we can't finish a dogs dinner and making the same defensive mistakes time and time again
1

TractorCam added 18:20 - Jul 30 Although to add a positive sign to the story we are definitely playing a more passing game which will hopefully improve as the season goes on
2

Sir_Bob added 18:23 - Jul 30 We're not frail at the back, it was just a mistake. Mistakes that we make week in week out...... Making us frail. Wise up, you've had 3 years & it still happens. Get your head out of your arse man
10

KuqiCoup added 18:23 - Jul 30 Yeah. Playing better football and not winning. How long until we revert back to hoof and hope?
6

blues1 added 18:27 - Jul 30 And there's the problem. He actually thinks we played well. Forget the style of football we were playing. The fact is, we were awful today. Until we get a manager who has a clue we'll go nowhere, other than downwards
2

Kesgraveblue57 added 18:28 - Jul 30 McCarthy it's very hard to put a positive spin to this game we were crap and you know it and it is solely down to you
7

Michael11 added 18:28 - Jul 30 We need more than just 'somebody in by next Saturday'. We need 2 or 3 at the very least otherwise I think it's going to be a long season. We've got no threat going forward whatsoever!
4

Knightsy added 18:29 - Jul 30 What planet is this bloke on.
8

jas0999 added 18:33 - Jul 30 Deluded yet again. We are a million miles away from being promotion contenders. Embarrassing result and just one new signing isn't going to change the fact we have a weaker squad, which although extremely hard working, on the whole lacks quality. We need at least three signings and frankly this should have been dealt with long before now. MM and ME both responsible.
16

surgery added 18:33 - Jul 30 It's now been well and truly confirmed, he's insane
8

Dog added 18:35 - Jul 30 Just wondering how many of you moaning twunts actually went to the game.
-11

Penguinblue added 18:37 - Jul 30 Speak up you McCarthy hoofball lovers
3

GenericIpswichFan added 18:45 - Jul 30 Mccarthy hoofball lovers can't speak up if hoofball wasn't played now can they?
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TractorRoyNo1 added 18:46 - Jul 30 All the best Belgians don't play in their league. Their top league is sh!te, which makes their 2nd Division roughly equivalent to our 2nd Division (4th tier). For God's sake McCarthy just go...
9

Penguinblue added 18:49 - Jul 30 Dog - you obviously did. Did you take Duck with you?
9

prebbs007 added 18:51 - Jul 30 Idiot. No you're right Mick. We're not frail at the back. We're cr&p at the back!!!! with a tax dodging owner, a pointless MD and a dinosaur manager we ate in for a relegation battle with this dross squad. Without at least 5 players before Saturday (like that's gunna happen) we will be bottom of the league by end of September and the fans concerns will be realised. We need 2 fullbacks. A CB to play with Webster. A midfield to play with Bish and an attack. No problems then all is perfect.

4

Dog added 18:54 - Jul 30 Penguinblue - just wondering how all the moaners (and lovers) can make your well qualified opinions when you don't even attend the matches. Apart from ME and My ruining the club it is the tripe dished up on here by non attendees that is also disaffecting the town stalwarts. If you didn't go keep your poison (or love) to yourself.
1

brendanh added 18:56 - Jul 30 You can read too much into pre-season friendlies. Lots of subs, trialists, players not fully 100% fit yet, and not 100% committed as they would be for a league game. There are plenty of examples of teams having a poor pre-season and a good season. Mourinho: "Pre-season is fake, for good and for bad. If you're very bad, it's fake, and if you're too good, it's fake."
5

Bluetone added 18:58 - Jul 30 The main thing we need is McCarthy's resignation. It's dull it's dire and a very grim season in prospect.
4

rinkydinkpanther added 19:05 - Jul 30 65 mins a game does not make.
7

Mark added 19:08 - Jul 30 Any Championship side should be able to put in a good performance against a team whose average home attendance is little more than 2,000. I hope today (and the results at Barnet and Cambridge) are a wake up call. After playing those weak teams we should be getting confidence-boosting scorelines winning with goals to spare, not losing and drawing. No harm done as it is pre-season, but if we fail to beat Barnsley next Saturday it will be a different story... Also, if we continue to be so impotent in front of goal questions will be asked while we spent most of our summer transfer budget on a centre-back when we already had Berra, Chambers, Digby and Smith.

6

Tractorboy1985 added 19:10 - Jul 30 Knudsen is w@nk full stop!! Saw it after 3 games! Looking round like a pub player! Any fan who thinks he is capable doesn't understand the game! We all knew mings was going to go (showed in his performances after Xmas) but we needed to fill the gap with someone better than Knudsen! Left and right back are a serious weakness.. I love chambos passion and he is a great leader but he plays at centre halve or not at all! Mick has got F all to work with but doesn't help himself by playing players out of position! This is a season which will determine the future of our manager and chairman and where this club is going in my opinion

0

blues1 added 19:19 - Jul 30 Dog. I was there and we were for god damn awful. McCarthy as always watches a different game to everyone else but I'm sure he'll still think hes right and we're all wrong. Tractorboy1985. Already somebodyvslating a player who did very little wrong and Who, in the 2nd half of last season was by far our best defender. Only one goal was conceded from his side of the pitch from January to the end of the season.

7

MattinLondon added 19:22 - Jul 30 So if you criticise MM you're a hater and if you say that such criticism is over the top then you're classed as a lover - why can't some people just grow-up. I don't think that MM helps himself at times by playing players out-of-position and playing certain players all of their time. But we finished last season in seventh position and we weren't too far from the play-offs - with bishop and Dozzell we have more flair - it's just a question whether they will be picked in their best positions which is in the centre. Today was a friendly and it doesn't matter - we do need more additions like a new striker and a winger but it's a question of getting the right players. But the market is crazy - a young player who has five minutes PL experience and who happens to play for a Chelsea or Liverpool is worth 5 million. Lower league or foreign players from unglamorous countries is the way to go - but maybe these will be too unsexy or marquee for some.

3

Blue_Moses added 19:24 - Jul 30 Mick was obviously watching a different game to me, we have no threat upfront. Especially with Sears chasing balls into the corner flags.
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