Town boss Mick McCarthy says he fully understands fans’ frustrations following the Blues’ 1-0 home defeat to Huddersfield, his side’s fourth game without a goal. Christopher Schindler’s 58th minute header saw the visitors to the three points.

“It wasn’t a great game in general,” McCarthy said. “We’ve not created much, I don’t think they have. They hit the post when we gave the ball away from a throw-in and we’ve let our guard down from a corner kick and it’s cost us.

“It was a [sloppily conceded corner kick], then having done that the last thing you need to do is concede from it.”

With the Blues now without a goal in four games fans made their feelings clear with boos at the end and ironic chants when Freddie Sears managed a shot on target in the second half.

“I’m not surprised, it happens,” McCarthy added. “We’ve not played as well as we could, as we’d like and I think the crowd are getting frustrated and they’re venting their feelings. I fully understand that.”

How does he feel when he hears fans chanting things like, ‘We’ve had a shot’, as was the case following Sears’s effort, which was claimed easily by Terriers keeper Danny Ward?

“There’s not a great deal you can do about it,” he continued. “I’m doing by job, obviously, to the best of my ability at the moment.

“But if it’s not as good as the crowd think it should be and it’s unacceptable to them, then they’ve all paid their money, if they give us the boos it’s acceptable if they’re not seeing what they want to see, I’ve no complaint about that. I’m not happy about how we played myself.”

Has he known a similar goalless spell elsewhere during his managerial career? “I can’t remember, but I’m sure someone will find out and source it if I have.

“We weren’t very good with the ball in terms of creating chances. We’ve still got creative players on the pitch but we didn’t create any.”

Asked how he would respond to fans’ criticism that he sets his side up negatively, he said: “Anything I would say to that it always appears to be an excuse and I’m not one for excuses.

“If that’s the thoughts that they’ve got and I’m certainly not going to sit in here and explain all my reasons for picking a team that I’ve got. But I’m just not going sit here and justify my selection.”

Part of the selection is down to the lack of fit attacking players? “You didn’t need me to speak about it after all, did you? That’s an excuse for me because we’ve still got talented players on the pitch. So I expect more from the ones that we’ve got on the pitch.”

Does he view the recent spell as a period which needed to be got out of the way before the injured players are available again?

“I sincerely hope so,” he said. “It’s tough at the moment, it always is. It’s easy for people to get in their ear holes and start driving wedges, ‘This is wrong, that’s wrong and everything else is wrong’ and to be fair it isn’t.

“The players are a good bunch of lads and make sure they stick together and keep their chins up and their chests out, they are very proud to be Ipswich players. And there’s only us that can turn it around.”

The Town boss hopes the two-week international break will allow some of those injured players, including Jonny Williams, who will play for the U23s tomorrow against Liverpool at Portman Road, to return to fitness.

“In terms of hoping we get some players back the break’s a good thing. Besty’s gone through his 90 minutes today and he needs to recover.

“Reg [Luke Varney] can’t play in the U23s game tomorrow as he’s not fit to play 45 or 60 minutes. He doesn’t want to play in it and get injured and I don’t want him to.

“In terms of getting players back and some getting minutes into them and some just recovering, it’s a pretty good thing, I think.”

He says his players will be given a few days off during the break: “They’ll get some time off to recover because the games do come thick and fast and when we come back, of course, we’ve got Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday.

“We’re travelling to Blackburn first, which is hardly round the corner, then we’ve got Burton at home, which is a huge game for us, then we’re up to Newcastle which is even less than just round the corner.

“So we’ve got a fair bit of travelling and a fair bit of work to do, so they’ll get a bit of time to recover.”

The Blues’ recent games have seen them face the division’s leaders today, third-placed Brighton on Tuesday as well as in-form Leeds but McCarthy warns that the likes of Blackburn and Burton after the break also won’t be easy opposition.

“I see Burton have won today, they’ve had a good result, so I’m not going to describe them as weak, there are no weak teams,” he added. “We’ve got to play better and beat them.”

"Any new injuries from today’s game? “Only me, a bit of a broken heart, that’s all, other than that I’m fine.”

Huddersfield manager David Wagner was delighted to claim a win at what he feels is one of the toughest places to visit in the Championship.

“I think for every manager three points against Ipswich away is massive, is huge,” said Wagner, who refused to be drawn on reports linking him with Derby County. “This is a very a difficult place to go and to get three points.

“A tough challenge, a lot of one-against-one challenges, an uncomfortable opponent who is very aggressive.

“I think the game was even, we had our opportunities, not a lot, but to be fair I didn’t expect to have a lot of opportunities.

“Elias Kachunga hit the post, we had a great opportunity from Jonathan Hogg from a corner after five minutes, I think he had to score from two metres.

“And then we used one set piece for a goal, often this is the story how Ipswich is successful - stay in the game and score off set pieces but today we did this.

"Our first set piece goal of the season right at the best moment of the season and it is a massive, huge win for us. Not because of our run because it’s Ipswich away, a very difficult place to go.”

Photo: TWTD

sereneblue added 18:36 - Oct 1 No you don't, otherwise you would resign.
21

dugoutdave added 18:37 - Oct 1 Just go, whilst you still have some dignity
25

TheSelkirk added 18:38 - Oct 1 I would doubt whether you understand the fans's frustrations at all and, more importantly, I doubt whether you would give a toss anyway.
20

Cakeman added 18:40 - Oct 1 Northampton Town's nickname sums up McCarthy's lame comments!
17

prebsa added 18:40 - Oct 1 Same post match crap. "I'm doing by job, obviously, to the best of my ability at the moment." - And that ability is not good enough. He sets up negatively every game and only goes for a point! Injurys ade not an excuse because every team has them not just us! He deserves the boos and singing that he gets! The only way this club will improve is by getting rid of this crap one dimensional dinasour!

19

truckerblue added 18:40 - Oct 1 FFS Evans you were there today so why o why did you not just pop down after the final whistle and say clear your desk Mick. Oh yes that's right because it'll cost you money and heaven forbid you waste any more than you have to on the club.
18

martin587 added 18:40 - Oct 1 Well do something about then.!!!
5

Mark added 18:41 - Oct 1 I'm glad Mick wasn't happy with it and understands our frustrations, but it's a pity he wouldn't explain the negative starting line up and keeping two defensive midfielders on all 97 minutes. I can't remember a time we have posed so little goal threat, even under Keane. An isolated striker up front (a free transfer yet to prove himself or score here) supported by a poor midfield consisting of two defensive midfielders, one of whom is 35 (and he was not the worst today). We are lining up each week like we are away to a Premier League side, not home to Brighton and Huddersfield! I know those sides are doing well, but three points for a win yet we seemed to play for 0-0. I don't buy the argument that we must play defensive football to get results. Take the Burley years, we passed the ball and were always good to watch even though we didn't have money and had to sell our best players. ITFC is a business that needs to sell match tickets and get young people interested for the future, but we are losing fans like this and it surely is not sustainable.

28

PavlovsCat added 18:47 - Oct 1 Meh.
1

havinit69 added 18:48 - Oct 1 your broken heart can go with your broken record then Mick! What an awful game, such a lack of quality, intent and passion. What has happened to this once great football club? 4-5-1 for 60 minutes and we wonder why we can't create anything. Even when Best wins a header he is chasing it himself! Take out the last 5 minutes of the Villa game and I can't remember us having any real chances in the last 3 home games. I've never called for a change until now, think it's time for a change of management. Football has progressed but we are still playing football from the Wimbeldon/Watford era, at least they got results though. I think the day was summed up for me, when a young fan, must have been no older than 10, spent the entire second half playing on his tablet, and not only playing on it, but playing Chess!! That's right, Chess! Need I say more?

26

northernblues added 18:51 - Oct 1 Even if mick went, I don't trust the board to replace him with any better, keane, jewel Mccarthy out comes evans book of football who's who!
13

HUTCHITFC added 18:52 - Oct 1 If Big Sam doesn't get a ban then get him in !
-26

tractorfromongar added 18:53 - Oct 1 No male cow poo (to get around unacceptable language) - these players and this manager are not up to the task. Add to that an owner that has very little or no interest in the team, and despite pulling in some cash from good deals selling players has tightly held the purse strings so we end up with free transfers and loan players. If you need inspiration Mick watch Ipswich vs WBA in 76 on youtube. Exciting players creating opportunities and not frightened to have a go.

14

superblue70 added 18:53 - Oct 1 Making excuses for Burton game already, mind they are world beaters
16

Mick_Mills_Tache added 18:54 - Oct 1 Oh, yes, I'm sure someone being paid big bucks and has no connections/only been here a few years/ isn't a supporter of the club that we've all supported since birth feels the same frustrations of supporters who PAY big bucks and have supported the club since birth... Jog on, Mick.
14

Michael11 added 18:58 - Oct 1 I'm sorry but injuries aren't to blame for the negative long ball tactics. Setting out to stifle an opposition is probably the dullest tactic you can use in Football and I hate how other teams' fans view us. We used to be seen as a good footballing side and now we're seen as a long ball caveman team and they're absolutely right. All this crap about bringing youth through was just to keep fans renewing ST's. Bishop still doesn't get in over Douglas, Chambers could have one leg and keep Emmanuel out the team when Webster's back, and then there's Dozzell who can't get a look in over his new best pal Varney who was deemed not good enough in the summer! Evans wasn't even fully committed to sacking Jewell 100% so what chance is there of McCarthy going unless he quits?

22

Kesgraveblue57 added 18:58 - Oct 1 What was it 66 minutes to have a shot on target must be some kind of record, never mind Elton John will soon be playing for the town and at least you see a creative artist on the pitch.
10

therein61 added 18:59 - Oct 1 Sorry Mick but you don't give a toss what we fans think which has been well documented in your previous press conferences, it is time for you to do the honourable thing and walk away I know many on here feel the same, but what I find appalling from some bloggers is the disgusting name calling towards you!!!! come on guys be subjective without the playground comments we are all human after all would you give it to your nearest and dearest as you give it to this person or even more importantly could you handle the same in your work place or domestic life!!?? comment by all means but keep it adult

11

Woodbridgian added 18:59 - Oct 1 If you understood the fans frustrations there is no way you would set up the team with 3 slow defensive midfielders combined one pedestrian stricker then continue to play Chambers anywhere near a defensive and then expect anything other than the dross served up today.
11

Norwichbeater added 19:07 - Oct 1 It's easy for opposing managers as they know exactly what they are up against inclusive of squad selection. Why does he believe the only way to win is by grinding out a result. Pathetic really when you think about it and proves lack of ability. Enough teams win by playing good football don't they?
8

blue75 added 19:08 - Oct 1 Mick the fans think you set up your team negatively because you said you set you team up not to lose a clean sheet is always good you said!! You reap what you sow!! Today Huddersfield had nothing in the centre of midfield had we not hoofed it we could've controlled the game but that's something Mick will never understand. A bit like Ipswich is a footballing club and his sort will only be tolerated for so long!!!

8

Gforce added 19:08 - Oct 1 League one here we come ! MM. OUT !!!!!
3

OldClactonBlue added 19:12 - Oct 1 You don't understand, period.
5

runaround added 19:14 - Oct 1 Sorry Mick but after today, even with the Injured players returning I cannot see it improving & definitely feel it's time for change. Thanks what you did in the first 3 years you were here but it's time you moved on
14

Gforce added 19:24 - Oct 1 Steve Bruce is available could do a lot worse
7

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