Boss Mick McCarthy was frustrated that his side conceded two bad goals after the Blues’ 2-1 loss at QPR, a game he felt Town should never have lost having put in a “terrific performance”.

“If frustrated is another word for completely pissed off, then yes I am,” McCarthy responded when asked if he was frustrated by the result.

“What went wrong? We conceded two bad goals, that’s what went wrong. We created loads of chances, the second half was a terrific performance, but we haven’t scored and we’ve given a milky goal away.”

He added: “Very happy with the performance, I thought we played really well, it was a good performance all round.”

But he admitted it was frustrating that the Blues have again been unable to record back-to-back wins, something they’ve not managed since the end of last season.

“Two good performances but a really good performance and a good result and a good performance and a bad result, unfortunately,” he continued.

“You’ve more chance of winning if you’re playing well and we have played well today but if you give goals away like we have, then it’s going to be difficult.”

Regarding QPR’s winning goal, which came in the 83rd minute via Pawel Wszolek after he had got in behind Adam Webster, he said: “It was a great header from Jonas and the ball came back and it was a poor clearance.

“Inevitably if you don’t clear it properly it ends in behind you, which is where our ball should have gone and they were sticking it in the net instead of us.”

McCarthy was pleased with Tom Lawrence’s overall performance as well as his excellent goal: “Tom’s been a thorn in their side all afternoon, certainly in the second half when we went to 4-4-2. He created chances and he scored a great goal.”

He was also impressed with David McGoldrick’s display, although said that the Irish international was disappointed not to have scored.

“Didz is back at it, he’s playing well,” McCarthy continued. “He himself says he should have scored, he’s disappointed that he didn’t.

“If we don’t score a winner, it should have ended one-all, we shouldn’t have lost that game.”

McCarthy explained why he started his side in a 3-5-2 system for the first time: “I wanted two up front and I knew they’d be playing three in the middle, so I matched them up them up there.

“The shape of the team had nothing to do with the goal, I thought we played well in the first half, after five or 10 minutes I thought we started and played well. We dominated up to the goal.”

Why did he switch back to 4-4-2 at half-time? “We played well but they were sticking it in behind us and in the channels and having a bit of joy and just wanted to get Wardy on, a bit more of an attacking threat.

“I thought Josh played well, it was nothing to do with his performance why I took him off, I just wanted to go to 4-4-2.”

McCarthy was pleased with Josh Emmanuel and Myles Kenlock’s performances in the wing-back roles.

“I thought they both played very well,” he added. “Myles, unfortunately, was struggling with his calf when I took him off. I might have changed a striker, been more attacking, but I couldn’t, that was forced upon me.”

The introduction of Jonathan Douglas rather then Andre Dozzell prompted boos from some Town supporters and then chants of the 17-year-old’s name.

“I guess that’s what they want to see,” McCarthy reflected. “We’re away from home, it’s not like the game on Friday. It’s a different game completely.

“Poor old Kevin Bru was running on empty and we’re coming here and it required Dougie in there. They’d got three in there at one stage and we were playing 4-4-2, so we might have got overrun and we didn’t.

“We’ve just given a [bad goal away]. The criticism can be levelled because we’ve lost, but we’ve given two piss poor goals away in a really good performance.

“It gives people a stick to beat me with because we’ve lost but ultimately that’s bullshit, to be honest with you.”

Does the defeat change his plans for next week’s FA Cup third round tie at home to Lincoln? “Not really, I’d not given it too much thought before today. But no, I’ll be playing as strong a side as possible, we need to win it.”

Photo: TWTD

jpring89 added 18:12 - Jan 2 We lost because of you Mick. End of.
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StringerBell added 18:14 - Jan 2 A game we lost due your tactical ineptitude McCarthy. Which once again exposes you as a hopeless out-of-date Dinosaur who should nowhere near our club. Get out now.
39

northernblues added 18:14 - Jan 2 Games played and points achieved we are in the same position as when Keane was sacked, enough is enough! Please mick go!
38

JCBLUE added 18:15 - Jan 2 I was waivering on Mick following the Bristol game and then today's team selection, but changed from 3-5-2 today way too early and those substitutions were frankly abysmal! Stop being so bloody cautious, play to win not to draw & if you need to make replacements then go like for like, particularly when we are playing well! Mick, for the record, we NEVER need "Dougie in there"!!

48

jas0999 added 18:16 - Jan 2 Deluded. MM out.
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jpring89 added 18:18 - Jan 2 "It required Dougie in there". At any time whatever the situation in a football match it does not require "Dougie" EVER
44

1979blue added 18:18 - Jan 2 You subs were rubbish and was the perfect game for Dozzell to come on!
34

blue75 added 18:18 - Jan 2 You get what you deserve! McCarthy tried to defend a draw when we should be playing for the win!! Same old McCarthy that leopard will never change his spots.
32

Bluetone added 18:21 - Jan 2 Quote “Poor old Kevin Bru was running on empty and we're coming here and it required Dougie in there." The only place you need him is clearing the litter in the stands after the match. Quote “It gives people a stick to beat me with because we've lost but ultimately that's bullsh1t to be honest with you.” The stubborn arrogance of the man is unbelievable. McCarthy if you want to see the problem look in the mirror.

39

ArnieM added 18:22 - Jan 2 ...and whose fault was it Mick?
16

dangerous30 added 18:23 - Jan 2 I was pleased with the team which was selected, subs was not so good hopefully we stick to the starting line up. Then we get one off are transfer targets in this week. Lost faith in the manger ages ago but I still want town too win.
10

Michael11 added 18:25 - Jan 2 Why the hell does it matter whether we're home or away for Dozzell to play? If he has the talent (which he definitely does) then he'll be perfectly alright to look after himself in the same way Teddy Bishop did. It's just lame excuses to try and justify his shocking tactics and poor management in general.
30

12th_Man added 18:25 - Jan 2 Just go mick you're killing our club. And I bet it's not a strong squad v Lincoln on Saturday
21

DurhamTownFan added 18:26 - Jan 2 What has being away from home got to do with it? Is there a rule saying that we're not allowed to try and win? FFS... sign the petition now, everyone! https://www.change.org/p/english-football-league-mick-mcarthy-out-of-ipswich-tow
18

Ipswichbusiness added 18:26 - Jan 2 The last clean sheet we kept was on 26/11/2016 at home against QPR. Since then we have conceded 12 goals in 7 games. If his cautious tactics at least gained us nil nil draws it would be something, but no. How can it be a terrific performance when we are beaten by a relegation threatened team?
23

sebosus101 added 18:27 - Jan 2 Live in scotland and was first game for a while. thought was a smashing game and great goal by lawrence. mcgoldrick is absolute class and a joy to watch. shame about the result and those two goals. little dissapointed with the subs would have liked sears or dozzell to come on but bring wardy on second half was a good move. qpr were pants really and cant believe they won. oh well hopefully we will win the fa cup this year!

11

carsey added 18:27 - Jan 2 You and your bl@@dy favourites are the problem. IF Bruce was struggling the last person you replace him with is Douglas. Just get out of my club
13

Gforce added 18:29 - Jan 2 Worst Ipswich team since the mid eighties.Only 2/3 players of any quality says it all.
10

superblue70 added 18:29 - Jan 2 There is only one thing that's sh1t McCarthy and its not from a bull it's from a dinosaur please just go
9

bluearmy4life added 18:30 - Jan 2 McCarthy you're unbelievable! Enough is enough. MM OUT!
15

grubbyoik added 18:31 - Jan 2 And that is one of the many reasons we want you out of our football club.. If you think that's acceptable Evans, you should go with him... if it's because your too tight to pay him off, you should be ashamed of ourself.
15

awayfan added 18:31 - Jan 2 "We're away from home, it's not like the game on Friday. It's a different game completely." FFS. By all accounts Wolves should have beaten QPR comfortably on Saturday, in which case QPR would have come into this game on a run of 7 defeats in a row and nudging the bottom 3. Yes the defending for both goals was very poor but so were your incredibly negative last 2 substitutions in a game that was massively there for the taking!

16

battyblue added 18:32 - Jan 2 Its so bad he makes you laugh with his pathetic excuses and tactics.
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BluedanW added 18:32 - Jan 2 Congratulations on snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Mccarthy you are clueless. Please either yourself or Marcus Evans do what you need to do before the team are playing in front of 4 figure crowds next season.
19

Carberry added 18:34 - Jan 2 Really tired of this foul mouthed personal justification every week.
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