Town boss Mick McCarthy admitted that his side weren’t as good as they have been in recent games as they drew 1-1 at home to Brentford and that the Bees were the better team.

“They were very, very good, we weren’t particularly good with the ball at all,” McCarthy said. “They deserved a point, they probably deserved to win it, they were the best team.

“Why that is I don’t know. Probably because they’re a good side. But then we’ve played a lot better in the last five games and probably deserved more points than we’ve got.

“And today we’ve had to scrap and fight and stick at it and if there’s a bright spot or a positive point then that’s just what we did and we got a point when eight weeks ago I would have been sat here with a face like thunder and we probably have lost that 3-1.

“You look for positives and that’s the case, but they were excellent today, very good.”

He added: “We’ve played a lot better. I don’t know why. It’s just not happened for us today. It’s just a shame we’ve come here and played in front of our fans like that when we’ve had five other games when we’ve played particularly well I think and it’s been a lot better. Today was disappointing.

“We always want to get three points but there are some days you just take the point and you’re glad of it and today is one of them.”

Despite the disappointment, Town are now undefeated in six, which pleases McCarthy: “It sounds a lot better. I know it’s been five draws and a win but it’s another point because we’ve had a tough old time.

“I think that’s the measure of the lads that they’ve stuck at it today. In the past I think we would have come off and we’d have been beaten.”

Midfielder Emyr Huws, who is on loan from Cardiff, scored his second goal for the club and McCarthy says he has already talked to the Wales international about moving to Portman Road on a permanent basis.

“I’ve spoken to Emyr, I think that’s the first step, and asked him if he’d like to join us and he’s said he’d be delighted to,” he said.

“That’s positive, that’s good news, although I don’t think he’s going to say ‘No, mess off!’

“He said he’d love to, so that’s good. He’s enjoying it, that’s the thing, he’s back enjoying playing, he’s enjoying being here and I think everybody’s enjoying having him here. Certainly I am and the fans are.”

McCarthy says Huws’s Wales international colleague Tom Lawrence, who made his return from his two-match ban, is still feeling the ankle injured he suffered in the home game against Derby.

“He’s having to nurse it a little bit,” the Town boss added. “It won’t be right until the end of the season and he can put it in the sea somewhere and have a few weeks off and not be doing anything on it, that’s when it’ll be perfect again.

“He’s been off for two weeks, he’s not going to be as sharp. I thought it was the right decision to play him. He’s been brilliant for the rest of the season. Freddie had come in and done exceptionally well but Tom’s been our talisman.”

Regarding Cole Skuse’s chance to win the game for Town late on, McCarthy added: “Brentford are set up to catch you on the break and he generally ends up being the sitter and the security.

“But I think as a footballer you should be doing a bit of everything and he’s just recognised his opportunity to play it and go forward and he was a bit unfortunate he didn’t get a better contact on it.”

The Blues manager had praise for Myles Kenlock, who cleared a goal-bound Sergi Canos shot off the line in the second half.

“Myles is doing great, I’ve been delighted with him,” he added. “To play at this level week in, week out, that’s something he hasn’t done and I think he found it tough at times because he’s up against some good players.

“But he was Johnny on the spot, got back and defended. He’s a wing-back but he got back in and did his defensive job. I’m really pleased with him.”

Looking ahead to Tuesday’s home game against his old club Wolves, McCarthy says one or two players are suffering from niggles but he expects them all to be OK.

“Emyr’s got a bit of a tight hamstring,” he continued. “It’s a bit unfortunate for some of the lads who have come in and haven’t played all season.

“Jordan Spence is another one who has come in from doing nothing and to then playing week in, week out. Emyr has done the same, Toums has done the same.

“Chambo got a really bad knock in his ribs which knocked the wind out of his sails a little bit. I don’t think anybody’s going to be missing for Tuesday. We’ll have to wait and see tomorrow morning.”

Brentford boss Dean Smith felt the Bees were the more likely winners in the second half.

“It was a scrappy game and their pitch at the moment I don’t think helps flowing football, it’s a little bit slow and bobbly," he said.

“I don’t think the goalkeepers were worked as much as they should have been. I thought we started the game quite well, then there was a spell when they took over for 20 minutes and they probably edged the first half.

“The lad’s scored a good goal, it was a good finish. I can nit-pick with our players and say we should have been tighter and stopped the cross.

“I think he was a bit fortunate that the cross ended up with him but it was good execution.

“I thought we got back into the game then and got more on the ball and it was a well-worked goal.

"A great ball through from Romaine Sawyers and Nico Yennaris has arrived in the box and scored again.

“In the second half I thought we were the better team. I thought we looked the more likely team to go on and win the game.”

Photo: TWTD

jas0999 added 20:06 - Mar 4 Two below average sides Mick. Them slightly better than us. Just goes to show his far we have fallen when it's acceptable to think a point at home to Brentford is good and that they are a very very good side. Poor.
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Taricco_Fan added 20:10 - Mar 4 Brentford "different class".
4

TractorBeezer added 20:11 - Mar 4 Thanks for the helpful explanation geminimustang. Phil, are you aware of any of the actual details?
0

surgery added 20:18 - Mar 4 Of course, but what did you expect with there're multi million pound squad
2

poldark added 21:00 - Mar 4 Huws is paying part of his wages so I doubt Evans will pay him enough to stay thought he was poor today goal apart but he does give us something no one else does but when the team are as poor as we are he will get dragged down to the levels of other players. McCarthy plays so negative tactics he will be ruined just like he has destroyed so many players one that stand out is Teddy Bishop. On a similar theme what has happened to the 5 point plan Evans came out with a few weeks ago 1 player in the team from our youth set up and 1 on the bench and he didn't get on . We will not be relegated we will not get into the play offs so please Mr McCarthy please tell us why the youth are not in squad at least and not playing to get experience. McCarthy out

10

Bobby_Petta added 21:02 - Mar 4 Mark Warburton is still available, he will get us playing attacking football and get rid of the dead wood like Skuse. See Forest want him as there manager, done wonders at Brentford. There will not be any progression unless we make change. A decision needs to made pretty soon, to give a new manager time to evaluate the team. Otherwise Portman road will pretty empty next season.

17

walberblue added 21:23 - Mar 4 ITFC need a new 5 point plan to cover the next 11 games. Mid table Mick can't just be allowed to drift aimlessly to the end of the season. And this club needs to know now whether he's straying or not. Why should we waster 3 months just to give MM a comfortable send off. If he's staying he needs to start putting together next seasons side and give Ipswich players a good chance to stake a claim to place in the first team squad. We must set a goal of at least 4 more wins. If we can't win without any pressure what are this bunch going to do when it really matters. Its not up to Mid table Mick when he leaves. Having failed in all competitions, cups derby games and failing to win a big game in his 4 years. He needs to be sacked. Now. He needs a kick up the backside to get his career back on track. He can't do it at Ipswich. He had 4 years and he's built absolutely nothing. Goodbye.

12

fents71 added 21:35 - Mar 4 Brentford weren't very very good mick, they were ok. In fact, we were probably the better team in the first half. In the second half we were bloody awful and made them look incredible. I'm assuming you told the players to sit on a point. We have nothing left to play for except professional pride but you even want to take that away. Today should have been an open entertaining game of football. Instead we were left frustrated at the lack of passion and desire to actually win in front of the home supporters. Even the substitutions were negative. Why oh why did you bring on Kieffer Moore instead of Pitman? I was really upbeat before kick off and I left demoralised. Our football club needs to have some hard conversations about its direction and ambition in the close season because many more supporters will lose their patience and stop attending.

8

markytitfc added 22:07 - Mar 4 Have your asked Tom lawrence if he wants to stay Mick?
1

Juanforthemoney added 22:07 - Mar 4 As much as I like Scuse for the tidying up he does, we do lack that extra dimension when he plays. He still likes to go sideways or backwards. The boy from Leeds is always looking to go forward so that's the difference. I hope the latter starts Tuesday. Once again I thought Ward did a good job today and Knudsen looks very good in the central 3. Best town player today imo.

2

markytitfc added 22:12 - Mar 4 Has anybody asked you to stay Mick? I bleeding hope not.
14

norfolkbluey added 22:24 - Mar 4 If MM stays for next season we can be guaranteed mid table mediocrity with match after match of boring football. So what do we want? Mid table misery and crowd numbers down to ten thousand or an ambitious manager like Nigel Pearson with some backbone? Umh, err, no brainer!!!!! I have vowed like many others not to go to Portman Road until there is a change of manager. Sorry Mick but you're style of football belongs in the past.

10

TR11BLU added 22:44 - Mar 4 Just pi$$ off Dino before you drag us any lower with your dull, negative style. Until you are sacked, I will not renew for next year. Sad days at PR.
5

ArnieM added 04:24 - Mar 5 Warburton likely to go to Forest as has his number 2 already done.
1

Swn98 added 07:41 - Mar 5 Surgery?
0

therein61 added 08:03 - Mar 5 Look at the money we've wasted paying up players contracts in the recent past why not Micks!!??
3

therein61 added 08:21 - Mar 5 If we can sign Huws make Skuse part of a swap deal, hang on that won't come off as Colin is going for promotion next season and that means positive football and trying for 3 points every game.
1

ChrisFelix added 08:59 - Mar 5 Same old story, we need to get the killer 2nd goal. Push up as the opponents can only score in our penalty box. Yet again poor substitutions, we can all read McCarthys mind. More draws than any other Championship side
4

1979blue added 09:17 - Mar 5 Many will disagree but the weak link in this team is Skuse. With the exception of a last ditch tackle now and again he brings nothing to this side and should never be a guaranteed starter. His fault for the goal not picking up the runner which I am always told is his strengths. Negative subs by Mick again yesterday and felt like going back to what he is more comfortable with which is boring!!!

4

TractorRoyNo1 added 09:28 - Mar 5 We're doing ok, much better football. But but but we will achieve nothing without a proper striker, you can't expect Lawrence to score every week, we often gave 5 at the back plus Skuse, we need to get more players in the oppositions box.
1

Dissboyitfc added 10:24 - Mar 5 Doing ok is not ok! ok All we are doing is surviving with negative football, is that ok? I for one dont think it is!
4

Lightningboy added 10:47 - Mar 5 Wasn't Huws (and the team as a whole) playing better when he had Diagourara alongside him? Yep,but Mick has to shoehorn useless Skuse back in to slow everything down again. I'm telling you,once Skuse is gone this club's style of play will permanently improve.
2

Pilgrimblue added 12:06 - Mar 5 Yes of course they deserved to win, they wanted it with style pace and getting on front foot whenever possible. Whereas we had some good play but after reasonable first half MM decided a point was enough and subbed two attacking midfield with two defensive ones!! Dreadful All we do is scrap, it's got to stop as fans are leaving. Dean Smith is a proper manager and wouldn't put up with half our squad

3

blueherts added 17:42 - Mar 5 Until we get that pitch sorted no one is gonna be able to play decent football - Another symptom probably of cutting corners and making savings 'Rip it up and start again ' as that great 1980s band Orange Juice Sang Oh that includes the management plan as well
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woohoo added 17:51 - Mar 5 Was at the game. Once Brentwood scored I never thought that we would win unless it was through a dodgy penalty. Too much 'after you Claude' by 'Town. Poor marking, too much passing backwards, lack of intent, etc, etc....
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