Boss Mick McCarthy warned that Town’s relegation battle could last until the final day of the season visit to Burnley after Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Blackburn. The Blues dropped to 20th in the Championship only one point from the relegation zone with Bolton, Bristol City, Peterborough and Barnsley all winning.

McCarthy says he can only affect Town’s matches: “I can’t do anything about other results. I’ve said all along since I walked in on November 1st that I think it’ll go right to the very end.

“It’s a matter of having 50-points plus to stay in the league, and everybody’s scrapping for them. We’ve had our good run or we wouldn’t be above the bottom three. Others are having their good run. It’s a matter of starting again next Saturday.”

The Blackburn game, won by a scrappy Jordan Rhodes goal just after the hour mark, was another tight contest, like so many in the Championship, and McCarthy believes there’s not a lot between any of the teams from top to bottom.

“We went to Cardiff and there was nothing in it,” he said. “It’s a tough league, you’ve got to scrap it out, stay with it and make sure you pick the points up.”

Despite Town having being drawn back closer to the danger zone, McCarthy is remaining level-headed: “I always do, there’s no point in being any other way. Having 44 points now, it would look a lot better in the league but it’s still not going to make you safe.

“You’ve got to get your points, wherever you pick them up, keep picking them up and the last game of the season might be relied upon. I don’t know.

“I’ve never sat in a press conference and said ‘We’ll be fine, we’ll be OK’ and I’m not going to start now. Likewise, I’m not going to start grinding my teeth and worrying about it.”

With all the teams at the bottom picking up points here and there the Blues boss says it might take more than the usual 50-ish points to stay up: “It could be, the way it’s going.

“All the teams are battling away and it could be some of the teams that are spiralling down that could have the problem. Let’s hope we’re not one of those.”

Photo: Action Images

jas1972 added 12:19 - Feb 11 Keanish - although I don't always agree with your posts, i've added a + to your comment. Optimism, even if it turns out to be misplaced, is no bad thing.
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Premiertown added 12:36 - Feb 11 If you look back us, Peterborough and Sheff Weds were looking doomed. Now you cannot say anyone is as it is so close. Changes of management have worked so you then look at weaknesses and goals scored is ours, less than anyone even with 4 against Middlesborough. Goal difference is also weaker than everyone else. What seems to be missing is creativity with goals from midfield. It is going to be very tight for weeks to come.

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Langdon_Blue added 12:39 - Feb 11 We will fine. As the stats show, Mick has us picking up enough points to steer us to saftey and the Blackburn result alone shouldn't have people panicking. Like others I am fed up at looking at the wrong end of the table in recent years. Let's stay up and then sign our own players in the Summer, rather than loans, and bring back the good old days of the 90's where we are all looking up rather than down. COYB.

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osborne23 added 12:56 - Feb 11 Have noticed Jason Scotland is doing pretty well for Barnsley.Would of loved for Mick to give him a bit of a longer run. I think he can be a match winner on his day.
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simonsays added 13:08 - Feb 11 I think Mick is correct. I just hope we are not part of it!
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Warkys_Tash added 13:10 - Feb 11 I don't think Jason Scotland was the the future for ITFC but surely on our bench to the endof the season, or an agreement that he can't go to a bottom team would have been more prudent? 3 goals in 3 games and Barnsely are breathing down our necks. Crazy decisions at ITFC once again!
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Seasider added 13:41 - Feb 11 At the risk of being abused by the rose tinted glasses brigade,dare I suggest that our manager is perhaps a little too cautious in his approach, given the leaky defence he inherited perhaps this is understandable;but I thought that when TC was in charge for the 4.0 win we played with a freer more open and attacking style. Like many on here cant understand why we loaned McLean and released Scotland,or that MM was not interested in Conor Wickham as surely the owner could afford him for one month bearing in mind our lack of goals. You dont win game by just defending stoutly.

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brendenward35 added 13:58 - Feb 11 Think Mick & TC are looking long term, sort out the defence stop leaking 5,6,7 goals a game (which they appear to have done so full credit for that) and then sort out the attacking options to score goals. We all need to be patient and stop being negative a few months ago we would have been hammered by Blackburn and Middlesbrough we beat one and only conceded an own goal in the other so must be a step forward not backwards!!

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Ipswichbusiness added 14:23 - Feb 11 Credit to the new management, they seem to have produced an improvement in our defence which is always a good start. I would like to see JET on the bench. In tight games, such as last Saturday, he is the player most likely to do something different, a bit more creative, if brought on for say the final 20-30 minutes.
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Taricco_Fan added 14:27 - Feb 11 Two homes games in quick succession coming up, so we have a chance to put things right. They are absolutely massive games for this club.
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Tractastic added 14:28 - Feb 11 Have every faith in MM and TC and agree with Cheshire Blues post but feel we need to get more going in midfield.Wordsworth should help but is untried in this division and it may take him time to adjust. I know we all moan about loans but would like to see Mick bring in an experienced creative spark to give the forwards some service they desperately need. If we can put a couple of good home results together it will not only put points on the board but help our goal difference which could be the difference between staying up and going down. We can't rely on other teams dropping points we have to be the masters of our own destiny.The next three ganes are all totally winable and i'm going for 7 from 9 points. Hopefully things will look a little more comfortable at the end of Feb? COYB.

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TimmyH added 15:02 - Feb 11 Don't get me wrong I believe MM is the man for the job and he 's been in the job only 3 months and so far he's done ok although our form has dipped since the New Year but I really don't believe he is putting out the right signals saying 'it'll go to the very end'. Personally I'll be disappointed in the team and our management if it is a close run thing, yes I know it's a very competitive league and anybody can beat almost anybody on their day but teams like Cardiff, Leicester Watford etc are up there for a reason and that is because they are the most consistent and yes they do have their off day but consistency is the key and that shouldn't be to much to ask for MM & TC to guide us to safety by May, I look at our team/squad and compare it to a few others around us and on paper we have stronger players. By the time May comes around Mick would have been in the job 7 months enough time in my opinion and to be honest should be well within his capacity as a manager, and then to pick up his million pounds bonus!

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TimmyH added 15:10 - Feb 11 By the way the bottom 3 all winning on the same weekend has happened before this season, and as said we shouldn't rely on other teams having a dip in form again. By the end of next month believe we'll be clear of the relegation zone by 6 points or so.
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walberswick added 15:22 - Feb 11 Battle Could Go to Last Day..... if we're lucky
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Elizabeth added 15:35 - Feb 11 No pressure then! Just hope that this group of players can do the business because it would be a sorry day if we were to be relegated! I don't think we would have the same good fortune as our close opposition had, coming back even stronger after a stint in League 1.
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FenboyBlue added 16:08 - Feb 11 ...then again it might not. I could be hit by a bus on the way home tonight. Then again, I might not.
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runningout added 17:00 - Feb 11 We are without doubt in a pile of poo.. Barnsley are in good form and think they will be safe (were very good v us at Oakwell) Bristol City are in similar form.. I'm asking myself if our squad can stay up without the goals of DJ Campbell and no inventive midfield
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h32 added 18:02 - Feb 11 ...... only we could pay a players contract up at a vital stage of the season, and allow him to go to a rival (relegation threatened) team - to score the winner in their last three games. No one can say it was unexpected because we ALL know Jason Scotland was, and very much still is, capable of being a match winner - and doing just what he has done. No surprises there. Could so easily have been for us - shame it wasn't - those 9 points for Barnsley would have been an absolute godsend for us right now in our quest for the magic 50+ by the end of the season. Go on - clock the minus's up - but it's TRUTH - with a capital 'T'.

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h32 added 18:20 - Feb 11 Cheshire Blue - not true . The HUGE difference between us and Blackburn on Saturday was that they scored, and we didn't, they ended up with 3 points , we ended up with none. It is no good just matching them in terms of play, etc; - it's GOALS that count in terms of points at the end of the season. And whatever you say - since the New Year (exception Middlesboro') we are not doing the business.

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wewerefamous added 19:01 - Feb 11 C'mon you Blues... our best form of the season starts on Saturday! Stay positive people, we've been here before and we WILL get out of this.
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bluemikey100 added 19:07 - Feb 11 the battle to the last day season LETS BE POSITIVE FOR A PLAY OF PLACE MICK MEANS
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purplealien added 19:51 - Feb 11 I am very worried. I just can't see where the goals are going to come from. Like others, I believe the problem is a lack of midfield creativity. Jason Scotland's sudden impact at Barnsley says it all. I don't believe our strikers are the problem. I don't find much hope in the Middlesborough result I'm afraid. They gifted us all four goals. Two were down to shambolic defending at corners, the other two down to a criminal lack of closing down on the edge of the box. I doubt we'll meet any more teams that are so generous this season.

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RegencyBlue added 20:05 - Feb 11 The prospect of needing points, to escape relegation, from a last day trip to Burnley is not something which I think the old ticker could take!
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TimmyH added 20:11 - Feb 11 Yeah short term mistake by the club to get rid of Scotland - CAN still do a job even if it means bringing him on in the last 20 mins or so - not sure McLean can do what JS is doing at the present time and that is scoring!
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wkj added 20:14 - Feb 11 We have to take each game as it comes but I think most of us can think back to our promotion chasing years; we packed Portman road; made a heck of a noise and got our lads buzzing- we are in a relegation scrap... that is in many ways the same as a promotion fight- we need to try and really being some noise to the next few home games- re-live the old days a little. Show mick and terry some fire and the new lads what it is to be ITFC; what the passion is all about; an why we as fans fight just as hard as the players! I admit we've had little to cheer about or get excited for in seasons past; but we have to take that on the chin and roar loud- our away supports do a great job at aways games; now let us be the not so silent player at Portman road once more- this is the biggest fight we've faced in almost 10years; let us ascend the table victorious; proud and forever BLUE!

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