Town boss Mick McCarthy held up his hands and admitted that his Blues were beaten by a better Watford side after goals from Ikechi Anya and Nathaniel Chalobah saw the Hornets to a 2-0 victory at Portman Road.

McCarthy said: “I think we were beaten by a very good side, as good as I’ve seen this season in the league. And we probably did all right to keep it at two because we stuck at it. We had to work for everything, they were the best side, we were beaten by the better team.”

The Blues boss admitted that sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say that: “I don’t think too many people find that easy to do. I don’t like it, I’m not happy that we’ve been beaten, I’m chewing about that, but you do.

“They were better than us, they deserved to win. I’ve got no complaints about that. We could have played better and done better, but is that because they’re a good side? I think probably, yes. They handled us well.”

However, he felt the Blues ought to have been awarded a spotkick when Jonathan Hogg tripped Lee Martin in the first half: “We should have had a penalty. You know when you’re having a tough night, things aren’t going for you and you’re having to scrap away.

“When that happens, you need the right decision to be given and I just don’t understand what he saw because he had a good view of it, but he didn’t [give it].

“If you’d seen their bench gasp as the lad stuck his foot out, knowing it was a penalty and then giving a sigh of relief when it wasn’t given. It should be given, but it wasn’t.”

Despite the loss there was no tongue-lashing for the Town players with their manager delighted with the way they have performed since he took over: “The lads have been great. We’ve had 31 points from November 1st.

“I’ve just said that to them. We were against a better team tonight, who are quality, they are a good side.

“Don’t beat yourselves up, lads, you’ve had a great haul of points. We need another four or five wins and we’ve got the ability and the team spirit and everything to get those, maybe tonight wasn’t the night, unfortunately.”

Earlier in his time in charge, at two of the division’s other better sides, Crystal Palace and Leicester, the Blues collapsed after going behind, but that never seemed on the cards on this occasion, something McCarthy feels illustrates the progress made.

“I hope so,” he said. “And as well as that we had some chances too. Not great, but even Aaron Mclean had a header at last knockings.

“But listen, I just thought they were good. I don’t think it was how we played, I don’t think it’s anyone’s lack of effort, they’re just a good team.”

Watford started with five of their controversial 11 loan players with three more on the bench but McCarthy had no complaints on that front: “If it’s within the rules, it’s within the rules. Let them get on with it. I’ve seen that they are on about changing the rules, well, so what?

“We played against a better team than us who have done everything within the rules of the game and he’s got a good side there, Gianfranco, and he’s a great fella. You’re not getting me moaning about what they do.”

Watford boss Gianfranco Zola was pleased with the win but thought the performance wasn’t up to the level of Saturday’s 4-0 win at Birmingham: “If you compare to the standard we set on Saturday, you wouldn’t say it has been the best game, but I’m very pleased because you cannot play that type of football all the time and when you don’t do that, you have to be able to win games anyway in the position we are in. And that was the case tonight.

“I think we played some good football for a large part of the first half and we deserved to be in front. In the second, we had to suffer because they came back strong and we were getting tired, to be honest.

“We couldn’t manage to handle the ball as well as we did in the first half. But we never gave up, we worked hard as a team and we defended extremely well and that’s why when we had the opportunity we scored.

“That was the difference really. We had the opportunity and scored, they had the opportunity and they didn’t.

"So, I’m delighted because it was a tough game and I know on a Tuesday after a good victory like the other day it’s very easy to slip up.”

Photo: Action Images

jas0999 added 08:53 - Feb 20 Was always going to be a tough game and although disappointing to lose at home, you can't deny Watford deserved their win. Concur with many other comments though, you can't fault our players effort or work rate and despite being completely outplayed early on, we tried at least to fight back and credit for that. We lack quality though and this was evident last night. The problem still lies with the midfield. We simply don't create enough chances. N'Daw is a great tackler/ball winner - but I'm afraid has very little skill. Martin continues to disappoint and Edwards looks lost. MM will address this in the Summer I am sure. In the meantime, I wonder if we need McClean in the match day squad? Would it be worth bringing in a creative midfield player on loan in his place? We have ample cover up front! Still a worrying time, but only 2 defeats in 10 for MM at PR. For me, Huddersfield is very winnable and I expect a positive result there.

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gazzmac4 added 09:33 - Feb 20 As many have commented on here already above, i thought we battled well throughout which is to our enternal credit but we just lacked a certain attacking quality that Watford certainly had. As for the rest of the season there are some massive games coming up (understatement of the century!) but i still dont understand why McClean is in the squad. He hasnt shown me enough to justify his inclusion as a loan over a permanent player. Im going to be bold and say that JET should take his place on the bench on Sat. I know he flatters to deceive a lot of the time but he is prone to the old flash of genius. 3 or 4 flashes of that genius from the bench in the remaining games could well keep us up! He may come on in 6 games and not impact but he may come on in another 6 and change the face of the game. His undoubted talent is something we should be trying to make use of where we can i think. In Mick we Trust!

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jscott1972 added 09:40 - Feb 20 Those calling for martin to play centre mid don't know the game at all. You need to earn the right to play and be disciplined organised and focused, martin is not that type of player and would be played through to easily.
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Kesgraveblue57 added 09:42 - Feb 20 The facts Watford were by far the better team, town defence did OK but were let down by the midfield and the so called forwards. I said a few days ago I would take a two goal defeat and it would not a disaster and it's not, we were never going to get any points from Watford Huddersfield is a different matter it's a must for all three points
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MathieandMarshall added 12:34 - Feb 20 very annoyed last night! not at what was going on on the pitch but more around me in the stands. People moaning and jeering from the start, getting on players backs when the ball was played sideways or backwards! We were playing (and beated by) a much better team last night. You can not expect to come to Portman Road this season and expect to see us attacking teams for 90 minutes and scoring lots of goals! we do NOT have good enough players and that is why we are where we are in the league. I for one am happy to see us keep the ball and pass it about at the back against teams like Watford. Hooking it long just see's it come straight back! Hopefully Mick will strenghten in the summer but for now please support those players out there and hope that they do enough to keep us up.

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MathieandMarshall added 12:37 - Feb 20 typro - beaten by not Beated!!
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Keaneish added 12:52 - Feb 20 Jscott1972 - why do you not think Martin would earn the right to play? You earn the right to play by doing the following: - work rate - shutting people down - getting those in possession heads down - getting a foot in - winning the ball back - creating 5 yards of space Martin does all of that and with Hyam next to him winning tackles I, like some, see this as an interesting option although not a natural leader by any stretch!

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runningout added 13:14 - Feb 20 Manager is wrong in suggesting we were beat by the better team, even if possibly maybe :) We are not Wolves Mr McCarthy! Excuse me for being blunt.
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mattraisin added 14:01 - Feb 20 What do you mean by that runningout? Thought I would add, Chopra had a cracking game. Shouldn't be judged for not scoring, his effort was second to none and carved out three good chances from terrible supply. The overhead, the header and the one two with Martin were the best he could work with. Shocking lack of creativity and supply. Our defence and midfield need to be happy to knock it about between each other for more than a minute. I didn't mind us going backwards under pressure, hated the fact that we went backwards and then just hoofed it up and put ourselves under pressure. We should go backwards, keep possession, keep shape and wait for the right moment to start going forward. We were sitting far too deep and making silly mistakes that just piled on the pressure.

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donore added 15:14 - Feb 20 What's the idea of passing it square along the back line? Then hoofing it upfield to the opposition!! The days of neat inter-passing and retaining possession have long gone!
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bluetractor73 added 17:28 - Feb 20 the only reason watford where the the better team was because we let them dictate the play and let them play to they strengths rather than us dictate the play and why on earth was murphy dropped for martin murphy leading scorer on 6 goals and martin has offered absolutely nothing all season would like to see martin and edwards dropped for saturday can't remember them having many assists this season 1 step forward 2 steps backwards

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RRanger added 17:50 - Feb 20 People have very short memories. N'Daw didn't have his best game,is very one footed (left) but at least he tries to put the front two through with over the top trough balls.We wouldn't have beaten Blackpool without his superb through ball to Chops. Hyam, who nobody ever criticises because he's a local boy and "one of our own" is very good at putting himself about, working hard closing players down and has bags of energy but I can't remember the last time he found a front player with a decent forward pass and although he heads the ball ,its usually to an opponent(he has that in common with a lot of our side. I do think that Chopra and McGoldrick seemed to be developing a partnership, often finding each other with headers. I would like to see our defenders and midfielders running with the ball more and committing the opponents to come to them before passing. Cresswell in particular often had 20 yards to advance but would stand there with the ball letting Watford fall back and regain their shape. Martin, at least, is prepared to take a man on occasionally.

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runningout added 20:11 - Feb 20 I dont and will never accept us being second best. That's me and I prefer it that way, and I take it with me when I play, coach etc :)
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Steelmonkey added 22:08 - Feb 20 We just looked like we hadn't got a clue first half, or was that the idea don't let them have the ball and they won't score? So many back passes we looked scared stiff to push forward. Maybe we gave them too much respect for the good side that they are. Yes the effort is there, but so little to show for it. Didn't think we would get much from this game apart from a spirited performance. We have to somehow find that midfield player / players, with vision and a bit of composure to bridge the gap that stands between us and other teams in this league, especially now Wordsworth seems likely to miss the rest of the season. I hope those scouts who joined us from Wolves are earning their money. Heads up for the next game, COYB's.

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sheepdags added 13:14 - Feb 21 Agree with gazzmac4, it would be good to have JET back in the squad even if on the bench - he is the closest we've got to a flair player.
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