Blues boss Mick McCarthy felt his side were the better team during the second half of their 2-1 home defeat to Hull City.

The Town boss thought his Tigers counterpart Steve Bruce would have believed his team deserved to win but wasn't so certain that that was the case himself: “I’m sure Steve thinks they deserve to win overall, over the 90 minutes, and certainly over the first 45 minutes they would have done, but we know it lasts for 90 minutes.

“Having endured a tough first half, where I changed the team to try and stop them playing a bit, and I thought it worked up until they got the penalty. When they scored it gave them a bit of freedom and confidence and they were far better than us in the first half.

“In the second half we were the better team, we deserved the equaliser, we probably had the better chances to win it.

"We didn’t clear the corner particularly well and then when we didn’t do that we didn’t mark. Mistake for the penalty, mistake for the second goal.”

The Blues boss wasn’t too harsh on scorer Anthony Wordsworth for failing to clear Robbie Brady’s corner in the run-up to the goal: “Somebody’s got to repair it for him and everybody else mark and then say ‘Woody, don’t clear it like that, clear it properly’.

"Don’t be looking to point fingers afterwards if somebody’s made a mistake, repair it for them, don’t compound a mistake and it end up [with a goal].”

McCarthy wasn’t surprised that his friend Bruce admitted Ipswich had the better of the second half: “Steve’s a proper bloke, he’s a good mate and he’s not going to say anything other than we did.

“I thought we were the dominant team in the second half, but it’s no good being the dominant team and getting beat.”

McCarthy had few complaints about the penalty awarded when Guirane N'Daw felled David Meyler: “I’ve not really seen it. I’ve seen it from a long distance camera angle on Prozone.

“Everybody seems to think it was. At the time I had a whinge about it, which I’m bound to do, but it looks like a penalty to me.”

He says he’s not sure of the extent of Jay Tabb’s injury: “He got knocked on the top of his knee and it just stiffened up. We won’t know until tomorrow.”

McCarthy wasn’t sure whether Corry Evans’s challenge ought to have been worthy of more than a yellow card but wasn't complaining: “I don’t know. I’d have to see it again. It’s easy [to rush to judgement] in the heat of the game, the penalty for example, ‘It’s not a penalty!'.

“I generally look at the games on a Monday morning or on a Sunday and mainly the refs have got most of it right.

“If you take challenges out of it, then it won’t be the game I know and love. I think there were challenges on both sides which could have been freekicks. I’ve no arguments with that at all.”

Aside from Tabb, the Blues manager said there was only one other injury concern after today’s game that he was aware of: “Chops has got ice on his calf but that’s precautionary, it’s just stiff. I don’t know. I’ve not had any reported yet anyway.”

Tigers boss Steve Bruce conceded that his side found it tougher after the break: “All credit to Ipswich. They changed tactically in the second half and we found it a bit of a struggle.

“But in the first half I thought we were excellent and showed why we’re a team at the top of the table.

“We’ve played like that before but I think people might be starting to pay a little attention now, with four games to play.”

Photo: Action Images

buzzardblue added 11:34 - Apr 14 Do all the moaners on here not realise that hull are going to be in the premier league next season and that is because they are one of the best teams in this league? We have our issues yes but we have come a long way to now be able to challenge the best teams in the league. One loss does not mean we are all of a sudden back to square one does it? if the players keep up the attitude shown in the last few months we will be fine and mick can build in the summer for next season. Do you people not see the improvements we have made! Moaners out!

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wkj added 12:08 - Apr 14 Murphy and Chopra started poorly; Murph however really came into the game and looked dare I say; good- Chopra however just really <expletive> me off today. He was terrible and doesn't deserve his place at our club. Usually I would down vote comments so crass at individual players but it really felt like 10men vs Hull and Chopra was there for a jog.
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TimmyH added 12:30 - Apr 14 Have to agree with Ianspartacus - we need a midfield 'general' who can pass and spray passes about which at the moment we have none , couple that with some more creativity out wide. Agree also Chopra should be gone in the summer and Edwards might find himself warming up the bench more. The first half performance was unacceptable.
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h32 added 12:42 - Apr 14 Help - some realistic comments in your post.
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TimmyH added 12:49 - Apr 14 h32 - do you believe yesterdays first half performance was possibly down to Mick's negative tactics and to keep a deep midfield and protect the back 4 so we would be happy with a draw, as we looked completely dis-interested at attacking?
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walberswick added 15:12 - Apr 14 we are the new Colchester
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huntingdonblue68 added 16:17 - Apr 14 Didnt go to the game but seems to me that we need more punch up front , i would like to see Frank given a start he's young powerful and skillful and most of all wants to impress .
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theobald1985 added 17:50 - Apr 14 buzzardblue totally agree with your post we cant base anything on 1 game we lost by a late goal to a side who will be promoted. if all we have to do is attain the same standard as hull to go up then we are not really that far off. I think we should at least try and give LM a game in midfield at some point i think him and hyam and wordsworth with taylor on the right could do very well. mick is playing defensively to ensure our status and he will keep us up so that means he is correct to use this tactic. I dont expect us to start next season so defensive minded and we will score more goals. massive credit must go to mick especially for tommy s and luke chambers improvement

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Talbs77 added 18:51 - Apr 14 I thought we were chasing shadows 1st half but credit to Hull for that, I think it was one of those rare games in this league this season were you could tell who was 2nd. 2nd half was a different story, we got in their faces and played really well and deservedly equalised, at that point there was only one team going to win until we gave away a soft corner and didnt mark properly for the goal, but thats football, it happens. We need to forget about next season, make no mistake we are still in trouble. Palace Tuesday is a huge game, 3 points will ensure safety, lose and it will go to the wire, but we'll be ok.

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oldelsworthyfan added 19:50 - Apr 14 Things changed for the better as soon as Wordsworth came on. When he's 'match fit' I think he could be awesome. Real class.
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Tractastic added 20:01 - Apr 14 First half I think we were suprised how quickly Hull came at us and we never got going but credit to the away team who played some good football. The penalty was harsh but from my view (north stand) it looked a clumsy challenge and the player was always going to go down. Second half we were the team on top and looked the most likley to go on and win so totally agree with MM's assessment and we should of had at least a point. Liked the look of Wordsworth and the defence once again look strong but still still feel the quality is missing in the middle of the park and this is the main reason for the lack of goals. I'm sure the team will feel agrieved at the outcome of this match and i'm expecting us to really have a go at a Palace side with a dip in confidence. Really fancy a win if we can replicate our second half performance. COYB.

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h32 added 21:11 - Apr 14 buzzardblue - I guess you are another of the Clubs 'accepting losers' from the tone of your post. Whatever you say about Hull, sorry but I was not impressed with them, and it doesn't say much for us if they are a top Championship Club, as you describe them. The 3 POINTS were there for OUR taking - we failed miserably - FACT.
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h32 added 21:37 - Apr 14 TimmyH - I think you are absolutely right - MM would have taken a point before the game (as he would most games) - just so long as we survive, and he gets his (alleged) £1m. But with Hull taking the lead the plan had to be changed.
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NSL added 22:00 - Apr 14 A point would have been lovely, to nick it would have been absolutely fantastic but to lose it was really frustrating. Then again, you can't just decide to start playing in the second half. Could have been 2-0 or 3-0 down at half time.
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walberswick added 05:31 - Apr 15 for a side in a relegation scrap who can.t score, draws are the best we can hope for. so only one or two more points and we will go down
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MathieandMarshall added 12:23 - Apr 15 gave Hull too much respect first half and the game started off much the same as the Leeds game (prior to the red card) The penalty was slightly harsh but could see it coming, Ndaw was a yard off the pace and running into tackles very clumsily all afternoon! Second half, we came out and got in their faces, pressed the ball and upped the tempo of the game! much better. Agree Wordsworth made a difference. Unfortunatley while on top we didnt take our chances and as so common in this game the other team have one chance (again a soft goal) and we go home with nothing! My only gripe was that Frank and JET were brought on too late. Overall tho some positives to come out of the game. Lets be honest, we'd not have expected anything out of the game under PJ! now we are disapointed to have not won against the team sat in 2nd. Surely thats progress?! COYB!

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