Boss Mick McCarthy is hoping for a big Portman Road crowd for today’s first home game of the season against Millwall. Despite two defeats in the first two games, McCarthy says the mood in the camp is still very upbeat.

The Town boss said: “It would be nice to have a 20,000-plus crowd tomorrow. We were beaten in the league [at Reading] having played very well.

“We were beaten in the cup when the game was going nowhere and I thought we were favourites to win it up until the penalty.

“And even when I changed it I thought we were better and then we gave a really sloppy goal away, and it was a done deal then.

“I thought Stevenage played well, to be honest. I thought they were excellent at what they did and stopped us playing. But that’s it."

He says that Town might not have had the numbers to maintain a cup run in addition to league form: “I’m not sure I’ve got the squad to compete at that level in both competitions.

"But I didn’t want to lose, I didn’t put a weakened team out. However, it’s done that, we’ll crack on and try and beat Millwall and try and concentrate on that.

“But the performance last week, I would have thought that the people who saw us play were delighted with what they saw. Disappointed that we lost but delighted with the performance.”

McCarthy says he’s not the type to ask fans to be patient as new signings settle in: “I’m not asking for patience because that’s a pile of poo that, asking for patience. I don’t deal with that one.

“We’ll try and win the games and if I’m winning them and everybody’s loving me and loving the team, great. If we’re not winning and they think we should be, so be it.

“It’s not going to change the way I function or the way I do my job. But I think there’s a fair deal of understanding here.

“It’s been difficult for a few years and we’ve had November to May where it’s been fairly solid, a good atmosphere around the place, a good spirit in the place. It would be ridiculous to lose that off the back of two or three games.

“And I don’t think they will because they all turned up and they were very supportive when I came in November and continued to do it. I’m optimistic about the season and I think the fans are as well.”

He says there was no brooding amongst the players after the Stevenage game: “There’s just a good atmosphere around the place all the time. There’s a good buzz in the training ground, day in, day out.

“When we came in on Thursday, there was no moping around, we lost a game of football. The only one I can affect now is Saturday.”

McCarthy is delighted that Aaron Cresswell will be able to return against Millwall: “He is the best left-back in the league. I said it’s arguable, but that’s my opinion and I’d argue that point.

“Whatever [price is] on his head, I don’t want to sell him. He’s terrific. Tyrone Mings is learning the game and to have those two I think we’ve got two really good left-backs.”

The Blues boss is also pleased to have Paul Taylor back on the pitch and is keen to get him up to speed as quickly as possible: “He’s fine, but he’s way behind, he was missing for 11 months.

“Maybe he could have done better on Tuesday but he’s finding his feet. We need to get him fit because he’s a terrific footballer.”

While he’d ideally like three points against the Lions today, getting one would be a start: “I always think you’ve got to get something on the board, you’ve got to get a point on the board.

"Don’t think for one minute we’re going to try and draw but you want something because while you’ve got zilch that makes it really hard and the pressure comes on.

“So we need something. We want to win our home games. We want to play like we did last week at Reading. If we achieve that, more often than not it’ll win games.”

Photo: Action Images

ipswich134 added 06:36 - Aug 10 Come on boys! 2-0
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ManningtreeBlue99 added 06:46 - Aug 10 I won't be there unfortunately but I'm there in spirit COYB
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TrueBlueFerret added 07:01 - Aug 10 Points make Prizes,Home form vital in this quest!!
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Benters added 07:35 - Aug 10 We might well scrape 21000,if you can get us steaming up the table this will pull the crowds back COYB !!!
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Fatboy added 07:41 - Aug 10 You might want to have a word with ME about the matchday ticket prices!
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stevelincsexile added 07:47 - Aug 10 Leaving soon 300 mile round trip lunch at McDonald's hope its not a miserable drive home COYB.
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DeVOS added 07:58 - Aug 10 Safe trip down to Suffolk stevelincsexile great support, Hopefully we will all be walking out of PR at 5pm with 3 points in the bag COYB
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Millsey added 08:17 - Aug 10 I will be face timing the wife and get her to leave the ipad next to the radio so I can listen to Radio Suffolk while working in Nigeria. COYB and will be home for the next home game :)
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 08:36 - Aug 10 One surefire way of getting a bigger crowd would be to reduce ticket prices across the board. But I hope we get a good attendance. COYB!
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Dissboyitfc added 08:40 - Aug 10 Stevelincsexile , safe trip and enjoy your macdonalds, and here's hoping that the beer afterwards is a celebration.........COYB
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Tufty added 09:02 - Aug 10 Know how you feel stevelincs exile just about to leave matlock fo PR. looking forward to good game and three points. Lots of good teams in this league don't see many great ones so three points at home to teams which should finish bottom half pretty important. don't forget its sir bobs day too want to hear the great mans name ringing round the stadium. safe journey to all us travellers

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Pip50 added 09:31 - Aug 10 Stevelincsexile and Tufty respect guys COYB
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Mark added 09:35 - Aug 10 If want want big crowds, I am not sure it was a good idea to close the ticket office, to reject telephone sales, and to refuse credit/debit cards after 1:30pm on the day of the match. The club needs to make it as easy as possible to buy tickets, and that should include the ability show tickets on smartphones rather than having to print them on paper. The prices today are fair at Band C price, it's the Band B and Band A prices I object to, especially with the on-the-day surcharge. For the Band A Leeds match the cheapest adult ticket in the stadium is £32.00 in advance or £34.50 on the day!! Millwall Band C: From £21.00 Leeds Band A: from £32.00 Middlesbrough Band B: £27.40 Yeovil Band C: From £21.00 Should Ipswich v Leeds really cost 52% more than Ipswich v Millwall?!

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whosroundisitanyway added 10:16 - Aug 10 There's not a single team in this division that warrants price banding. As has been stated by management & others they are all much of a muchness. Matchday prices should be the same across the board. Lets wait until we are playing Man U, Chelsea, Liverpool etc before we start trying to extort money from those that have to choose the games they attend for whatever reason. I speak as a season ticket holder but respect the circumstances of others less fortunate.

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kerryblue747 added 10:28 - Aug 10 Safe trip to all fans hope for 3 points Tuffy is that Matlock derbyshire?
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Tufty added 10:50 - Aug 10 Yes Kerryblue Matlock Derbyshire. I wonder how many fans travel like stevelincsexile and myself to watch the town play. I suspect it might be more than we might think. tea break over!
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BotesdaleBlue added 10:52 - Aug 10 Mark - I totally endorse your comments.
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Lennyboy added 11:40 - Aug 10 I've got my ticket for Saturday and can't wait. The cost though for all tickets will prohibit large crowds, they need to be lower. A TV program concerning an English couple living in Germany, had them go to a top bundasliga Bayern Munich V Hamburg match and the cost of the tickets in really good seats was 15 euros. Thats about £12 i think. Just imagine how many more people would afford to go to the match and how big our crowds would get. Prices need to come down. Win today though...COYB.

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kerryblue747 added 12:17 - Aug 10 Tuffy Iliv near Ashboure long drive well done to all fans like you . wish i could go but not able to .COYB from me .
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Michael11 added 12:47 - Aug 10 @stevelincsexile I know how you feel mate. Living in Grimsby makes it a terrible drive home when we lose! Hopefully the boys turn it around today!!
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Tufty added 14:22 - Aug 10 Thanks Kerryblue have arrived will give the boys a cheer from you
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ONENIL78 added 17:58 - Aug 10 17,000.....says it all.The Leesds att will be interesting...altho they may bring a few.Im goin to Birmingham on the 31st,25 nicker....u snooze,u lose...
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