Boss Mick McCarthy admitted that Town played as poorly as at any time this season as they drew 1-1 at home to Preston in the FA Cup and took full responsibility for the disappointing performance.

The Blues might have won it late on when on-loan Norwich keeper Declan Rudd saved at close range from David McGoldrick, but McCarthy says they equally could have lost it: “We came close to losing it too when Carlos kicked it off the line [from Kevin Davies].

“It was a fair result. I thought they played well, they certainly deserved to have a replay. I thought we were poor, we were as poor as we’ve played this season.

“And that was probably my fault, the team I picked. There were too many players who haven’t played enough, but if they don’t play in that, they don’t get to play at all and I might have to do it in league game. I take responsibility for that one.”

He says some of the fringe players coming into the team didn’t make the most of their chance but believes that’s not entirely down to them: “I don’t think they did. But it’s difficult for them.

“I had this before with the League Cup. They haven’t played and you change the team and they’re not match-hardened like everyone else.

“Maybe that had a bit to play in it but I’m not going to take anything away from Preston, I thought they played well.”

One player who did impress the Town manager was Tyrone Mings, operating at right-back for the first time: “I think he’s great, he’s different class.

"I feel for him because he was injured when the ball went in and he played them all onside [for the equaliser]. But there was nothing he could do about that.

“It got them straight back in the game, which was a shame, but they deserved it. You try and avoid a replay and try and give people a rest, but now we’ve got to have another game and travel up to Preston, so that didn’t work, did it?”

McCarthy had no doubt that the 20-year-old would be fine on his less natural flank: “I knew he could play right-back as well.

“He’s got a good right foot, he’s got two good feet and he’s got a great attitude to it: ‘Ty, can you play right-back?’, ‘Yes, no problem’. No moaning, ‘Yes, I can’. I love his attitude to it. He’s already a great asset to this football club and he’ll be better still.”

The Town boss confirmed that he had planned to play a 3-5-2 formation with Mings one of a central defensive three but changed his approach when he saw the Preston team.

“They played 4-4-2 and I think that’s our best shape,” he said. “Had they played 3-5-2 I would have done the same because I wanted somebody up front with Sylvan. But I knew when I saw their team that they were going to be 4-4-2.”

Debutant Sylvan Ebanks-Blake lasted 28 minutes before being subbed with McCarthy not sure of the extent of the injury: “I don’t know, we’ll see. His hamstring tightened up. We’re not going to keep him on and let him pull it. It was nothing to do with his previous injury.

“Like I say, I think I had too many who weren’t up to it physically, as well, because they haven’t played, not for any other reason.

“There’s nothing wrong with their attitudes at all, they’re all good lads. I feel for them sometimes when you put them in the team, they’re trying as hard as they can but it’s just not working because they’ve not been playing.

“Tabby had played the other night and that was probably a bit much, two on the bounce, because it was an intense game. They all had a go, I don’t question their attitude, it’s just that they haven’t played.”

Preston boss Simon Grayson thought his side’s display was worthy of the draw: “I think it was the least we deserved in terms of the overall game.

“I thought we controlled the first half for large periods with some good football, we were resilient and showed a lot of good attributes when we went a goal down after a stupid penalty from our point of view.

“Over the course of the game, I thought we controlled large parts of it, had some really good chances.

“Even before they scored we had one or two one-on-one chances that we missed and kept on going. We’d have taken a draw before the start of the game, but are slightly disappointed that we’ve not gone out and won it.”

The replay at Deepdale has been pencilled in for a week on Tuesday, while the fourth round draw is on Sunday at 2pm live on ITV after the Nottingham Forest and West Ham United tie and also on BT Sport.

Photo: Action Images

deano85 added 18:29 - Jan 4 so nobody has 'given him a problem' then...
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bluefeast added 18:31 - Jan 4 All fair play i have to say .Hes being kind to Tabb and Wordy who didnt perform. However he cant say they were not at the races can he...
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jas0999 added 18:37 - Jan 4 A typically pragmatic response from MM. Despite some poor performances he won't slate them in public ... Great to see and good management. Makes a refreshing change. What Mick says to the likes of Tabb and Wordsworth in private is a completely different thing I suspect. Not good today, but we move on!
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Marcus added 18:40 - Jan 4 I think Loach had a good game as well. His kicking was better than Gerken - I can only remember one bad kick.
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bluefeast added 18:41 - Jan 4 He will say up your game , listen to what we want and give blood and tears to the cause. Wordy strolled around like he was a prem player with the hump as he was robbed in possession plus gave ball away often. He has talent but attitude needed has to be first class as does work rate. They should watch footage of Liverpools number 9 brilliant talent but also works so hard for the team

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Mark added 18:43 - Jan 4 Certainly a disappointing afternoon, although I knew it would be tough given Preston's excellent form and the changes we made. McGoldrick aside, and even he didn't have the best of games, we were awful going forward. I hoped that Hunt might come on to add some quality, but he stayed on the bench. Tabb was particularly poor, once again, as were the whole midfield really.
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LiamCP123 added 18:53 - Jan 4 Micky should've played his best team to make sure we win it. Anywho, Mings seemed to be impressive today, would like to see him at QPR.
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jpring89 added 18:54 - Jan 4 they will all get another chance away at pne to prove thier worth depending on who we may play if we get a draw away at a big team. probably get yeovil away lol
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Robbie12345 added 19:10 - Jan 4 Again, not quite sure what you guys were watching? We have played much worse than that before! It was end to end, lots of chances for both teams. Some people need to realise that even the top teams can't always pass forward and need to build up play from the back. Changes were needed otherwise we would have been a walk over as our players would have been too tired. We did get lucky with 2 blocks off the line and that Nouble could have been sent off, but you need a bit of luck in football, we deserve it. However, the Mings playing Davis onside was ridiculous, but nevermind. Hopefully we get a big team in the next round so our players are up for the replay. Maybe a new midfielder is needed, would still like to see Frimpong here. On to QPR! COYB

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muccletonjoe added 19:14 - Jan 4 Mings certainly was the only plus to be taken from this game , a very good player in the making I think
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Michael11 added 19:15 - Jan 4 Jay Tabb's been horrendous since he signed permanently and Wordsworth wouldn't get back in Colchester's team from what I've heard today. I'd still like to see us sign another natural winger in January. I think that's an area of weakness as Hunt's quite injury prone and Nouble is just not good enough. Hope SEB's injury isn't serious as that would be a big blow.
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Wickets added 19:16 - Jan 4 Thought Mings was good, we thinks he has given Mick a bit of a problem. I would have liked to have seen Taylor start instead of Big Frank.
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Flewitt85 added 19:19 - Jan 4 I dont blame mm at all, give the players a game who hasnt played much so they can prove why they should be in the team , but they didn't prove anything today in my opinion so probably won't see them play again for a while.
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blueboy1981 added 19:22 - Jan 4 .....'we'd have taken a draw before the start of the game' - such comments against such opposition really has to cause some concern. After all it was Preston North End here today - League I.
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dalianwasexciting added 19:22 - Jan 4 Loach was ok today, probably better than he whom he replaced. However still needed two goal line clearances to prevent a defeat. Wordsworth - what can I say. Someone touched on him strolling around like a premiership player.....I think acting like a spoilt Sunday League player would be more apt. Mings needs a run in the team to prove his worth which is unlikely to happen. The midfield is the issue, but in the forum a very valid point was made about having to go sideways or backwards due to lack of movement. So to add to Michael11's post above, a winger ought to be high on the agenda....The MoM today was Taylor when he came on.

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battyblue added 19:25 - Jan 4 You don't have to play the same formation as the other team why not make them change we were at home but you wouldn't think it same old they deserved a replay yes they did because we let them with spoiling tactics instead of going for it like the last five minutes to be honest we are lucky to be in a replay with a pox-y 500 mile round trip to Preston we need to step up now.

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blueboy1981 added 19:30 - Jan 4 ,,,, just hoping that that comment did actually come from Simon Grayson ! - as I'm sure it did ! hopefully anyway.
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tearle1974 added 19:31 - Jan 4 Some on here are not blaming MM, We were playing Preston, A team from League 1 and we should be beating. Some people are starting to think the FA CUP is a hindrance to the league. It's a competition that can bring rewards of big money against those big teams in the premiership. Todays performance was that why bother with the game. Attendance was low even though the club reduced prices and potentially new fans were disappointed. One fan said on the train on the way home that was worse than the John Duncan days. We need passion in the team and on the terraces. Want to win every game. we may be unbeaten in many matches but we need every player putting 100% and after todays performance this is questionable. :-(

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PimsNumber1 added 19:36 - Jan 4 thought mings looked like a left back playing RB = poor. Reminded me of delaney at LB !# not sure why mick rates him so highly
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Blue041273 added 19:56 - Jan 4 Tearle If anyone thinks that today's performance, or our performances generally this season, is worse than the JD days they are truly deluded. It wasn't particularly good today but with the changes MM made it was always going to be a gamble. Maybe, on league status we ought to have won, but PNE were never going to be lambs to the slaughter and earned the replay but that said we weren't that bad either. I suspect the 4th round draw will influence MM's thinking regarding the replay. If there is the possibility of a plum home draw we may well go for it; however if not the hassle of hanging around in the competition thereby causing fixture congestion later on may not be attractive. After all our opponents scheduled for Championship games on R4 & R5 days (Reading & Blackpool) are already out and thus fixture congestion is solely in our own hands now.

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TimmyH added 19:59 - Jan 4 Let's face it Mick how often has this midfield played together this season? Hyam is out of form and confidence, Edwards hardly starts now days and is not the player he was (not surprising isn't he 35 or something), Tabb when he starts makes little impact and has been fairly poor since his permanent move and Wordsworth's first start this season and still questions about his fitness - hardly fills you with confidence! Without a respectable midfield and a newbie upfront (again questioning fitness) and Nouble who certainly isn't every bodies cup of tea. No wonder we looked some what better when Taylor, McG and Tunnicliffe came on. We've been very mediocre for the last month or so at home in my opinion and this result didn't surprise me at all, as I said earlier this week time for the team to 'man-up' with a good 90 minute performance against QPR - it's overdue!!

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brittaniaman added 20:12 - Jan 4 Why was Edwards captain ??? because I thought today he was a poor captain with his performance. someone said even good teams pass it backwards and sideways, but certainly not as much as we do ?? several times today an attack could have been created but no, the midfielder thought the better option was back and it was beginning to frustrate the crowd.. several poor performers out there today, ?? tiredness can not be an excuse , as Mick Mills said playing is better than training,, in his days in cup competitions they were playing 3 times a week for several weeks, there was no penalty shoot out then ???? MM and TC had better try and lift the players before the visit of QPR next Sat.

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Garv added 20:14 - Jan 4 Crap.
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bluefeast added 20:24 - Jan 4 Micks the man , he is doing a better job in terms of results than anyone. If the season had run from Jan 2013 through to Dec 2013 we would be top 6. The season circa half way and we are top 6. We will beat QPR as they wont like it up em and win at millway away following that. Then we will grind and fart our way through to finish 6th and be promoted by beating Derby in the final of the play offs 4-3 after leading 4-0 at half time. Que Hamlet cigar music. COYB

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Cakeman added 20:27 - Jan 4 The concern and grizzle I have is that some of the players just didn't seem interested or at least that's how it looked to me. Perhaps it was last chance saloon for one or Two. PS I think Mings has plenty of potential and desire but he must be played on the left side of defence.
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