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

manualthetisfanclub added 20:30 - Jan 4 Poor today all round,apart from mings who impresses me with his attitude,will to improve . Fringe players didn't tell me what I already know, work hard with no real creativity. Wordsworth no confidence at all, completely shot. For me midfield all to similar, desperate for pace and creative spark , got to be given some funds for this but doubt it. I'm sorry to say it but what really does nouble bring to the table,quite terrible really,poor mans shefki kuqi(without the goals),sooner he's out of the team the better.SEB should never have started, looks a bit overweight to me and desperately needs games, put him in the U21s for next month, he ain't realistically going to be fit till march at earliest. He could be great just not ready. Not trying to be negative by just a realist .

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Fatcatevans added 20:38 - Jan 4 Micks deluded if he thinks Mingus has a right foot. The Preston goal came as a result of the lad trying to clear with his right foot and injuring himself. plus he constantly had to go backwards or inside onto his left. Maybe he needs to spend some time developing it or Mick should play him on the left.
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Ipswich121 added 20:42 - Jan 4 I definitely think Mings has to be considered for the QPR game, with the idea of potentially moving cresswell into midfield
2

essextractorboy93 added 21:18 - Jan 4 Mick is correct that it is the worse we have played for a long time, even worse than the Charlton game. We had two decent chances in the last five minutes but it was all too late. The replay will be tough but winnable, there could be a huge incentive for the winner too depending on the draw tomorrow. I agree it was a disappointing performance but lets not get too down. Decent turn out in the end, was expecting more like 10k but 13 turned up. Onto QPR now, we are just on a bit of a bad run at the moment, having said that we are not losing games!

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ottovonbismark added 22:11 - Jan 4 last 6 games played 6 won 1 drew 5. too many draws there against fairly average opposition. i will be going to the qpr game. don't know what to expect - draw maybe?
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iTFC4LiFE99 added 22:27 - Jan 4 To negative, home games like this we need to go out there and attack, midfielders need to pass the ball forwards! Taking nothing away from Preston but they're a league 1 club we should be winning comfortably and playing some football, our defence is very capable of keeping a clean sheet credit to MM
2

Walk_the_Wark added 22:31 - Jan 4 Anyone hoping for promotion under this manager should be careful what they wish for..
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h32 added 22:40 - Jan 4 Happy New Year to you all. Don't think many will disagree with Mick McCarthy on this one , it was not impressive, neither was the Charlton game. Midfield is just not producing the necessary, get that going and we should be ok. Best wishes for the rest of the season.
5

algarvefan added 22:45 - Jan 4 Maybe it's just me, but I don't get some of the fringe players, they should always be fit, it's their job and much of their training is playing football in one form or another, so why are they so poor when given a rare opportunity (apart from Mings)? A football season is never won by a team, it's won by a squad, poor reserve team standards have been a feature at the club for years............maybe therein lies the key??

3

Keaneish added 22:58 - Jan 4 For me this is perfect. Stuttering home performances, dwindling home attendances, misfiring back-up players, excellent league position going into the NY... It all points to one thing... CHEQUE BOOK.
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hugster added 00:37 - Jan 5 I would be interested to see Mings play at left midfield as he makes some cracking runs and had a great attitude today. At least we are in the draw tomorrow, if we get drawn against a big side at home it would be worth going for a win in the replay to get some cash in.
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Blue041273 added 08:42 - Jan 5 There is no real competitive football outside the first team. The U21 competition is fine for developing young players but is no good for older fringe players. The trouble is that the bigger clubs don't want to risk their squad players in non-event games; they want them available if and when required at all times. Thus the quality and the point of the so-called reserve games is compromised. The training regime will keep the players physically fit but you need proper competitive games to make them match fit. This showed yesterday when one or two were clearly off the pace. A structured competition for squad players is required, but do the clubs want one? I doubt it.

1

beerhelps added 09:51 - Jan 5 anyone actually see Mings go down, I was 'ball watching' and had looked away but my 9 year old daughter reckons Davis went in very late on him?
0

blueherts added 11:05 - Jan 5 when I saw the team I though ,MM was going Mings Chambers and Berra at back with AC and CE wing backs - would have preferred that Was sitting near a Newcastle scout who had come to watch 'one player' - not sure he would have seen much of AC today !! SEB reminded me of Reo Joker - same build ! Still in it but not really at the races and Wordy did nothing to push his cause

2

flyingdutchman added 11:15 - Jan 5 tabb is total crap
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StochesStotasBlewe added 12:06 - Jan 5 h32. Welcome back.
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h32 added 15:03 - Jan 5 pinewoodblueboy - Always enjoyed our dialogue.
1

Dozzells_Bobblehat added 15:10 - Jan 5 Well hello h32, hope you are well, it's almost as if you have never been away.......oh hang on.
-3

runaround added 15:22 - Jan 5 In his last 2 post match interviews, MM has said he has changed our formation to line up with what he believes the opposition will play. With all due respect to Charlton & PNE, we are at home & according to league positions the better side so surely they are the ones that should be worrying about us & trying to stop us playing? It just strikes me as negative thinking from the outset & the performances/results in those 2 games suggest it hasn't had a positive effect anyway! It would be such a shame if after all the hard work of the few months to get us to where we are, we fall away due to concentrating too much on trying not to lose rather than trying to win. It's not if we were playing Barcelona or Man City.... or even Leicester or Burnley

3

Ipswichbusiness added 16:21 - Jan 5 A prosperous New Year to all and welcome back h32. When Mr McCarthy was praising Mings for his right-back ability I couldn't help asking myself "Hewitt?". First Chambers was selected ahead of him, now this.
1

IITFC1948 added 17:08 - Jan 5 beerhelps ; yes your daughter was right,Davis left his foot there a caught Mings ,like you the ref was not watching either he turn his back as soon as Mings went to clear it ,I was watching
0

beerhelps added 17:24 - Jan 5 thanks IITFC1948, I wont have to send her to the naughty step! I thought Davis got away with murder yesterday, maybe the ref was a little too in awe of his premier reputation to notice he plays most of the game with his arms around defenders. kind of puts 1-1 in a certain light, we would all feel a bit happier with a 1-0 me thinks!
1

TimmyH added 20:10 - Jan 5 yeah welcome back h32 - where have you been?
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budgieplucker added 21:07 - Jan 5 Yes a disappointing and frustrating performance. It is fair to say that we will struggle to improve attendances at PR unless we start to dominate more matches and start to win a few of our games by comfortable margins. However, we should put things into perspective. Realistically with seven changes, PNE's good away form, and the under dog effect this was never going to be an easy game. I feel slightly sorry for Anthony Wordsworth as this was almost being hyped into a last chance for him. To just be able to turn it on at will in a cup match is a difficult ask. Woody is a skillful player but to me looks as if he has lost his a way a little rather than deliberating not trying. I think a loan spell may help but for me he will always be vying with Cole Skuse for that main centre midfield slot and thats a battle I can't see him winning unless there is an injury to Cole. There have been consistent calls for more creative spark in midfield, even with the most gifted midfield player we need players to make space and positive runs, for 20 minutes against Charlton on New Years Day we played some reasonably fluent football. I think Paul Taylor's ability to run at defenders opens up space and forced defenders onto their back foot. The team needs to play with more freedom and look to get more bodies forward. I do though have issue with fans getting quickly frustrated when we move the ball around sideways and backwards, I would rather us retain possession and try to then work harder to make space rather than hump the ball down the field to Nouble who has no ariel ability or Murphy to knock on to nobody. The positives to hold on to is the great job MM has done for us so far and the number of goals we have scored this season is high compared to many of the other teams in the division. MM has signed some very good players Berra and Skuse I think have at times been excellant and most other times consistently good. MCGoldrick continues to find the net despite some of his recent performances not matching his outstanding earlier form as a target man. What we saw of Hunt in his MOM performance against Blackburn has to give us encouragement that we do have additional options in the current squad. Gherkin's recent improvement gives some promise that he is growing into the number one role. Anderson and Tabb are hardworking professionals and whilst I think the jury is out on whether they have the ability to hold down a first team place they must be providing good competition for the rest of the squad. We are a work in progress and given MM's achievement in the first 14 months at PR I think we should all remain optimistic that he will build a side over the next couple of years that will only get better.

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Cheshire_Blue added 22:16 - Jan 5 It is high time clubs were told to field their strongest teams in these competitions or not bother to enter. As usual it is the paying customer who suffers. Why should I bother to travel 300 miles to Preston to see a reserve team perform and get soundly beaten as has happened on previous occasions?
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