Boss Mick McCarthy admitted that Millwall deserved all three points after Town’s 1-0 defeat at the Den, debutant Ryan Fredericks netting the winner with a 40th minute cross which eluded Blues keeper Dean Gerken.

“We deserved to lose because they played better and we played badly,” he said. “I thought they played very well, to be honest.

“I didn’t think for a minute that they’ve got a bad squad of players, I think if you look back at my quotes from when we won 3-0, I said I didn’t think it was a 3-0.

“They’ve got a good squad and, fair play to Ollie, he’s got them going today. But it was always going to be the case.

“The crowd were up, they played well and we’ve let a bit of a blooper in. Despite everything else, if you let one of them in, you’re not going to win.”

The Blues boss, who started his management career with the Lions, was in no doubt that the goal was down to a goalkeeping error and said Gerken felt the same: “Yes, and he does himself.

“I think he just misread the flight of it. When he put it in I thought ‘Happy days, it’s going behind’. But I’m not in the nets, the keeper’s there to stop it.”

Immediately after the goal Gerken was spotted remonstrating with his defenders, perhaps, it was suggested, as they’d indicated to him that it was going over.

But McCarthy said that wouldn’t have been the case: “If somebody shouted at him and told him to leave it and he did, I’d be seriously upset with him. No, he’s just misjudged it, he obviously thinks it’s going over the bar.”

McCarthy thought the early injury to Luke Hyam was a contributing factor to his side taking a long time to settle: “It doesn’t help, he’s been an ever-present just about, and it’s a nasty cut he’s got. To be fair, I thought out of all our subs I thought Tabby did great.

“The game had settled down then and the goal came out of the blue, it changes it completely because the game was going nowhere until he picked the top corner out. It just changed the course of game for them, unfortunately.

“He’s got a nasty cut, he’s gone to get it cleaned out, stitched up and we’ll have to wait and see until we get a proper thorough assessment on it to see what he’s done. It’s a real bad cut on his leg.”

The Town boss had no problem with Liam Trotter’s challenge which led to Hyam’s injury: “I don’t get too upset with tackles. I think they both went for the ball. I don’t get wrapped up in all that.”

Hyam later tweeted having been released from hospital: "Thanks for all the messages. Thankfully it was only a bad gash and nothing worse. Shame about the result, back [at] it next week!"

McCarthy also played down a late spat with his Millwall opposite number Ian Holloway: “There was some suggestion that one of our players should have been booked and I don’t get into that. But Ollie and I are good mates, I’ve no problem with him.”

Holloway, who picked up his first Millwall win in his first home game, was delighted: “I’m made up, I think the lads deserved it. We took on a fantastic bloke, you’ve only got to look at what he’s done in the last year or so, it’s almost a miracle.

“I think he’ll be disappointed, if he’s honest, that we were up for a fight, we were ready for it. My question is ‘Where’s that been?’.

“It was a fluke goal, I don’t think Ryan meant to do that, it was a cross. I’m just delighted we held on. Yes, we could have scored a couple more, but I’m very pleased with the lads because what I asked for, they gave me and for me that’s the bare minimum.”

Holloway said he had apologised to McCarthy for their touchline squabble: “We had a ruck on the side, I said that that bloke deliberately blocked somebody so Danny Shittu got smashed into.

“I mentioned booking him and I shouldn’t have said anything because Mick would never do that and I’ve just apologised to him. I was so caught up in things there, I’ve got to make sure I control that or I could be in trouble. But it’s only passion.”

Photo: Action Images

blueboy1981 added 11:02 - Jan 19 bluefeast - .... nice one that - word perfect.
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bluefeast added 11:38 - Jan 19 blueboy1981 thanks very much , it was all rather easy. Still i look forward to his match analysis of the leeds game next week hahahahahahahahahaha.
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TimmyH added 12:06 - Jan 19 smirk :) - sorry! (above comments)
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iamipswich added 12:52 - Jan 19 We can't say this wasn't coming. Eventually teams would realise all we do is pump it to Murphy and hope to get to the second ball. Once this doesn't work we are utter s**t with no ideas and a distinct lack of quality. Although you can't just forget Mcarthy's impact here, got to be more patient. You don't go from a relegation scrap team to a play off side overnight. We are FINALLY making progress. But there are a few players that need to be shipped out and better ones brought in.

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blueboy1981 added 13:05 - Jan 19 bluefeast - ..... sums it up well really ..... likewise looking forward to that. LOL.
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oldegold added 14:33 - Jan 19 We will be on the slippery slope now. I think MM should make the whole squad listen to Al Pacino's Motivational Sppech in "Any Given Sunday ". We are totally devoid of passion and ideas and our football is excretionary and pallid…we need MOTIVATION and PRIDE. Please listen to it and fire these players up..
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theobald1985 added 19:43 - Jan 19 the thing is about mcarthys style of play is that is only acceptable when your winning. as soon as you start losing and playing dull uninventive long ball defensive football you will lose the fans very quickly. Mick has brought alot of players in he has 2 for every position apart from the fact that he has now loaned out 2 very good young players. I think come the end of the season get taricco or somebody of that ilk in and start playing a quick passing attacking game the same formation the whole way through the club and get our footballing soul back. Given that this is gerkins second clanger in as many weeks will mcarthy now be dropping him or is he going to be unfair and inconsistent in his decision maker. its difficult to hate mick as he belives in his style and its served him well but I dont see a long term future for ipswich playing this way.

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dannyrr added 20:26 - Jan 19 It seems to be a regular occurrence now that the opposition deserved to win and Gerks apologises for a gaffe. We have a decent team that can play good football and threaten the opposition. Teams that were supposed to be outstanding such as Burnley weren't and only had one shot on goal which won the match. Watford only had one chance as well. Leeds weren't that great either. Usually our tactics don't match the other teams and we make changes too late and don't make the right changes. I don't understand what Frank does in training but in games he jumps for many balls and very rarely connects. He very rarely frustrates the opposition but regularly frustrates the supporters. Please let's start being positive and get a home result to stop our slide. Go for a win not a draw.

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finidigeorge88 added 13:26 - Jan 20 Worst performance i have seen for a very long time, It was a goal kick from gerken straight onto shittus head. That was the story of the day. Time and time again in happened, with no ideas from the fullbacks pulling wide. Very very poor
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