Boss Mick McCarthy felt neither the Blues nor Blackpool played well enough to take all three points from the 0-0 draw at Portman Road.

“I thought we started really well, had our best chances but didn’t take them,” McCarthy said. “I thought the game settled, the two substitutions disturbed the game a little bit.

“They had the best chance in the second period of the first half and then the game’s just a scrap. Not great conditions to play in. We could have won it, we could have lost it, to be honest.

“I don’t know how many good chances they had, I thought we had the best chances early on. He’s got a pretty good squad there, they all worked for him and it wasn’t easy to play today.

“We haven’t played well to win the game, but neither have they. I think we probably shaded it, but there wasn’t a lot in it and conditions did make it difficult.”

Town’s best opportunity was David McGoldrick’s header which flew wide in the ninth minute but McCarthy wasn’t too harsh on his top scorer or his other main striker: “Murph got in as well, I’m not sure whether it was a cross or a shot. But it wasn’t to be.

“It’s the hardest thing in the game, putting the ball in the net, that’s why they pay fortunes for strikers and give them fortunes.

“Dids has been our talisman, so I think we can forgive him that. He’s got a knock to his knee, we’ll have to see how he is.”

McCarthy confirmed that Dean Gerken missed out due to a neck problem: “He’s got a stiff neck, he woke up and he really was struggling with it so they tried to manipulate it but it wasn’t [getting better]. Anyway, Loachy came in and did really well. He only knew he was playing at one o’clock.”

The Town boss says Luke Hyam went off with an injury unrelated to the gash which had previously kept him out of action: “He’s got a tight hamstring, I hope he hasn’t pulled it, I think he’s just strained it.”

McCarthy was pleased with home debutant Paul Green and to be able to introduce Sylvan Ebanks-Blake as a sub: “I was delighted with Greeny. It was just a shame that we had to rejig because we started really well. I’m glad to get Sylvan on the pitch and he’ll be involved in the U21s [at home to Charlton] on Monday.”

Regarding the second half penalty incident when Kirk Broadfoot appeared to handle, McCarthy wasn’t sure: “I haven’t actually seen it since but when I’m on the sidelines I’m always going to shout for a penalty and so is Barry Ferguson. All of us shout for everything because we all want to win. I didn’t see it any further. I’ve no idea.

“Tommy Smith got a smack in the gob [from Ricardo Fuller] right in front of us. I don’t know, we appealed for it, that’s all.”

Overall, the Town boss added: “There was nothing in it, it was just a tough, tough game.”

Blackpool interim player-manager Barry Ferguson thought his side should have won: “I’m disappointed we didn’t take the three points. We certainly had the chances to get the three points. That’s the only criticism I can have of the boys, they weren’t clinical enough.

“We’re starting to show signs that we’re a good team, we’ve had a couple of weeks now to work with them and I think you can see we’re starting to take what we’re doing on the training ground onto the pitch.”

Photo: Action Images

blueboy1981 added 20:38 - Feb 15 .......... deserved to win or not - you never set out to win this match Mick, just look at your tactics - they tell the whole story. But Why ?? - it was only Blackpool, who came here with an atrocious record of results behing them - and haven't looked like winning anywhere for ages, until today !!!
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blueboy1981 added 20:40 - Feb 15 ..... sorry Mick but sometimes you talk out of anywhere other than where you should - this being a prime example.
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Norwichbeater added 20:47 - Feb 15 Blain96 and crunch whoever, do one and go to a match. I can't remember many good matches this season. Don't tell me to piss off and watch Barcelona. I just want to watch something that resembles a football match. Watching constant negative football against the most appalling teams in the championship is becoming boring dull and very defeatist. I positive approach would result in far more points. Today's game was disgraceful in so many ways.

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blueboy1981 added 20:58 - Feb 15 There is much that is not right about our Football Club, and what Bluefeast has said would not surprise me at all - I am convinced the Club is NOT in safe and secure hands, rightly or wrongly. However, god forbid that we ever get taken over by the likes of some of todays current Club owners. Football Club ownership has become a game for rich boys, who use Clubs as toys unfortunately - and equally unfotunate is the fact that we can do nothing about it. Sad days really for the game in general - What does the future hold for us all ?? And as for Blain96 - yet another 'satisfied whatever' charlie - obviously, or wind up merchant !!

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Taricco_Fan added 21:30 - Feb 15 @blueboy.....I agree with your comments, but you (or we, as fans) can do something about it. Many Town fans already have.
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blueboy1981 added 22:06 - Feb 15 Taricco Fan ....... true, and I think a few more may well next do likewise next season !
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northstand78 added 22:09 - Feb 15 Fair result,neither side deserved it...evenly matched.... These statements seem to be too predictable and too often after a performance that can only be dross at best... We pay a lot for so called entertainment and it is unacceptable that so called professionals can play that badly and be unaccountable... Today I question myself as to why I should invest next season..

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Umros added 22:18 - Feb 15 Radio Suffolk at lunchtime was talking about the poor attendances.............well, today is a prime example of why, paying up to £32 for that dross?........ you are having a laugh. last three games 3 goals in 270 minutes, one a penalty............Entertaining?. I think not.
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bluefeast added 23:44 - Feb 15 What MM has done with no money is fantastic. But that says it all ,no money ,no real investment in the squad for a manager who would spend wisely. However MM is not without his down sides. Negative tactics and square pegs in round holes at home is very odd. I wonder what is going on behind closed doors. Berra was great today and players like him on frees is great business . But we do need some change .

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madmouse1959 added 00:52 - Feb 16 Yet another piss poor game and a sad result that McCarthy can,t defend......McCarthy reckons it was a tough tough game.....No Mick....it was a tired lazy unimaginative stale display of football once again.....No wonder the fans are staying away. Its about time Evans got off his arse and sorted this club out .
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Garv added 01:07 - Feb 16 Blackpool were the better team, end of. Blackpool looked half decent, we were awful.
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blue75 added 08:46 - Feb 16 Shame he didn't explain why cressy was scared to run into space and just kept hitting it long into a head wind.
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Blue041273 added 09:29 - Feb 16 Anyone who expected a classic must be deluded. Two teams in poor form in horrible conditions was the backdrop to this game. Ok it wasn't pretty but it was interesting. These kind of games happen. For those that criticise the tactics, I can only say that this is not a computer game; the unpredictability is part of the fascination. Like everyone I want us to win every match but I can see that our squad contains no superstars and therefore results are earned through effort rather than regular flashes of brilliance. This is the reality. Until we are in a position to recruit 'game changers' we will have to accept that grinding out points is a fundamental part of the philosophy of this management.

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wkj added 10:20 - Feb 16 This was a terrible game it has to be said. All season Ipswich seem to totally collapse after a sub when they are on the front foot. The game started positively and then football I've not seen since the ROY-PAUL era. I am satisfied with this season on the whole; I for one am still pleased not to be in a relegation scrap. As much as MM makes some funny tactical decisions at times and plays frustrating football; I have to say he's done much more with peanuts as Roy did with his millions and PL did with the rest of the change that Marcus Evans left laying around. I never expected Premier Push this year but hoped next season we'd be contenders; but whatever happens it needs to be soon as our club is very much in debt and it's becoming clear that our rich mystery man has ran out of desire to invest.

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wkj added 10:20 - Feb 16 P.s. Clegg Out!
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sereneblue added 10:28 - Feb 16 Instead of coming out with these sort of comments every week, do something about it. Ie:- be positive !
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jalapenosteve added 11:12 - Feb 16 THAT WAS A TRULY GUTLESS, NEGATIVE AND BORING EFFORT YESTERDAY. AFTER 43 YEARS OF WATCHING TOWN I JUST CAN'T JUSTIFY TO MYSELF THE COST AND THE FRUSTRATION OF MAKING THE JOURNEY TO PR ANY LONGER. THATS IT.
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theobald1985 added 12:05 - Feb 16 are we turning into boring boring ipswich. mick seems like a nice bloke to have pint with but he is a mis-match for our club I would rather we lost trying to win and playing good football at the end of the season he needs to go and we need to install a more modern adventurous manager and install a passing philosophy throughout all levels from youth to first team wonder if loach keeps his place after a clean sheet? he should do

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NoelTheDub added 14:36 - Feb 16 I for one dont expect us to win every game,or attack teams like Leicester,Wigan,or QPR but teams like ourselves we should put away.I know how hard this league is but MM style makes it harder for our players.Clearly his plan is to stop the other team even if they are struggling at this time.Paul green starting wide right or Chambers at right back or bringing on Tabb another work horse at home to Blackpool say it all, Also everyone waiting for SEB to start wait for Eddie or Daryl to be dropped or played out of position and where is the supply to come from.

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Philip added 15:20 - Feb 16 I've just got that niggly feeling we're gonna win at Leicester. Don't know why but I think it could be a tight 0-1
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bluey123 added 16:14 - Feb 16 you must be watching a different match to me Philip play like they did Sat and we will get hammered
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oldegold added 18:07 - Feb 16 Today exposed all our deficiencies - route 1 football, boring catenaccio defensive minded rubbish and inability to take a game by the scruff of the neck. We have to beat teams like Blackpool ( 15 games without a win ) if we seriously want a play off play place. Today we waved goodbye to any hope of that. MM will not get us promoted with mediocre performances like this. Why not promote Jack Marriott instead of playing the incompetent forwards we have at the moment? Why won't he promote youth…Bobby Robson did, George Burley did. Can't be any worse than the rubbish we have at the moment.

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Robbie12345 added 03:02 - Feb 17 Some people on here are clueless! We still picked up a point and everyone would rather a point than nothing! Too many take Mick's job that he's done for granted! Think of where we would be if we still had Chopra, Keane still, no Mcgoldrick, no Ebanks-Blake (fingers crossed he'll get 10 by end of season) no Berra, Smith released, Cresswell sold for pennies! No Skuse (underrated). Yes our style isn't pretty but it is working and we are still in touching distance of having a playoff place, so be patient! We will get there! Stay behind the team but also be realistic! All we need is a bit better weather and a little more luck in the final third (luck is vital). Lets all pray for 3 points saturday to quieten the moaners! Coyb!

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theobald1985 added 11:03 - Feb 17 Robbie12345 you miss the point its not all about results-maybe for evans it is but if you love the game like some of us do playing a boring defensive long ball game is just not on. you say we will get there but im not sure where you think there is -the playoffs maybe? what would be the point we are playing an outdated style with an outdated manager who has not evolved his style at all. we would get slaughtered if we went up with mick and we would have far more widespread exposure so everybody would see us as a defensive long ball team getting played off the park every week.we cant say this style is ok because of what happened with keane etc this way of playing is not good enough and will take us nowhere. luck is important but we are just not getting ball into the box are trying to attack enough so its not bad luck its managment style that does not fit well with the traditions of our great club

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Robbie12345 added 12:40 - Feb 17 Thebald1985- interesting reply :), but I suppose everyone would rather Prem/Champ. Football over league one or two, even if more exciting there. Still could be much worse- the 6 and 7-0s of last season. By there I mean the Prem, not this season but maybe in the next two, hopefully anyway! But then you can't really complain about his tactics, bringing on a third striker- Ebanks-Blake to try for a winner. Agree we would struggle in the prem, but every club would from the Champ :)

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