Boss Mick McCarthy felt that while it was difficult to take the Blues losing to local rivals Norwich City, there was no disgrace in how his side played against the recently relegated former Premier League side. Lewis Grabban's 24th minute goal was enough to give the Canaries the victory.

“It was a hard-fought game,” McCarthy said. “They had the goal and we didn’t. It changed the course of it, as it always does.

“It changed the momentum, I thought they were better than us for 10 minutes after that and being one in front allowed them in the second half to try and catch us on the break, which they almost did a couple of times.

“But we had a gilt-edged chance when we were playing well through Daryl Murphy. He’s just looked at it and he knows he should have scored.”

He had no complaints regarding his team's endeavour: “The effort and commitment is always there from the players.

“I thought we rushed it and tried to get back in the game too much, we didn’t have too much quality in the first half. In the second half we were better.

“But we were playing against a good team, a team that’s come down from the Premier League with good players in it and has signed some good players.

“They’ve got a good squad, it’s no disgrace how we played against them, it’s just difficult when it’s our nearest and not so dearest.”

McCarthy says he always expected the opening few games of the season to be tough: “When I looked at the fixtures when they came out I didn’t think for a minute that Fulham at home, Reading away, Birmingham away and Norwich at home was going to be easy. I always thought it was going to be hard and that’s how it’s proved to be.”

Regarding Norwich’s goal, he said: “Somebody shouted ‘keeper’s’, I don’t know who shouted it. I haven’t got an ear-piece into the six-yard box to find out whether it was and who said it, but no other player should shout it except Gerks."

He added: “It wasn’t Gerks, Skusey’s marking Grabban, so I don’t know, might have been Grabban that shouted it, could have done. None of our players should shout that."

“It certainly looked like a mix-up. We didn’t deal with it well enough. We dealt with the first corner kick but we didn't deal with the ball coming back in.”

Despite Christophe Berra being on the floor not far from goal when Grabban scored, the video evidence still suggested that the goalscorer may have been offside, however, McCarthy was more concerned with his team’s defensive failings.

“If [it does still look offside] then it’ll give me something to whinge about,” he continued. “But in reality we didn’t deal with it. I’m not blaming the officials and I think if you look you’ll find that Berra and Michael Turner are lying on the floor about one yard out.

“I’ve got complaints about how we dealt with it, not how anybody refereed it, which is unusual for a manager.”

He admits he’s been less than happy with the goals his side has given away in the last couple of matches: “In the last three games we’ve conceded very poor goals from our point of view.

“It’s not like we’ve conceded as a back four that can’t defend, it’s been individual errors, the one at Reading, the two at Birmingham and the one today, so we’ll have to get better.

He says he expects the Canaries to be amongst the promotion challengers come May: “We’ve played a team today which will be competing at the top with an opportunity. Without a doubt, they’ve got a very good squad.”

Asked about the very different budgets Town and Norwich - recipients of £60 million in parachute payments over the next four years - are forced to work within, McCarthy added: “Financial Fair Play, that’s bollocks, isn’t it?

“We’re operating within it and they’ve just got a different Financial Fair Play [situation], as have Fulham and the other teams who have come down. It makes it all the more rewarding when you do well without it. And that’s what we’re going to have to do.”

Norwich boss Neil Adams believed his team was worthy of the victory: “It was a well-deserved win.

“I thought we needed to be better in the first half. I said to the players at half-time that we didn’t really move the ball as quickly or as effectively as we’re capable of.

“Even though we were winning the game, I still felt we could have been a little bit better.

“To the lads’ credit they did step it up more in the second half. I thought defensively throughout the game we were excellent and we probably could have gone and added another two goals in the second half.

“We missed some good chances but it was good to restrict Ipswich to few chances if any at all. Overall I thought we deserved to win the game and I’m delighted with the victory.”

Adams apologised for failing to shake hands with McCarthy and his assistant Terry Connor after the match.

“I want to apologise to Mick and Terry,” he said. “I was out of order I didn’t shake their hands. Completely unintentionally, I was too caught up in the moment, so hopefully you’ll all report that.

“I realised when I was on the pitch that that was out of order and I should have shown more respect to them and shaken their hands before I went off on my celebrations. Hand on heart it wasn’t intentional.

“I wouldn’t have been too happy if that had been flipped, so big apologies to Mick and Terry, they’re good people and I apologise unreservedly for forgetting to shake their hands at the final whistle.

“Terry actually came onto the pitch and shook my hand and I realised then I’d forgotten and thought ‘I’ve made a big mistake here’.

“My fault, it certainly wasn’t intended and hopefully they’ll accept that with the grace that they have. I was out of order, not intentionally, I just forgot.

“I don’t want to argue with Mick, there’s only going to be one winner there, isn’t there?”

Questioned about the incident and Adams’s apology, McCarthy said: “He should have [shaken hands]. Sky have just asked me and I said it’s nothing to do with them whether he shook my hand or not.

“Whether they show that or not I don’t know. I tend to deal with my matters with other managers individually and on my own.”

He added: “He’s got a good team, they’re a good side and they’d just beaten us and if it’s a lesson in etiquette then the first person he shakes hands with [should be] me and [then] with TC.

“I’ve had to do it, I’ve had to do it at Leicester when we’ve been beaten 6-0 and 5-0 [at Palace] and that’s what you do. If that’s a lesson today, then fine.”

Photo: Action Images

TractorCam added 16:30 - Aug 23 No Mick, it was a disgrace. None of the players looked like they wanted it, Hyam perhaps being an exception. Once again poor tactics have cost us. Our defence were all over the place and if it wasn't for poor finishing for Grabban, would of easily been 3 or 4-0. We were lucky it ended 1-0 and to be honest, if we keep some of the error prone players playing we aren't going anywhere!

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StuartBrett8 added 16:33 - Aug 23 Asked about the very different budgets Town and Norwich - recipients of £60 million in parachute payments over the next four years - are forced to work within, McCarthy added: “Financial Fair Play, that's bollocks, isn't it? MM is a legend... serious quality in soon please Big Mick
2

rambohambo added 16:35 - Aug 23 Just from a Rotherham fan "who is this Paul Taylor one of the best player I've seen in this time for a long time, motm performance"
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Michael11 added 16:36 - Aug 23 Ermm it was a TOTAL disgrace Mick. I don't think we played much worse when we lost 5-1 the last time. Stop defending your negative tactics and hiding behind FFP. If you're going to sign horrific players like Conor Sammon and keep playing your teachers pets then I hope Evans carries on giving you nothing to spend!
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Bluetone added 16:36 - Aug 23 No Mick, it was a disgrace and if that is the best a side put together and coached by you can do then perhaps you should consider your position.
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BiGDonnie added 16:36 - Aug 23 You need to step it up Mick, we're becoming a bit of a joke and I can't see where the next win is coming from.
7

Stato added 16:38 - Aug 23 Mick if you stop bringing in below average players from Colchester you might be able to stop bigging up all the sides that keep beating us. Why not try a back 3 so chambers not playing out of position ? Why sign Sammon when he is the same player as Murphy ? Why continue to play Hyam and Skuse together when they both want to play just in front of the back 4 ? Why bring on 3 subs but not change formation ? Why complain about Murphy missing the one chance of the game when the real problem is the lack of opportunities created in this game and every game ?

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marco007 added 16:39 - Aug 23 Did he watch a different game? Yes, Norwich came down from the Prem but they managed a whopping two away wins last season and already lost to newly promoted Wolves who were inDiv 1 last year. I have absolutely no complaints about the result as the better team won and we were fortunate to lose by just the one goal. The team that Mick has built is honest and solid but so lacking in any form of creativity and Dids aside, quality. I have to admit that I am reaching the end of my tether watching MM's team as we are unable to string two passes together, give up possession so cheaply and play so little football that it is totally dull to watch ! When was the last time you actually enjoyed watching a home game?? I am scratching my head!!

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SouperJim added 16:42 - Aug 23 I see from Mick's interview on Ipswich Player that our players reported that someone shouted "keepers ball" for the goal and it wasn't one of us. Speculation being that one of their players shouted it and explains why the defence stopped, i.e. they thought Gerks was coming for it.
3

buddsterblue added 16:43 - Aug 23 Gk (either one) Chambers/parr Berra smith Mings/parr Hyam skuse Stuart when fit didsey (creative) henshall (pace) Murphy (height) I think this covers about everything we need!
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Bluetone added 16:44 - Aug 23 @ SouperJim any excuse in a storm.
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Rammo added 16:45 - Aug 23 “The effort and commitment is always there from the players." Well that's all very well but you need a little bit of quality to go with it and I just don't see that in too many of the current players in the side
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Mark added 16:45 - Aug 23 It has been a very tough start to the season, but the play-offs feel a long way off at the moment with the squad we have got. The midfield fight hard, although today we were second to the ball much of the time, but there is a lack of creative quality and goal threat. The summer signings are all substitutes at the moment and it's questionable as to whether they will be good enough to push into the first team. We must look to bring in more quality, perhaps from Premier League loans. Getting promoted on free transfers is a huge ask with the big spending rivals in the league. As things stand, we may have to worry more about the bottom of the table than the top.

11

TheSelkirk added 16:46 - Aug 23 You really can't honestly be happy with that Mick - can you? That really worries me... We didn't have more quality second half - we are perpetually starved of quality. You refer to one gilt edged chance - yep, ONE! Does that not demonstrate something to you? We could have played for another two hours and still not scored. Please do feel free to say that 'Gerks' cocked up again. Please feel free to mention our lack of quality and vision in midfield. I have been a big supporter of you Mick but I am more than a little concerned that 1) You thought that performance was alright 2) You think we have quality in areas where we clearly don't 3) You seem blinkered when it comes to 'favourite' players of yours. 4) You set up to draw - whoever that might be against 5) We have a football team but not a team that plays decent football. I am now finally peed off with back four passing prior to a big lump forward. 6) You seem to have made significant U-turns in respect of your own signings. I don't expect Barcelona esque football, or to be top of the league, but I would like to see some of this renowned honesty of yours right now by admitting that we do really have major problems in certain areas. It would actually give me more confidence in you.

48

dav86 added 16:46 - Aug 23 What an absolute bore, we need someone who will not be afraid to run at a defence and actually cause problems for the opposition, what a bore
18

bluefeast added 16:46 - Aug 23 Terrible interview from MM. We were so poor and the paying public deserve 21st century entertainment. Not black and white fuzzy tv stuff that you just want to turn off. Sign players with technical ability MM , to compliment the cart horses this league needs. To sign another cart horse ie Connor is a disgrace in terms of judgement re what this team needs.
22

Stato added 16:48 - Aug 23 I think we are stuck with Mick as Evans loves the fact he doesn't rock the boat and will keep us in the division but big mistake by Evans as crowds will continue to shrink while this negative rubbish being dished up.
14

SouperJim added 16:48 - Aug 23 @ Bluetone not from me, we didn't deserve to win the game end of
5

bedsitfc added 16:50 - Aug 23 We all know what we need I think mm is working on a shoe string but we need Stewart fit and someone in central mid that can create something one more player in and we will be a different team playing better.
4

DurhamTownFan added 16:51 - Aug 23 What's the point in arguing what line up and formation we should play? Clear as day MM has his style and tactics and won't shift to anything else. Now, playing the percentages will ensure that we never have to battle on the bottom zone like we did under Keane and Jewell, but it's a bit like this government still blaming labour. At some point we've got to move on from the past and start planning to go forward and take it to the next level. I'd like to see a new twtd poll: is MM the man to get us promoted? At the moment for me, he's the man to finish top ten with no budget 4 seasons out of 5. We've got to all decide whether that's enough. If it is, let's stop moaning! If it isn't (factoring in the ticket prices and lack of a decent playing style) then let's keep talking about it!

4

Bluetone added 16:56 - Aug 23 @ SouperJim not at you but at the comment you quoted we, I think, agree it was a very feeble excuse.
1

Talbs77 added 16:58 - Aug 23 Very honest interview by Mick, must admit feel a bit for him especially at the vast difference in transfer budgets. He known the areas he needs to strengthen, he just doesn't have the money to sign the quality of players we need in midfield. I think when the window closes he will hopefully get some loans in from the premier league. It's all we can hope for.... God how depressing!

4

cromwellblue added 16:58 - Aug 23 Yet another underwhelming performance. Let's not forget the good work MM has done at this club. We are much more solid defensively and MM has certainly brought some stability to the club after some horrendous times. Like many I hoped Mick would push on and improve the team but we seem to be stuck. It worries me when Henshall comes out and says he's been told not to hug the touch line. This style of playing narrow is, in my opinion, making things harder for our midfield and exposing our full backs. Mings in particular is often is possession without help or options. Tabb needs to be removed from this team he drifts around and adds nothing. This is just allowing the opposition to play around us. With our current crop of players it is crying out to play 3-5-2 Unless we get some better midfielder and start to play with are more positive attitude this is going to be a long hard season.

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afrodids added 17:02 - Aug 23 Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaly!
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Stato added 17:14 - Aug 23 Anyone else predicting same starting 11 and same formation against Derby ?
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