Town boss Mick McCarthy was as pleased with the Blues’ second half display as he was disappointed with their performance in the first. Christophe Berra headed in his third goal of the season seven minutes after the break to claim the point.

“I’m not saying we were awesome in the second half but compared to the first we were,” he said. “How we got from awful to awesome I don’t know.

“In terms of the difference about how we played it was a really top class second half performance.”

Why did he feel that was the case? “We started passing the ball to people in blue shirts and calmed down a little bit.

“I’m not trying to be funny, we actually passed the ball and didn’t rush it. They were panicking us, chasing the keeper, we were kicking it to them, it was coming back at us, and they’re a good side. If you keep giving them the ball back then they’ll keep doing and attacking you.

“We kept the ball better in the second half. It sounds basic and simple, doesn’t it? We’re OK with tough, we’re courageous, but we needed to be a bit more courageous with the ball, and I thought we were in the second half.

“I thought we had the better chances in the second half, apart from maybe the header from the corner at the end. We got into some really good positions.”

He added: “I’d lying if I said that when it got to one-all I wouldn’t have taken a point having played the way we did.

“But I’d also be lying if I said I didn’t think we could win it because I thought we could. Even Luke Hyam getting in at the end, it just didn’t drop for him.

“We’ve had good chances but at one-all, in terms of the way we were both playing, it was balanced.

“They’ve got good players and they could have done us on the break, there’s always the chance of a runner and they’ve got goalscorers, so you're always worried about them nicking one, no matter how well we’re playing.”

He says skipper Luke Chambers was replaced at half-time having taken a bang on the head: “He’d lost sight in one eye, he was concussed.

“Skusey was poorly, he was sick all last night. He didn’t eat, he was still sick, we sent him home this morning. Elliott Hewitt’s got a dead leg.”

Photo: Action Images

rayman_10 added 18:44 - Aug 30 Promising performance. Hope to see Bishop play a lot more this season. Although I have nothing against Skuse or Hyam, they simply don't create enough. A point away at Derby is nothing to be ashamed of though! Mick and the boys done well today. COYB
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GerkensBeard added 18:58 - Aug 30 Good result today and encouraging messages from McCarthy encouraging us to be courageous with the ball and go for the win, also a good team selection even though it was forced on him. Bishop MOTM, has to start next game, would love to see him get a run of games as Skuse should have to fight his way back in. Derby have the best midfield in the championship and Bishop and Hyam matched them. Nothing would please me more than seeing two homegrown players dominating the midfield in years to come. Was impressed with Jonny Parr, quality full back and athlete. In regards to McGoldrick, I wouldn't worry about getting cash, I would rather let him go and in return get Chris Wood, Jamie Vardy and Andy King. Ideally want him to stay, and if he is let go and no one comes in I wouldn't blame fans from turning their back on the club. Very positive result today though heading into the break

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coyb99 added 19:07 - Aug 30 'We actually passed the ball' says McCarthy... haven't heard that before!
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muccletonjoe added 19:11 - Aug 30 Fantastic to see bishop played well and same goes for par. A good away point. Well done mm
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NoelTheDub added 19:20 - Aug 30 Mick please do what you say dont kick the ball up in the air all day even a poor team will keep coming back at you..
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TractorBoy666 added 19:31 - Aug 30 See what happens when you pass the ball instead of hoof it MM! But in all fairness I thought it was good from Mick to be confident in giving Bishop a start and hopefully he can keep Skuse out for longer, sounded class. Well done on a well deserved point today! Also I've heard we've signed Adam McDonnell from Shelbourne???
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runningout added 19:45 - Aug 30 one half wonders yet again :-/
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roytheboy added 20:31 - Aug 30 A good effort in the second half, I think we need to rest Skuse and Chambers for a few matches and play the new lads who stood out today, it was Chambers' mistake that cost the goal in the first half otherwise we we would have been on for the three points. it was a much better result than I was expecting so I am pleased by that.
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SouperJim added 20:32 - Aug 30 Just got back, 2nd half in particular we looked a totally different team compared to what we've become used to under Mick, we actually had some players in midfield that could use the ball. Kevin Bru was excellent, sprayed it about nicely and played some intelligent through balls, particularly the one for Hyam that wouldn't quite come down for him to score. Jay Tabb was superb again, fantastic effort and work rate but passed the ball well and joined in with the attack, good movement and pulled defenders around. Hyam got forward and made some good runs, rather than sat back as Skuse's twin brother. Terrible rick by him for their goal but that aside did not put a foot wrong. Teddy Bishop showed some nice touches and grew into the game, not afraid to bring the ball forward and try to use it. Also got himself in a shooting position once or twice, although seemed reluctant to risk wasting the ball with a shot from distance. Ando tireless, closed their backline down all day and was unlucky not to finish a glorious chance during the second half spell when we were well on top. Lastly, not forgetting Henshall who came on and linked up really well with Mings, caused them no end of problems and put several excellent balls in that we were desperately close to getting on the end of. I hope and pray that Mick has learned something today, we have a very athletic and mobile back line who do not need two holding players infront of them. We already have the personnel to play a much better brand of football than we have seen from McCarthy so far. For goodness sake lets not go back to the ultra-conservative dross that we've at times had to suffer. That team would have got the square root of naff alltoday, McGoldrick or no McGoldrick.

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TimmyH added 20:32 - Aug 30 Very very rarely play well for the majority of a game, but better a good second half than a first. Well done.
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BrandestonBlue added 20:42 - Aug 30 I heard a caller to Radio Suffolk complaining about Micks poor signings - seems at odds with a concern we are possibly selling a player for £8m that we signed on a 'free' just over a year ago! Think we can forgive him for speculating a few grand on big Frank
3

Pilgrimblue added 20:47 - Aug 30 It took injuries to force MM to make the changes but thank goodness. I've been singing Teddy's praises since Southend so not surprised he played so well. Plus good to see Parr Henshall and Mings make a difference so hope MM keeps them in his team as they can only get better. Scuse and Chambers need to be on bench and Frank somewhere else.
2

SickParrot added 20:55 - Aug 30 So sad to learn that we are likely to lose our best player McGoldrick. I want him to stay but I would not blame him if he goes. He is too good for us and deserves a chance to show what he can do in the Premier League. If we can get 8 million, that is a very good price but we must use most of it to strengthen the team. Given that the transfer window closes on Monday it will have to be loans for now. Now that Palace have Zaha back, may be we can get Jonnie Williams again? If we are to have any chance of making the playoffs we need him, a creative midfielder and a goal scorer. We also need Mick to encourage the team to play a passing game and to take the game to the opposition more, but this is about as likely as a lottery win! Happy with a point today as I thought Derby would be much too good for us. Great to hear that Bishop and Bru were instrumental in our improved second half display and I hope that they will both start again against Millwall, unless we have signed another creative midfielder but I fear that Mick will play Skuse, if fit. Also pleased that Parr did well. I like Chambers but he is not a full back, so if Mick is going to persist with a flat back 4 he must play Parr at right back, Mings at left back and Berra with either Chambers or Smith in the middle. What would we do without Berra? He must be one of the best centre backs in the Championship and is also our top scorer. If he carries on like this he will be the next one to be sold! Please Mick, shock me and bring in some quality before it is too late.

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DerbyBlue76 added 22:42 - Aug 30 Have to agree with most of the above points. We looked timid in the first half but where far stronger in the second. The left side with Kings and Henshall looked very promising and Bru looks good as well. I was also impressed with Tabb. However I did feel we were a little light upfront
1

Northstandoldie added 23:58 - Aug 30 Is Mick getting Hewitt and Didsy mixed up? Or is there a dodgy corner unit somewhere that the players keep bumping into?
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BlueHennee added 23:58 - Aug 30 This is not a doom & gloom post BUT....I have a case of dejavu - manager forced into a corner due to injury; picks only team he can due to said injury list & last team he would have picked if had another choice; team he puts out comes into their own 2nd half & take it to Derby; Teddy Bishop proves capable; Bru & Parr take their chances & play really well too; even MM thinks the passing football they started playing in the 2nd half made more sense than the usual hoofball!!! Soooo - a new team? Different starters after the break? Play those who took their chances well??? OR? 2 weeks off & back to normal with Skuse & company......!!!!!! Mmmmm, I wonder....???? Answers on a postcard.....

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battyblue added 05:15 - Aug 31 Well done much much better on recent showings, that's partly down to changing the midfield i hope you have seen the light today Mick and put Skuse on the bench also better without Chambers at right back all we need now is Marriott back and Henshall starting instead of Tabb and people will be a lot happier. Teddy Bishop must start next game over skuse much better with him alongside Hyam no question.

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PeekFreans added 07:28 - Aug 31 "we needed to be a bit more courageous with the ball" That's the stuff. We know we are a tough, hard working side, but when it comes to keeping the ball we've have indeed panicked (plenty of panicking in the chatroom yesterday as well). There is quality in the squad and the crop of young players that are coming through is very encouraging. It is early days as far as the season is concerned and so no need for supporters to panic either. Give it a couple of months and we'll find out what this team is all about.

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PeekFreans added 07:45 - Aug 31 BlueHennee Robson was forced into a number of changes to key players during his tenure that turned out brilliantly. Secondly, I am sure that they do more in training than practice belting it up in the air. It's early days.
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Guthrum added 09:12 - Aug 31 That was a point made by some of us at the game yesterday - what made quite a lot of difference was having a bit more composure on the ball, not immediately firing it in one direction or another (often pretty randomly), but holding on for a moment, looking for someone to pass it to. Mings was a significant change in that respect, he doesn't just hoof it off but holds on, lets things calm down and only then sends it off down the line or passes it to the winger. This fast passing so-called "tika-taka" stuff is all very well and pretty when it works, but a bit of calm and patience is far more likely to be effective.

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