Boss Mick McCarthy admitted that the Blues 2-2 draw at Nottingham Forest felt more like a defeat but says that it will seem like a better result once he’s further away from the heat of the action.

“It’s one of those draws where I’m usually proud of the performance and was thoroughly deserved,” said McCarthy.

“If it comes at 35 minutes and ends two-all we come off thinking ‘What a great point’. But coming in injury time if feels a bit like a defeat.

“But it won’t when I sum it up in my head, which I’ve already started doing. We’ve got 19 points, in the last seven games we’ve had four wins and three draws, it’s a great return. Would I have taken that from the last seven games? Absolutely, of course I would.

“It’s lovely. It’s a good run of form. I’m very pragmatic about that. Would I have taken that? We’ve beaten Wigan, we’ve drawn at Derby, we’ve had points off some of the good teams.”

He says he would have taken the point going into the game if it had been offered to him beforehand: “I wouldn’t have bothered getting on the bus, I’d have taken it if they’d said ‘Don’t bother, we’ll stay where we are’.

“I think there’ll be a lot of people who will see these as somebody who could win it, champions elect. Certainly promotion elect.

“These will be looking at the top two with the squad they’ve got and the money they’ve spent. I think they’re capable of it, to be fair, when they get everybody back.”

McCarthy wasn’t happy the Blues conceded two goals from set pieces: “Of course, but Stuart will be disappointed that their full-back gets done and Murph comes and slams it in the bottom corner and he wins a header.

“I’ve never come off yet and thought ‘That’s a nice goal the opposition scored’ and it doesn’t feel any different now.”

Regarding Murphy he said: “Two great goals from a striker who is in form and probably playing as well as he ever has in his career.”

He says Jonny Williams was tiring when he was replaced approaching the hour mark: “Jonny ran out of gas a bit. That’s because he’s not been playing.

“Let me tell you, that game was played at a helluva pace that game was played at, physical and tough and demanding.

“You can’t just come from being a sub [and play 90 minutes]. If you come in there you end up with cramp, you end up knackered, that was played at a helluva pace for both teams.”

Luke Hyam went off in the first half but the Blues boss isn’t yet sure of the extent of his injury: “I don’t know if it’s his hip flexor, which he’s had a bit of niggle with, or his hamstring, I don’t know.”

As for Paul Anderson, who missed out having suffered an injury in training on Friday, he says his problem isn’t serious: “His hamstring just tightened up.”

He added: “Overall, I’m very proud of the performance and pleased with the way we’ve played. It’s just when the goal comes. It’s happened, I can’t do anything about it now.

“So, I’ll wipe my gob, take the point, be delighted with it, go home, have a break like the rest of the lads and we’ll start again next Monday.”

Forest manager Stuart Pearce thought his side might have claimed all three points had they scored an earlier equaliser: “We had a game today where Ipswich came on good form, four victories and a draw in their last five games.

“They’re a well-organised team. Anyone Mick is in charge of you know exactly what you’re going to to get.

“I thought it was a real blood and thunder game that swung from end to end. I’m disappointed it took us so long to get the equaliser because I thought we’d win it, certainly on the chances we created in the second half.

“But their goalkeeper made some outstanding stops and when he wasn’t there, defenders scooped things off the line. It was a real cup final of a Championship game.”

Town are 17/1 to win the league.

Photo: Action Images

Sindre94 added 19:03 - Oct 5 What a gut-wrenching end to that game although Id settle for a point before we kicked off. Now the long journey back to Norway. Brilliant atmosphere today people, shame we couldnt hang on though.
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Mark added 19:04 - Oct 5 A good result today, even though this 2-2 feels the total opposite of the 2-2 at Birmingham due to the late goal being against us rather than for us. Still, we're in a super run of form and managed to stay in the play-off zone during those two tough away matches. Well done to Mick and the boys.
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bluefeast added 19:09 - Oct 5 Great point that will turn out to be.
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martleshamitfc added 19:10 - Oct 5 Sindre - glad you got to see a good game, still a good point to gain.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 19:10 - Oct 5 Shame we couldn't hang on, yes. But we matched one of the best teams in the Championship today. The Blues should be proud, no-one more so Murphy. Well done!
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4-4-2 added 19:12 - Oct 5 Good point against a good team. but i am coming away from this with some anger towards Pearce and Nottingham. Having listened to his interview i feel that he has given an unjust opinion on the game and has also been harsh towards our set of players, who IMO for 60 minutes outplayed his side (which cost 11 million). yes they had a few chances to win the game, but so did we, if Joniesta had a better first touch in the first half we could have been going in 2-0 up. Both of their goals have come from a corner kick where the goalkeeper has made a hash of it (not to take anything away from Gerken who made some amazing saves). It wasn't until the last 20-25 minutes where i felt that Nottingham were in the driving seat. I am also becoming annoyed at the way in which Ipswich are being shrugged off by other manners in the way that we play, yes we are a physical side, but there have been countless games this season where our pass rate has exceeded that of the opposition. The commentators today we commentating on some of the exciting football we played going forward. But hey, long may we go under the rador and keep this promotion push going, rant over. COYB.

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oddball added 19:13 - Oct 5 Cmon people cheer up, seven unbeaten, top six, two points off top. Bring on the rest of the season! And what is goin on with Murphy!
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4-4-2 added 19:14 - Oct 5 managers**
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Chicago_Blue added 19:56 - Oct 5 I think we reverted to defending too deep, and stopped playing our own game, at the expense of trying to defend our lead and focusing more on stopping Forest scoring. When we brought off McGoldrick for Smith, I thought we really did invite pressure. Didzy can hold the ball up and relieve some of the pressure, but when he went off it was like our massed deep defence versus Forest. A few people have been critical of Gerken, but he did make a couple of superb saves. If anything I'd point the finger reluctantly at Skuse, who I felt could have hacked the ball clear instead of knocking it out for a corner - and then should have been more switched on when it fell to Antonio.

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EssexTractor added 20:01 - Oct 5 Eleven games in, unbeaten in seven, sixth position, more strength in depth than in previous years. A great foundation . A look at the table shows only 6 points separate the first 14 clubs, so there will be many believing this could be their season. No team has made that sprint away from the pack, leaders Norwich secured only two points from their two home matches this week So it really is game on and I suggest a scenario that is tailor made for a manager with MMs career background to take Itfc upwards out of the Division. Sure there are still some areas requiring improvement but team spirit does appear at a high level. Let's not get over critical about the inevitable slip ups, which will befall every side and let's not get prematurely euphoric, for there are still 35 matches to be played, but from evidence of live and television matches so far, at this quarter season point, there are plenty more reasons to smile than be sour faced.

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bigfatjoe87 added 20:08 - Oct 5 Devastating indeed. But good result. ah damn why couldn't they hold out.
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Walk_the_Wark added 20:18 - Oct 5 Well played Town. Turning point was Williams coming off and then Smith coming on and us deciding to try and defend for the last 10 +5. Totally unnecessary. You cannot invite a decent team like Forest on to you for 15 mins and hope to get away with it. We were much the better side, as our dominance in the first half showed. Had we kept pressing we would have won- hey it could have even been 3-1! Definitely two points dropped.

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blueboy1981 added 20:27 - Oct 5 ....... quite simple Mick - teach them to defend set pieces. Only need to look at the stats to prove it's necessary.
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tim added 20:38 - Oct 5 Nothing but positives from the team...except why take McGoldrick off and replace him with a defender? Without him we went into defensive mode and it was just a barrage of red shirts until the inevitable happened. Everyone was excellent though and we look premier class.
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PutneyBlue added 20:44 - Oct 5 EssexTractor - this will be OUR season!
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MrDiddle added 21:01 - Oct 5 Up the Town!
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NoelTheDub added 21:04 - Oct 5 Very unlucky lads today great shift put in by all.Mick was always going to shut up shop in the last 20min or so but it didnt work out.I wont complain as a point v Forest away is good just disappointed for the team.
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runningout added 21:33 - Oct 5 shutting up shop is okay if your 3 nil up, and can play up front that has the ruthlessness to punish teams...thought McGoldrick wasn't himself for the last 2 games
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runningout added 21:35 - Oct 5 meant 'play 1 up front'
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JustSpivvyChops added 21:38 - Oct 5 Poor management cost us 2 points, that's why it feels like a defeat Mick......you invited them to throw the kitchen sink at us with no fear of a counter attack and the inevitable goal arrived.
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runningout added 21:45 - Oct 5 think MM likes to test our defenders...........
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oldegold added 21:55 - Oct 5 Definitely 2 points thrown away with a good performance. Why oh why can't MM for once forget his sterile defensive tactics and just get Town to kill off a game with another goal. So predictable that he would invite Forest to attack when we could and should have won it. This defensive mania of his cost us a play off play against Bournemouth towards the end of last season and this lack of devil and guile will cost if we don't kill off the opposition. Please be more daring and less taken with giving the opposition the thrust of the game. Should have had 3 points today. Well done Town and a slap on the hand to MM for his catenaccio-mania.

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Guthrum added 21:56 - Oct 5 We must defend better at set pieces. However, otherwise it was a very good game. Two cracking goals for us, Mings' cross for the second was beautiful.
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bluemikey100 added 22:17 - Oct 5 lovin MINGS payed 10 grand now worth 10 million the way hes playin no wonder didnt mind sellin cresswell
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ArnieM added 23:53 - Oct 5 Town have progressed light years under MM /TC this last couple of years. We are now playing the ball on the deck and keep possession well and look a very comfortable team throught, on the ball. Let managers belittle us. We are going to be In that top 6 come May as a minimum. Dont bet against a top two finish either. Having watched todays game we could have had this game won by half time. Long before Forest decided to have a go. Btw I havent seen a team of players diving in the box to the extant Forest did today. The ref never looked interested in giving them a penalty. So why didnt he book the Forest player for diving time and again? So, our team costing a mere £10k is playing their expensive counterparts off the park. Taking points off the teams that will be in or around that top six come the end of the season. Se have the best manager outside of the Championship who is also The Greatest Living Yorkshireman. Dont know about you but I've got a warm Blue Glow tonight. Our time is coming round again. You'd better believe and be there to see it COYBs ...."In Mick We Trust"!

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