Town boss Mick McCarthy admitted that the Blues may have been fortunate to claim a point from their 2-2 draw with Huddersfield, despite having been two goals in front. The Blues manager called on fans to get behind his side following an angry exchange with supporters behind the dug-out at the final whistle.

“Maybe we were fortunate to come away with a point in the end,” McCarthy said. “Huddersfield have played well.

“They changed their system to stop us and we were 2-0 up when they were playing the 3-5-2.

“They went 4-4-2 and it changed the momentum of the game, although the penalty’s the thing that has changed the momentum of the game.

“They were just starting to play well, we were trying to get the subs on to counteract their shape. And they got a penalty and then it swung completely in their favour.”

The Town boss had no complaints regarding the penalty decision awarded against skipper Luke Chambers for a foul on Grant Holt: “It was a penalty. Grant Holt was bumping and barging all afternoon, which is the way that he plays, fair play to him, he’s been a good player, he still is.

“I think the two of them had hold of each other in the box but when the defender’s facing his own goal and he’s still got hold of him, then he’s going to give a penalty for it.”

He added: “I’ve been there. I think Luke was playing against a good player who has taken advantage of grabbing hold and then he’s got spun around and he’s made sure he’s still got hold of him. It happens when you’re playing against good players.”

Regarding his confrontation with some fans behind the dug-out after the final whistle was greeted by boos, McCarthy said: “It’s the way it is at the end of the game when you’ve lost a two-goal lead. It was just something that was said to me that irked me. It doesn’t matter, it was frustrating at the end of the game.”

He says he can understand supporters’ frustrations after the Blues failed to hold onto a lead for the fourth successive game and with his side now winless in five.

“I can,” he said. “But it’s the same squad of players that everybody was lauding for costing nothing and getting us in the top six and everybody enjoys that when it’s going really well. And when it’s going really well things drop for you.

“When it’s changed a little bit, which is has for us, why? Have we all suddenly become bad players, bad managers, bad coaches? No.

“We’re having a little bit of a tough period and I think that’s when everybody has to get behind us and not against us and think suddenly everything’s wrong. Because it’s not.

“I try and keep myself on that even keel when it’s just starting to go a little bit the other way how are you going to change it?

“I’ll tell you how you’ll change it, it’s by supporting people, making sure they keep doing the right things.

“As much as I was angry in the dressing room afterwards, I’ll come in Monday, I’ll watch the game and I’ll be back at what I should be.”

He says Huddersfield employing a 3-5-2 formation came as a surprise but wasn’t too much of a problem: “A little bit but that didn’t bother me because if they had been playing 3-5-2 I would have played 4-3-3 exactly the same.

“So that didn’t bother me at all, that didn’t cause any upset. They came here last year with Mark Robins playing 3-5-2 and we played 4-3-3 and they had to change almost immediately to stop us because they were rampaging forward and we left three up against them and it was a problem.

“I thought they handled it better today. I was a bit surprised but I don’t believe anybody or anything about players, injuries or teamsheets until I go in the referees’ room at 2 o’clock. I believe nobody, I believe nothing anybody tells me.”

Terriers manager Chris Powell was delighted with his team’s display, even when they were behind: “I’m very pleased with the performance, I was even at 1-0 at half-time.

“At 2-0, obviously you think it might not be your day, but we passed the ball really well and fashioned some really good chances in the first half.

“We needed to hit the target, Gerken made a good save from Nahki Wells but then we conceded from a set play.

“We worked on it and spoke about the strengths of Ipswich and we know that’s a big strength of theirs.

“At half-time I said to the players that I knew we could get something from the game if we were on the front foot. But then they scored the second goal.

“But what was pleasing was the character of the players, they know they can push forward and can get results, whether it’s one point or three.

“The good thing today was that there was an impact from two subs [Harry Bunn and Sean Scannell] as well, so I’m really pleased.

“And we managed to get Grant Holt through the 90, knowing his history with Norwich and Ipswich.”

Regarding the penalty decision, he added: “The referee gave it, it’s a pen. I’m glad he gave it and we scored. Sometimes they go for you, sometimes they don’t.

“I think it was a pen, but I haven’t seen it again. It got us back into a game I think we deserved something from.”

Photo: Action Images

bohslegend added 22:28 - Oct 25 *moaners
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bohslegend added 22:30 - Oct 25 *moaners
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bohslegend added 22:31 - Oct 25 ;) so true it needed to be said twice
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kiwiblue added 00:00 - Oct 26 No impact from the bench yet all the impact possibilities are bench warming or on loan. Wake up and smell the roses MM experiment now please. COYB.
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marco007 added 06:02 - Oct 26 Dinosaur manager, dinosaur tactics and yet another insipid, uninspiring performance. I think our fans have every right to complain about the lack of quality when it comes to paying our hard earned money to watch such drivel. Yes, as supporters we have to be loyal but at the same time we can only take so much. I am just fed up watching other teams play so much better e.g Rotherham, Huddersfield, Forrest, Cardiff, Sheffield Wednesday. These are not great sides but they are far more entertaining than our bunch. I have a solution.........if we want to carry along with this strategy, let's oust MM and bring in Tony Pullis

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Jimmy86 added 06:51 - Oct 26 Bohslegend, we played poorly yesterday, that you cant deny. Mick has done a great job with a limited budget and generally this season there has been a marked improvement on the pitch. But yesterday's performance was like watching us last season. It was pedestrian, aimless and we didnt take enough care when in posession. We sold each other short when passinf the ball to another blue shirt and it was just a bit disjointed. Now this is being realistic, its not moaning, nor is it blindly following, which the likes of you and certain others subscribe to and label anyone who doesnt a "moaner/realist" or not a "true fan". Now bearing in mind we have been dropping points from winning positions, which was an occuring theme last season, would mean we are not being clinical enough to finish teams off, or we are not defending properly until the final whistle. When I found out bournemouth stuffed birmingham 8-0 I asked the question out loud, could we have beaten birmingham by that much in that situation?? Good teams, are clinical, if they are 2-0 up they look to score a 3rd or a 4th they twist, instead of stick, which is what we tend to do and is why we come unstuck

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yorksblue added 08:13 - Oct 26 Subs n impact. So Williams didn't come off the bench at Sheffield Wed and dominate the game until he was injured.
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loudnproud added 08:41 - Oct 26 It was without saying very disappointing to get very little from a two goal lead at home. However those supporters who only show their faces whenever our backs are against the wall do carry an opinion for after all they want what is good from their football club too, Some may not fully agree with some of the comments, But belittling them is not the answer either. I believe that this squad is starting to become found out....I believe MM and his tactics are also becoming open and predictable. MM has indeed put together a squad who can challenge on a very tight budget and for this i praise him enormously. I believe it is time for MM to become unpredictable and have more belief in his fringe players to maybe have an impact on a game when it needs it. Too many times Town hoofed it forward without showing some composure on the ball or the game. I simply say this.....If you have got a squad of 18 plus good players....Use them.......Jose Murhinio is a class manager because he is unpredictable...Enjoy the season

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StochesStotasBlewe added 09:34 - Oct 26 Jimmy86, Spot on. Bohslegend, The "moaners" you keep rattling on about only post what they see, win, lose or draw.
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coolcat added 10:00 - Oct 26 No-one ever said it was going to be easy. Contentious penalty , poor refereeing & missed chances. Frustrating more than anything. But 1 loss in 10 doesn't happen by just sheer luck & just 5 pts frm the top. Important to get behind the team good/bad times. Looking to the next game now.
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TimmyH added 11:08 - Oct 26 Don't worry about us trying to beat Birmingham 8-0 if we were in the same situation, we haven't scored more than 2 goals in any game this season. Trying to remember the last time we 'thumped' a team - maybe 3-0 away to Doncaster on Boxing Day?
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ChestnutSe added 11:38 - Oct 26 Onwards and upwards. It's a long season and we did not lose today. Thought we were fortunate to be 2-0 up but great play from Simthy, McGoldrick and Berra for our goals. Thought their second goal was great, really hit us on the break following a superb throw from their keeper. My mate Deadly went in via turnstile 45 today and apparently we never lose when he does that so I was always confident we would not lose today, even at 2-2 and under the cosh. My only suggestion if I was manager (which I'm not and obviously not qualified for) is that I would have just slotted Tommy in at left back and left the rest of the defence as it was. Parr looks to be right footed to me and Chambers and Berra were going great together. I would have thought one change would be better than 3 changes at the back. Thought Berra was superb today. I know we love to hate Holt but what a competitor he is. Cheats, tricks and 100% commitment, what a handful for our defence but they did great. I also was wondering where the likes of Henshall, Collinson and Stuart are. The 2 lads who came off looked done it. It was a very hard fought and physical game today epitomised by Holt really and we gave as good as we got so well done to the lads. A well deserved point.

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theobald1985 added 12:29 - Oct 26 poor display of long ball football with nothing more expansive thrown in. I ahve always been critical of MM as I dont like his style of play and whole football philosophy. I actually though he had become a bit more adventurous of late but he seems to have reverted to type and cannot seem to grasp that when protecting a lead we should try and play in there half rather than dropping deep to defend the game out and inviting the other team on to us. We put ourselves under pressure and given that whatever anybody says about transfer fees mick has been allowed to bring some good players of his choosing in who will be on decent money I would expect better. He was also allowed to keep 2 players who we could have sold for over 10 million so we should show a little more ambition as we should beat huddersfield at home

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NoelTheDub added 13:42 - Oct 26 bohslegend The only thing you can say about yesterday and I saw the game is we could be Birmingham or Leeds how sad a comment is that.As our team stands on that evidence yesterday we wont tear anyone apart we dont play players that could possibly do that.As it took you 5 or 6 hours to drum up a sad comment concentrate on our team and what clearly wrong 1 defender out and 2 changes made,back to Skuse Hynm partnership dosent work and wont, no width and icing on the cake HOOFBALL up to 2 good strikers.How many times do I say im not going to hammer our team but as this crazy league unfolds it clear if MM was more positive and went for ita bit god knows were we could be.Taking off forward players and putting on defencive ones as seen how many times dosent work so why does he bloody stick with it or can he not see this.Everyone in the ground including my son predicted what was going to happen but MM as you say is the boss is he wrong you tell me..

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timleatham added 19:36 - Oct 26 I was at the game a disagree with the posts that some have made that the substitutions were the reason for us losing. We were 2-0 up but not playing well and I think Mick should have changed the shape and tactics earlier. Midfield were being totally bypassed by long balls and we did not keep hold of the ball. Tabb and Parr should have done better to stop Scannell who skinned them both and set up the second goal. I think Mings would have done better. It was a bad day at the office. I am sure next game they will be back to normal ways.

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LWNR2013 added 20:36 - Oct 26 Def agree that Parr looks more natural on the right and had a bit of howler yesterday, but never stopped working. Anyone who thinks that was a sh1te performance have short memories - 13 points more than 31/10/12.
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TimmyH added 17:31 - Oct 27 Hahaha! - like the way you measure what we've done this season with the worst start to a season we've had in years under Jewell a few seasons ago!! that really is scraping the bottom of the barrel if your going to do that.
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walberswicks added 17:36 - Oct 27 NB to @bogsleg we don't buy players anymore , we see who turns up at the training ground with their kit.
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