Town boss Mick McCarthy sees no reason why his players shouldn’t react to Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat to Derby just as they did to their only previous home loss this season, to local rivals Norwich City back in August.

Following the 1-0 reverse against the Canaries, the Blues quickly got back into form, going eight games without a defeat and then losing only one of the next 21 matches prior to the Rams’ visit to Portman Road.

“I don’t see why there shouldn’t be [the same reaction],” McCarthy said. “The lads are great, I’m very, very proud of them, the way they go about their business and where we are in the league. We just crack on, we get going again, no problems.”

McCarthy, whose team are now third, a point behind both leaders Bournemouth and second-placed Derby, says there’s no point in agonising over bad results.

“The players are disheartened because they’ve lost and I think perhaps sometimes after games when I’m being positive about how we’ve been and what we’ve done, they look at me and wonder whether I’m upset by the result,” he added.

“Well, yes I am, but I can’t do anything about that. Me worrying about the Derby result isn’t going to change anything, all it’s going to do is make me a growly, brooding presence on Monday morning and that’s never the case with me because it’s gone. I’ll prepare for Southampton now.”

Tickets for Wednesday’s FA Cup third round replay against the Saints, who yesterday won 1-0 at Manchester United, have continued to sell well, illustrating the feelgood factor around the club at present, despite Saturday’s minor setback.

McCarthy says that’s a stark contrast to the Town he joined in November 2012: “It’s lovely for the place. If you think of two years ago I thought there was just such an element of distrust about the players.

“There was a fair bit of excitement, I’d turned up, but it was a bit like ‘well, we’ll see what he does’.

“We beat Birmingham, lost 5-0 at Palace, beat somebody else, lost 6-0 at Leicester. There was never getting any momentum going, there was always that element of distrust about the club and where it was heading.

“And not a good feel towards it and that’s changed. And that’s down to player performances, that’s down to getting results. There’s a much nicer atmosphere around the town than there was.”

Photo: Action Images

alexsmith111 added 06:31 - Jan 12 Lets be fair we are 1 point from top and had an outstanding season so far, nothing to be ashamed of and we have good coaches who will continue to work there already evident magic. Nobody loses no games, not even Barcelona or Chelsea. Pick ourselves up and continue to play well. Bournemouth lost as well so we've lost no ground really anyway.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 06:38 - Jan 12 We are having a fantastic season - all for £10,000. If anyone is not happy with that, there's nothing I can say to convince you.
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kuyski added 06:59 - Jan 12 Before the season start,I Expectation we can challenge for playoff? But today the team is fight for automatic promotion!S0 I can't complaint for now anymore.
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Gingerblues added 07:39 - Jan 12 In many ways this is the big test now. We could come into our next league game off the back of 2 defeats. Promotion winning teams don't take that and go and win their next 3. No better chance with Milwall, Wigan and Brighton.
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bluefeast added 07:46 - Jan 12 Only concern is squad fatigue. We use less players than the rest of the top six. Our first 11 is a great unit , once that get weakens by a couple of changes in key areas it shows, So i wonder whether we should be looking to strengthen this month the same as the rest of the top 8 clubs are doing.
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warktheline added 07:51 - Jan 12 Very easy to erase those 5,6,7 nil thumpings and replace them with high expectations. take stock, and let's appreciate are current dwellings in Championship. Always nice to be in a positive trend, rather than negative, which we undoubtedly were under Dark Lord, and PJ.
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Mark added 08:01 - Jan 12 Saturday was a huge disappointment, but we are just one point off the top after a tough run of games. I still think we could be top of the league at the end of February given our fixtures (Millwall A, Brighton H, Wigan H, Rotherham A, Sheff Wed H, Fulham A, Reading H, Birmingham H).
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Guthrum added 08:30 - Jan 12 Not only did we bounce back from the defeat against Norwich, but even more impressively following the more comprehensive loss at Cardiff (the only team to put more than two past us this season so far), winning eight of the following eleven fixtures and losing none.
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Kirbmeister added 08:38 - Jan 12 The new year period is always a testing time for all teams with injuries, suspensions and fatigue. Also Mark don't assume the next few fixtures will be easier than our recent games, they will be just as tough, some teams fighting off relegation and Brighton and Sheff Wed are in form. We'll be ok but it's going to be tough and don't expect MM to have any money to spend, I doubt he will. We are building slowly.

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Fatboy added 09:45 - Jan 12 When you get 26 points from 10 games you afford yourself the luxury of being able to lose a big game and it not matter too much (although obviously I'd have preferred to have won). I'm sure at the start of the season we'd all have been happy to know that in January we would lose to Derby but only be one point off the top. Mick's said many times that the most important thing is how you react after a defeat. In this respect, I think the Southampton game is a welcome distraction after which the lads can concentrate on putting together another unbeaten run. It will also be interesting to see how Bournemouth react to losing at home to a mid-table team.

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Lightningboy added 10:27 - Jan 12 Fire 'em up again Mick/TC.
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NoelTheDub added 10:35 - Jan 12 bluefeast...I do agree that fatigue is going to be a huge problem for our small squad and on top of that the way MM wants our team to play. We work so bloody hard to get any result we are by a mile the hardest working side in this league.Young Bishop and Luke will struggle v hardened midfielders at times but we do have Bru and Ambrose maybe give them a start also Parr to give Chambo a break also Noel Hunt up top with Murf and Didsy behind them.Mick most weeks and it worked plays the same team but on sat for example Hunty for Tabb whats the difference or Noel Hunt going on the wing why or on other days Salmon for Murf no change there.Yes we do have a small squad but we do have options that are not used IMO.Again its been a great season and MM has proved me and others on here very wrong and long may it last but if fatigue is an issue dont leave it to late Mick.Good luck boys on wed .COYB.

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blueherts added 11:00 - Jan 12 Bluefeast hit nail on the head Hallmark of an MM team and certainly ours is the work rate We have used less players than anyone else in top six and especially over the xmas period it will take toll Dont forget Derby played Rochdale and we played Soton away , incl Luke Hyam - yes we have a week rest but on back of run of tough games and with pretty much same line up it is not surprising we have an 'off day' For those 'misguided fans' who after Saturday decided to have a dig at Hyam , comparing him unfavourably to Will Hughes - clueless about Football Their midfield out did ours - end off One game , one result and a narrow defeat Some 'Fans' must have short memories if they do not remember our 'off days' afew years back ..6-0 , 5-0 ..7-1 !!! and there are more We do not lose like that 1-0 vs Norwich and Derby - both Top six teams I would like to see three additions in the window - defence , midfield and up front Esp up front I think Bru is a player we can def use more of in second half of season Wednesday will be one to go out and enjoy , full house , live on TV under lights against a team that just won at Man U - great test But the real key games are the next three league games - teams fighting for survival Great job MM and TC COYB!

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Kirbmeister added 11:25 - Jan 12 Millwall have a tough away cup game Wednesday away to Bradford so they wont be getting much rest either.
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blueherts added 12:03 - Jan 12 Think we should all remind Vicars that we , ITFC , are a CLIENT of iPro , their main sponsor - he should think before he tweets
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coolcat added 18:07 - Jan 13 Good insight about Mick as Manager and leader. Has to be strong for the team else what good is he? His honesty and integrity separates him from other Managers. If something's wrong he'll say so. He doesn't hide behind excuses, which is a sign of failure.
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