Town boss Mick McCarthy was left bemoaning missed chances and poor defending as the Blues were defeated 2-0 at Rotherham United.

Daryl Murphy failed to take two early opportunities and had a header cleared off the line, while Millers keeper Adam Collin made an impressive save from skipper Luke Chambers.

Goals from Matt Derbyshire and ex-Blues loanee Conor Sammon netted the goals for the Millers, both from set pieces.

“We had the first chance, the first couple of chances, and of all people for them to fall to it was Murph, the top scorer and you’d expect him to score,” McCarthy said.

“Maybe having just come back after his time away, it dulls the senses slightly.

"That chance came early in the game, yes they’ve had their warm-ups, but I thought we were OK in the first 15 minutes and I didn’t see what came coming, I didn’t see us defending that badly, to be honest.

“The game was going nowhere, they scored from the freekick which was poor marking from us, which isn’t like us."

Having brought on Freddie Sears and Teddy Bishop seven minutes after the restart the Blues had their best spell following McCarthy’s half-time team-talk.

“As always, if we’re one behind [we tell them that] there are certain things that we could do better. And I thought we did that.

“We passed it better, we were a bit more considered, but even doing that I thought we were a bit more aggressive in how we played.”

He added: “When we conceded the second it was probably just after our best spell. The keeper’s made a good save, they headed one off the line, we’ve had chances, but if we defend like that and lose our markers that’ll cost us.

“We had momentum at that stage but we didn’t take our chances, that was the difference.

“It was a good save, it was a good header off the line, I can’t knock that, they’ve done their jobs. We’ve let them get away from us with the second corner. But I have to say, I thought Rotherham played well.

“There’s nothing special, strange or unusual about the deliveries, we should have dealt with them better.”

It was perhaps inevitable that Sammon should be amongst the scorers having spent the first half of the season on loan from Derby at Town.

“I was going to say it’s Sod’s Law, maybe I should say it was Murphy’s Law,” McCarthy continued. “But if he gets that chance because we don’t mark properly then he’ll put it in the net.

“I thought Conor played well, he looks like he’s played games and he’s back at it. I’m disappointed it was against us but good luck to him because he’s a great lad.”

Rotherham manager Steve Evans was delighted with his side’s display: “I think if you take it over the 95 minutes or so I think it was a wonderful performance full of all the things that we’re good at.

“Good on the ball, good in possession, fantastic industry from everyone in a Millers shirt. That’s always more difficult against an Ipswich side.

“We made a mistake and they should perhaps have been one up with less than a minute on the clock.

“We took 10 or 15 minutes to settle ourselves down and maybe we stood off them in that first 15 minutes and gave them too much respect.

“They’re a side which Mick McCarthy has put together who have real quality so you can’t over respect them. They’ve got some absolutely outstanding players I’ve no doubt they’ll bounce back because they’re full of good players.

“The overall view is that we’ve beaten an excellent side and very good football club backed by tremendous support.”

Photo: Action Images

dukey44 added 18:48 - Feb 7 Mick im not manager but i think the back four needs changing oh about a month back!! COYB
4

essex57 added 18:48 - Feb 7 The best place for you bluefeast hampshire whats wrong with you lot yes there is plenty wrong at the moment but MM does not become a bad manger overnite who would you prefer to get us back in the winning way Roy Keane Paul Jewell come on get behind the team and mm all this knee jerk reaction doesn't do anybody any good
0

76blue added 18:49 - Feb 7 Awful result today but so much negativity. We've had an outstanding season til last 5/6 games and this is where we as fans have to stay strong and support the team to help us to get back to winning ways. We can't turn on mick after what he's done. IN MICK WE TRUST
3

bluefeast added 18:50 - Feb 7 We are predictable ,easy to play agaist with players who have punched above weight ,but on the basis 5 of them have not for the last 6 games means changes ,and if MM doesnt change things we will finish way outside the top 6. If we make the top 6 credit to them all as overachievment over 46 games is tough, when you look at 6 of the top 7 winning it just shows how far behind we are.

2

essex57 added 18:50 - Feb 7 The best place for you bluefeast hampshire whats wrong with you lot yes there is plenty wrong at the moment but MM does not become a bad manger overnite who would you prefer to get us back in the winning way Roy Keane Paul Jewell come on get behind the team and mm all this knee jerk reaction doesn't do anybody any good
-1

Bluespeed added 18:53 - Feb 7 What the hell is going on ? Stop defending this FFP Mick & tell it as it is !has ME lost the faith ? Do we want promotion ? Are the current squad really good enough? , do you really ignore fan web sites ? Answers please but I won't hold my breath, beat the SCUM for chrst sake !!!!!
1

HALLSJ added 18:59 - Feb 7 Absolutely fed up since start of Jan, whats going wrong. The only highligh was a 5er had Derby, Boro, Norwich, Watford and Bournemouth to win
2

Lathers added 19:04 - Feb 7 Missed signings and poor January transfer policy
3

essex57 added 19:04 - Feb 7 I read as usual all your negativity towards MM who could do a better job with what his got to play with
-1

JCBLUE added 19:16 - Feb 7 Really disappointed with recent results, let's hope we pick up form again, starting against Sheffield Wednesday. Mick, 433 with Parr, Bishop & Sears starting ........ PLEASE!!
7

SMS added 19:19 - Feb 7 I don't know what to say? Not about the result, more about the idiots that post on here. I'm lost for words. We are having a wobble. Every team has one (Man City). Its about how we recover. We lost to Derby, which was nullified by the Forrest result. We lost Brighton and Rotherham - 2 games and its like the end of the World. FFS. Absolutely rediculious. People forget where we've come from in the last 6 years (or have no idea). We've been having the time of our recent lives. If you don't like it, jog on. We don't need you! Together. We are Ipswich.

-3

Norwichbeater added 19:19 - Feb 7 The hoof ball has got more intense and the team effort a lot less. The teams that won today played to win. We played to contain again. He changed attacking team to a defending one for the Southampton game and has forgot to change back!
9

GiveusaWave added 19:20 - Feb 7 Wish people would understand the difference between negativity, optimism and realism. Most of the forum posters here are being realistic. Yes, a bit of optimism can be good sometimes: but it's hard to be optimistic when we play football worthy of Wmbledon FC in the 80's (minus the craziness). If we are going to play football like this (hoof ball) we need more than Chambers and Murphy to make it work. Our team looks exhausted and desperately in need of reinforcements. The current squad is not good enough for promotion. Yes, we have a good, small squad. But we are 5 or 6 quality players from being Championship Heavyweights. We need midfielders who can drive in goals from 25 yards. We need a right-back (which will allow Chambers to return to cd). We need a replacement for Murphy (preferably a Peter Crouch type who can get on the end of the hoofballs). We need someone who can play the sweeper-role so we can mix and match tactics. We need to work out what the hell is going on with Paul Taylor (who is still being paid a great deal of money). We are far from being a Burnley, Derby, Middlesborough or a Leicester.

11

prebbs007 added 19:21 - Feb 7 Ok. are all the "in Mick we trust" people starting to question themselves. The team is NOT GOOD enough. The selection from the man you "trust" was again the issue today and for last few games. How can you "trust" a manager who is too stubborn to learn from mistakes. I am not advocating sacking MM, that would be daft with what he has done for the club, BUT he has to get out of his rigid I am right everyone else is wrong thoughts. We do not have the players for 4-4-2. Let's be honest about some of the individuals from today's starting 11. Chambers is not a full back and is being exposed in every game now. Smith is not a right sided centre half, he is so one footed, forwards only have to close one side and he panics as he gets hurried. He lets the ball bounce far too often and is a weak link in a flat back 4. Mings for a big man heads the ball like it might hurt him, he is so much better going forward. This smacks of a set of players that must be a back 5 not 4. Play Parr and Mings as wing backs with chambers Berra smith as back 3 and smith must be on the left. The midfield lacks everything you need from a midfield. Width pace power strength passing goals ability creativity. None of the 4 ( apart from possibly Bru ) who started today would get in any of the teams in the top 8. Anderson never beats a man to deliver a cross. Tabb is truly shocking and is league 2 standard at best. Skuse is so limited apart from as a spoiler. I know that's his job but he must provide more. With a back 5 we should play Bru Bishop and Didzy as central 3. Our forwards have done well but murphy has had one great half a season to rely on him is unfair and unacceptable. Didzy has failed to reach his own high standard. We have to play Murphy with Sears and McG behind. If MM sticks with the team that started today we will do well to finish in top half let alone top 6. We have been worked out and our hoofball tactics are shocking. Running around a lot and working hard is not enough. You need some quality and we are desperately lacking. Others have strengthened and to say we can't get better is rediculous. Wake up MM & ME, and admit you are wrong and do something about it before you waste tge position we are in. We have done fantastic to be where we are, and we can still achieve something fantastic this season but not if you hide behind FFP or rely on "the lads that have been terrific" COYB

14

essex57 added 19:28 - Feb 7 Well said sms
-1

Vizslaraner added 19:34 - Feb 7 Absolutely sick to the stomach! Although there has been many dark days I'm the last ten years this week has been the worst because we could have finally done it! After last weeks game I said I could the scum putting us out of the top six on March 1st, but now I don't think it will be that long. Truly shocking and nothing left in the tank. I don't want to slaughter mick after all the good he has done but stubbornness is his worst trait. He often says the more you shout the less likely I am to do it! It is obvious to the vast majority that chambers needs to go right centre half and parr in at right back. We need to either play 433 or 532 or even 5311. He must see it. Bishop in with bru and one other, and Sears must start with murph. I know ppl will not agree with me but I think didzy has chucked his toys out at not being allowed to move and being outshone by murph! He is disinterested to say the least and never goes to congratulate other's wen they score! Perhaps forest fans were right, I hope not. I have a friend who is a wolves supporter and he said mick is a dinosaur who is solid but will never take u to the next level! Maybe he is right as he cannot see what is staring us on the face. I really hate being negative but we arnt going anywhere this year and by not strengthening last week it has put us way behind the leading pack. I am dreading the scum as I just no it's going to be another hiding on TV and they will love it! We need to win Tuesday or we could fall away so quick and be mid table before we know it! Gutted! COYB

5

BlueDazza added 19:41 - Feb 7 Yawn, same old excuses! Must have a standard set of excuse cards ready for each game!
3

Surco72 added 20:10 - Feb 7 Your bigging up of the opposition bores me , your predictable excuses afterwards bore me , saying you are happy with your small squad then saying they look tired bores me , your team selection of the same players however they play or whoever the opposition bores me but the worst thing of all is the so outdated style of football and ability to change is so boring to watch and spend money on

15

Walk_the_Wark added 20:27 - Feb 7 Vizslaraner- some of us have said that all along! Mick has done us proud, but yes he is a dinosaur, and he can't take us up a level. Nice bloke with a system, tried and tested- but thats it. Which is why tactically everybody's screaming the house down.
3

GGblocker added 20:43 - Feb 7 The Best midfielder I have seen this season seems to have been forgotten .............what has Darren Ambrose done wrong ? If he is not fit enough for 90 minutes play him until he gets tired.
6

Philip added 20:46 - Feb 7 'he can't take us up a level' - MM's track record with Wolves and Sunderland speaks otherwise
3

TimmyH added 20:46 - Feb 7 'Missed chances and poor defending, all we need now is 'non creative midfield' and we have the full house!
2

wychyblue added 20:50 - Feb 7 Albert Einstein said in his definition of 'insanity " is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results". Big MM seems to fit this definition by selecting the same side over and over and unfortunately is getting the same results .....poor performances. Jon Parr must wonder what he has to do to stay in the side . Every time he plays we have done well and he the gets reverted back to the bench . MM's stubbornness and lack of flexibility /style of play may just ultimately cost us but let's hope not. Still a lot of points to play for but now a dose of realism , look at the other teams above us , they play better football than us over a season so let's hope we can compete for the play offs. Confidence is also important in football and we need to find some quick

6

oldegold added 20:57 - Feb 7 After the Charlton home match won 3-0 we were euphoric but I always advised caution starting with MM's under par team selection against Southampton.We never get a decent cup run under him..total waste of time...every year the team he selects for the cups are below par. From that moment we have been living on borrowed time and his shortcomings as a tactician have come to light.he is the worst strategist since John Duncan ..absolutely no imagination,no variation and stubbornness in sticking to a mediocre formation when it is patently clear it is not working.Last Saturday against Wigan I witnessed the most guileless and witless team strategy in all the years I have supported Town..against the penultimate team in the division with 1 win in 13...desperately needing to win and having the teams around us show what can happen if you are ostentatious and daring we mustered 2 shots, played hoofball,never varied the tactics when it was clear that hoofball was not working and we played with one recognised striker..it beggared belief.We played catenaccio at home against Wigan.... . When we were riding high a few weeks ago I wrote that with MM's lack of tactical acumen we would be caught out.I remember last season when we had to beat Bournemouth to stay in the promotion race,he showed his lack of devil but playing dull hoofball and gave the initiative to the opponents and that was our promotion chance gone. Once again he has been caught napping and we will be lucky to stay in the top half let alone make the play offs. Fortune in the Championship always favours the teams who attack and can vary the formation but aren't afraid to risk. Very disappointed and it will get worse with his limited tactical nous.

4

BillBlue added 21:08 - Feb 7 "Town boss Mick McCarthy was left bemoaning missed chances and poor defending as the Blues were defeated 2-0 at Rotherham United." Wrong aagain mMck, this was 100% down to you and the problem is you are not bright enough to see it!
7

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls