Town boss Mick McCarthy admitted that the Blues were “very poor” during their 2-1 defeat at Huddersfield. Nahki Wells and James Vaughan gave the Terriers a 2-0 half-time lead and Town were unable to add to Luke Varney’s goal three minutes after the restart.

“We were very poor but when you say that it takes away from the other team’s performance and I can’t because I thought that Huddersfield played well,” he said.

“It’s easy for me to say that we were poor, which we were. We weren’t as competitive as we’ve been all season and that’s been a real hallmark of my team and we were nowhere near as competitive.”

He added: “I thought we started well, we hit the post, we had a good chance. I thought we were settling into the game and then we gave a goal away and it seemed to dent everybody’s confidence, knock everybody.

“It certainly helps when you get the first goal. Had we scored when Tabby had his chance, it would have been a lot different.

“I think it affected Zeki as well for the first half, that really put it on him and Sean Scannell was having a good time.

“But, of course, the first goal changes everything. You can relax. And we didn’t play well and then the second goal left us with a bit much to do and although we had a bright start to the second half, we never really followed that up.”

McCarthy admits he was annoyed by the performance but says he’s not one for throwing teacups: “I was pretty angry but I don’t throw things around because it really is counterproductive, I don’t see people responding to that.

“People look at the floor and say they’re hanging their heads in shame, that’s not the case, they’re just saying ‘Come on, shut up, let’s get on with it’.

“Strong words were spoken rather than shouting, and the same at full-time. Screaming and shouting at people doesn’t get a reaction and I’m not going to start now.

“I did walk off, I had to walk off to calm down slightly after the game. I would normally shake everybody’s hand coming off but that wasn’t the case, I waited until I got in the dressing room.”

He says that while Chris Wood and Richard Chaplow were subbed at half-time, anyone else could have received the hook.

“The two lads that have come off have not been regular starters, I feel for them because I could have taken off any two off at half-time but I chose those two,” he added.

“Teddy Bishop wouldn’t have got through a full game today anyway. I decided to change it, it’s not worked so I take the responsibility for that.”

The Town boss says the Blues are now behind his personal points target for the current games.

“I was thinking privately beforehand that we’ve got this game and two home games, would I take seven points from them?" he said. "Yes, I would have taken coming here and drawing and winning our two home games.

“It’s put a massive pressure on the two home games now and we’ve going to have to find something at Wolves or something at Blackburn, that’s made it even more important.”

Despite the disappointment of the defeat, he doesn’t expect it to significantly impact on Saturday’s game against Blackpool.

“I can hardly come in here and be ‘happy slappy’, can I, because I don’t feel like that and I won’t feel like it tomorrow,” he continued.

“I’ll go in with TC and watch the game at seven o’clock in the morning and start repairing myself and get ready for Saturday.

“That’s not happened too often with us and I don’t fear for Saturday’s game at all.”

McCarthy gave Jonny Williams his third debut from the bench but warns that the on-loan Crystal Palace midfielder is still a long way from full match fitness.

“I’d like to have him starting and had him fully fit but in terms of how he is, it was tough for him because he’s not match hardened.

“He hasn’t played, that’s the first time he’s played since we played Watford in November.”

The Blues boss also revealed that David McGoldrick has suffered another setback and now seems likely to miss the rest of the season: “He’s injured, he hurt his thigh in training on Saturday morning.

“He’s had a bad injury and it keeps niggling away at him, sadly. We missed him at the end of last season and we’ve suffered again this season, I reckon.”

Huddersfield boss Chris Powell felt it was probably his team’s best display since he took over in September.

“It was a first class performance by my team today,” he said. “I think our display in the first period was arguably the best we’ve played since I’ve been manager.

“We scored two but we quite easily could have scored more and for us to do that having played less than 48 hours ago is a testament to my players. I’m very proud to be their manager the way they played.”

Photo: Action Images

Warkys_Tash added 19:37 - Apr 6 We are chucking it away :-(
1

essex57 added 19:37 - Apr 6 90% of the posters on here make me puke i hope mm doesnt jog on if he did i wonder what dynamic youthfull manager could or would want to try and manage our team on the meagre resources available plus put up with all the crap the so called fans spew out as soon as we lose.
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TimmyH added 19:38 - Apr 6 Has Mick ever blamed himself this season for possibly getting the starting 11 wrong or perhaps even his tactics?...also 'I thought that Huddersfield played well' more like we allowed them to play well Mick with no incisiveness or creativity to our play! Anybody know why we've got Williams on loan with a few games to play if he's not fully fit?
5

stormypetrel added 19:39 - Apr 6 Mick, you best get your noggin' around that the majority of supporters expect play offs this season....that was based on your history, your experience and the way the club was progressing....I could cuttingly say, that your salary equally suggested the expectation that you would get the club into the play offs...and you have had the backing of the owner as all these free transfers don't come without some tasty player salaries.....but you can't odds injuries and McGoldrick has been a decisive, crippling blow....however, the expectation of play offs is real, tangible and well placed...anything beyond the play off first round would be a bonus I accept..but get your head round the expectation Mick, because supporters frustrations need respecting.....and today, post match they are bubbling.....

2

jas0999 added 19:39 - Apr 6 Sorry, but reality check. Coming into 2015 we had a real chance of promotion. A real chance. Forget other clubs results from now on, it was IN OUR HANDS. However, many realised we needed a modest investment into the playing squad in the January window. Brighton away and then Wigan at home backed that thought. Now, I don't care who was to blame; MM or ME. But the failure to invest has, as expected, proved costly. We are a hard working squad. Effort second to none. But that is not enough. Today's starting midfield unlikely to get into any of the top 16 Championship clubs. The failure to invest needs to be answered by the club. Recent loans too little, too late. ME wants me to spend more on my season ticket, yet he seems less keen to spend himself. Today was pathetic.

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blueboy1981 added 19:39 - Apr 6 ..... same old garbage - just a different day. Who could justify this team selection - with any hope or intention of winning ??
11

carsey added 19:41 - Apr 6 Wasn't there today but it was apparent from the team selection how town were going to play and Alex Mathie on Radio Suffolk was struggling to say anything positive about anyone. As others have said I am grateful to MM and TC for getting us out of the mire two years ago and turning us into possible promotion material but the style and entertainment is horrendous. I truly believe we have players at the club (not loanees) who could play decent attractive attacking football if coached to do so but that is not the McCarthy way and no amount of complaining by supporters will change that. Promotion this season, were it to happen would be good for one reason only and that is the money that would come into the club but I fear for us getting battered every single week and I'm certain the heaviest Premier League defeat of 9 - 0 which Ipswich hold vs Man Utd would be beaten more than once. I was at Brentford on Boxing Day and felt it really was going to be our season. Since then it's been getting progressively worse and now I can hardly bring myself to go.

4

DurhamTownFan added 19:41 - Apr 6 I appreciate what everyone is saying about what a great job mick has done, but I cannot believe how absolutely terrible we were today. Like I've said before: when you win playing long ball nobody minds but if your energy levels are low and you play badly is looks fkin terrible! I can't BELIEVE that 11 professional footballers lack the intelligence to get it on the deck and ask for it on the floor a bit more. For me, MM takes the blame for today by obviously setting us up long ball without enough energy. We played 10x better with Bish and sears on. Manager bottled it today by not going for it, and that rubbed off on the players who bottled it. Shattered from a long journey and very little pride to show for it.

10

rfretwell added 19:43 - Apr 6 Come on everyone, keep the faith for gods sake. Three points and a much better performance v Blackpool and things will look much better. Mings will be back too. Jonny will be that much fitter. BELIEVE
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DurhamTownFan added 19:46 - Apr 6 Another thing: chambers is one of our worst players of late. All he does is run around pumping his fist after a win. When he gets the ball the ONLY plan is to hash it into the channel. I'm sorry, but you'd be the first out of the door if we went up son. You're lucky it looks like you're contributing to falling short of top six
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toxtethblue added 19:52 - Apr 6 Why the friggin chuff does Tabb start and finish every game?! Is he Micks secret son?! His dead balls are woeful - have a watch of them again tomorrow MM ffs!!
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bluesince84 added 19:56 - Apr 6 No prob blueboy, sometimes think u n I are the only ones consistent on this. Get slated when we do n praised when they play digs@@t like today
0

delias_cheesy_flaps added 19:57 - Apr 6 What has got on my nerves for most of this season is the way our defence peddle backwards with opposition attackers bearing down from 50 yards out and we always wait until they're 30 yards closer to our goal and then try to make a tackle....I just don't get it!!! Make the bloody tackle 40 or 50 yards out, don't peddle backwards, just stand there and make the friggin tackle for christ sake. I believe it was Tommy Smith (AGAIN) who gave a fine example of this stupid tactic for their first goal this afternoon!!! The points this has cost us this season is just not funny, but moreover why is it still happening, it's a damn sight harder scoring from 40-50 yards out from a free kick than on the edge of our area?

2

Cheshire_Blue added 20:05 - Apr 6 Tabb didn't finish the game I watched but the effort put in would have been greater had he done so. The most under rated player at the club. Thank goodness the contributors on here represent a very small proportion of our supporter base, About 12 out of 20,000!
0

toxtethblue added 20:16 - Apr 6 True yes, youre right - he went off for Williams... I'll amend my comment to why does he start every game!?!
1

brittaniaman added 20:35 - Apr 6 Perhaps if you threw a few tea cups now and again it might relieve your pressure MM You just cannot be Mr Nice Guy all the time ????
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del45 added 20:38 - Apr 6 We were very poor , statment MM you picked this side so who's at fault why keep changing a successfull side you are the person who has lost us a top 6 playoff after today's results.
3

truthhurts added 20:38 - Apr 6 Win away to Watford and McCarthy is the best thing since sliced bread. loose against Huddersfield and 'we' want him to get the sack. hilarious
3

Bobby_Petta added 20:40 - Apr 6 The problem is Mick's stubbornness in sticking with the same players. He has done a brilliant job with the resources available but so have the likes of Brentford. I think we have a capable squad of players. The problem for a lot of fans is the style of football and this idea that a point away from home against the likes of Huddersfield is acceptable. We need natural wingers with pace and another creative midfielder, Bishop is going a top player but at his age can't be expect to play every game. Why he got Wood & Varney in when it's been Midfield that been bigest problem. Can't see the point in getting Williams back when his not fit. Please stop playing Chambers at fullback! Chaplow is ok but much the same as Tabb & Skuse. Whoever is in charge next season Need sort out midfield but as much as I like Mick and what he has done, don't think he'll change his style.

5

Bobby_Petta added 20:44 - Apr 6 Also is it only me but I do wish we took the cash for Mcgoldrick! think of the players we could have bought with the cash! sadly we wouldn't get half that now!
5

cartman1972 added 20:53 - Apr 6 I'm not going to waste too much time spelling out an essay except the team, management, board are useless c#nuts
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lonelyblue added 20:55 - Apr 6 I swore I'd never read the comments again, but I got curious. What kind of fans' forum is it in which every person that shows loyalty to the club's management ends up with a minus after their comment? (If we don't win, that is). I've read some very fair, balanced and intelligent comments on here today - good luck to all of you fine people - and you all seem to get slagged by this little gang of naysayers that dominate this site after any less-than-perfect performance. There are many, many very blue, very realistic, and very loyal Town fans who just think it's a good idea to back the club, its players and its management. Good for them.

3

TR11BLU added 21:20 - Apr 6 As most have said on here and most fans agree, why no Freddie? What does he have to do to start? Wood is just that, a lump of it. He offers less than nothing. Wood and Murphy,....... have a word with yourself Mick. Theres a vacancy at Wigan, Ill drive you there. As for that waste of space Fryers.....he was run ragged Friday and you pick him today, we could all see that was a disaster waiting to happen, and so it proved. Why bring Hewitt back? In fact why do I bother to spend time and money watching this rubbish unfold. Round pegs and holes, Ie Warburton this summer please. Thanks for keeping us up now move along please.

7

gino88 added 21:38 - Apr 6 "Very poor"- story of 2015 Mick! Bialkowski; Chambers; Smith; Berra; Fryers; Skuse; Tabb; Chaplow; Murphy; Varney; Wood. How many of those players would seriously get into the top 7 teams?? Chris Wood looks about 2 stone overweight, Tabb/Skuse/Chaplow all too similar and zero creativity, I can't even talk about the defence as it angers me too much. McCarthy is the 3rd longest serving manager in the Championship. Without a doubt, he has done a superb job with limited financial backing. My problem stems from his narrow mindedness, his failure to cope with players that may present egos, and his general style of football that will only ever see us finish in mid table land. There are aspiring young managers around the country who could push us to the next level. Building the team around Bishop and Sears is a must, and I just hope that Marcus Evans awakes someday soon to at least give Ipswich a chance of competing at the very top throughout a season.

2

braveblue added 21:51 - Apr 6 Negative team selection again. No surprise we lost. He went for a point. Why can't Bushop play 90 minutes even once? Sears dropped - just unbelievable. Skuse and Tabb will start Saturday. Appalling management.
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