Town boss Mick McCarthy admitted that his side didn’t defend the corners from which Aden Flint scored Bristol City’s two first half goals well enough as the Blues fell to a 2-1 defeat at Ashton Gate.

“It always is [frustrating] when you lose,” McCarthy said. “We didn’t defend them well enough.

“But on the counter side of that, I have to say, anybody watching them and teaching kids how to put corner kicks in and getting a bit of movement with big fellas, they were magnificent deliveries, which I can appreciate.

“I don’t like it because we’ve conceded but credit where it’s due, they were so difficult to deal with.”

McCarthy lined his side up in a rarely used 3-5-2 system, which the Town manager said was making the best use of the players available to him, given the lengthy injury list.

“Absolutely, to try and keep two strikers up front first and foremost and not go 4-3-3, having lost Skusey, Luke Hyam and Dougie, it’s a pretty fearsome three that for us in the middle of the park,” he added.

“It just left us a little fragile in that area as much as anything. I tried just to stiffen that up while trying to keep two strikers on the pitch.

“We’ve got the players for [3-5-2]. The three centre-backs can cope with it comfortably, a left-sider and a right-sider. We do suffer at times from having a left footer on the right-hand side but Tommy deserves to play.”

Later in the half he moved his team to 4-4-2: “We’ve gone behind, it’s needs-must then. That’s not me being tactically astute or clever or anything. I thought we did better off that, actually, we handled it better.”

Loanee Ben Pringle and and recent signing Kevin Foley were handed their debuts and McCarthy was happy with their performances.

“I was pleased with Ben,” he said. “He’s not played for quite a while, December. I was pleased with his contribution.

“It was difficult to come into that game when he’s not coming into ‘my team’, he’s not just replacing one and we’ve got all the other 10 players in there. He’s coming in when it’s been decimated a little bit.

“I thought he did well and I thought Kevin Foley was excellent and even better still when he went into midfield, I thought he had a great performance then.”

Regarding Brett Pitman, who netted his 10th goal of the season, once again from the bench, McCarthy says he can understand why the ex-Bristol City man is less than keen to be known as a super-sub.

“He wants to play,” the Town boss added. “He certainly helped us when he came on. And it was a great goal, to be fair to him. He won’t like the super-sub tag, I guessed that.”

McCarthy turned down the likelihood of him returning to the loan market with Jonathan Douglas back from suspension ahead of the next game at home to Hull a week on Tuesday and Luke Hyam closing in on a return from his calf problem.

“Dougie will be fit and I’m hoping Luke Hyam will be fit this week,” he continued.

Also on the mend is keeper Dean Gerken after his shoulder injury, but the ex-Colchester man seems unlikely to go straight back into the side with Bartosz Bialkowski in excellent form in the last two games in particular.

“He was targeting the Hull game, but I’ve had a keeper who has been magnificent again,” the Blues boss added. “We’re very lucky, I’ve got two really good goalkeepers.”

The result sees the Blues drop to eighth and McCarthy says he's as frustrated as supporters by Town's recent form which has seen them win just one of their last six games in all competitions.

“Absolutely, we want to be pushing for the top six and I’m frustrated and agitated myself and we want to get back to those lofty heights, but we’re going to have to play better than we did and defend the corners better than we did.”

Bristol City boss Lee Johnson was delighted with the way his first game in charge went: “It was good. I expected it, to be honest, as far as the tempo and the speed of our attacking play.

“The lads have been great in the first week, I’ve got some principles into them and I thought we were good value for it.

“Their keeper’s made a couple of great saves, we’ve had lots of opportunities, corners and decent play.”

He added: “I was pleased, it was heart in the mouth in the last 10 minutes, but I think if you watch the DVD back we were pretty comfortable.

“There are a few things I need to integrate, certainly the defensive system and some of the recovery runs that we make. But as a general rule, I can’t be too greedy, I’m delighted for a win against a very good side.

“The front two had died a little bit for us and had allowed them to get up a head of steam a little bit.

“We made the subs at the right time just like last week and they were effective. I thought they got hold of it, they gave us a platform and Kieran and Aaron worked their socks off up there which meant they couldn’t just pile balls in our box. A lot of it was pretty good and we move on now.”

Photo: Action Images

havinit69 added 09:39 - Feb 14 Atty, fair point and yes we may be debt free but you only have to look at teams like Portsmouth and Sheff Utd that will always be one of the better teams in league 1 and 2, but struggle to get out of it (especially Sheff Utd). I also believe that unlike Portsmouth, who sell out most weeks, we'd end up with crowds under 10k and it would be a long way/time back to the Championship. No one is happy with the lack of investment, but I'd rather be in the position we are now, with a small chance of promotion than not being any better off in League 2. It's no different than the Prem, teams like Stoke, WBA, Everton and many more are never likely to compete for the title (Leicester one exception in 20 odd years). All teams want success, it's just that some are in much better positions than others.

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ChrisFelix added 09:44 - Feb 14 Can the club let us know where the money from Cresswell & Mings is. This money should have bought 2/3 players to improve what was a top 6 side last May
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COYB11 added 09:55 - Feb 14 How you can claim that we are 'constantly taking backward steps' is beyond me. Granted, this season if we don't finish in the top 6 (we still have just as good a chance as anyone), that is a 'backward step'. However, look at the big picture, that would be the first backward step since Mick took charge. That's not bad going for his 3rd full season. I don't buy into the fact that we play 'poor long ball football'. I would personally rather watch us play with high intensity, high spirit and tempo over any other style. Those 3 last minute winners over the Xmas period were terribly boring weren't they? 'Lack of investment. No ambition!' I for one am proud that we aren't shelling out millions on players. Derby have spent £25m and they are 3 points better off than we are (no doubt their wage bill is at least 3 times the size of ours). Money doesn't buy success, we spent millions under Keane and it didn't work. Have some patience. All of you who are saying that we should 'blood the youngsters and take mid table' are deluded. There are 16 teams below us in the Championship who kill to be in our position right now. Let's not take our situation of being 3 points off the playoffs for granted. you're all entitled to your opinion but rather than slate the team, manager, owner etc and try and blight others with your horrifically negative views, keep it to yourself because it literally doesn't do the team any good.

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1psw1ch added 10:04 - Feb 14 This is pathetic,,after makeing the play offs last season we all had high hopes of going on that little bit further this season with a couple of new additions to the squad we could have done that but no we go and take a step backwards with signings that are not good enough for there own teams ,,,,this time last season we were second in the league now we are 8th and slipping slowly but surely down the table ,, anyway Ipswich till I die

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blues1 added 10:22 - Feb 14 Atty. If we went into administration again the club would be liquidated and, as u say would have to reform as others have. But we wouldnt be in the football league, would have to start in non league football, so no, that's not remotely an option. Ur right about the way the debt was bought Evans and by how much it had increased, but far from interest being paid back to him, he is putting money in to service that debt every season. Unless some1was willing to buy the club with this debt, the only way he gets his money back is for us to get promoted. So ne1 who thinks he has no ambition to do so is seriously misguided. And if some1was willing to buy the club we'd be in no better position regarding buying players as the debt would just transfer to the new owner

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blues1 added 10:37 - Feb 14 And Jas, I think you'll find the point being made to you is not that ur opinion isn't a valid one but u simply voice the same opinion every time we lose. Lack of investment had nothing to do with us losing this game for instance. The team we had out there should have been good enough to beat Bristol. The reason they didn't is because of poor tactics, players out of position, as always, and that iscdoen to one man, McCarthy. His comments on Smith is ludicrous. If he, as I've been saying for some time, that having smith playing on the right side causes us problems then play him on the left, where he should play. It's not rocket science. Get Chambers to right cb. And play Foley at rb. While I like Berra I don't think he's played as well this season, but whether it smith or Berra on the left, get a left foot right foot combination at centre defence. If someone misses out then so be it.

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Keaneish added 12:22 - Feb 14 COYB11 - you don't buy into the fact we play poor long ball football??? What would you describe our style as? It's the worst football I've ever seen at Portman Road so God knows what you think bad football is. Those last minute winner's you're referring to we're all during really poor games so if you're happy with that then good luck to you but you're in the minority I'm afraid.

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brittaniaman added 12:47 - Feb 14 Well the shoestring has finally broken !!! Did I hear right when Milne said money was available for MM to spend ????? BUT wasn't Micks reply was I am satisfied with what I have got ??? stubborn sod !! SO who do we Blame ??? not the Paying Fans I am sure !!! 2016 Not a good year so far 8pts out of 21pts plus going out of the the Cup so no nominations of Manager of the month MM. And the next game happens to be HULL !!! WOW AGAIN we have got 10 days rest, so let us take advantage of this short break !!! Teams are leap frogging us now,, it will now take 4pts. to get us in top six, GD poor now.

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maninashed added 12:58 - Feb 14 As I understand it the original £32m debt was bought off by Marcus Evans from Norwich Union at 20p in the pound. It is still in the accounts (at £32m) but cannot be included as a debt should the club be sold on. The agreement negotiated by Sheepshanks was that interest would not be charged on the original debt until we were in the Premiership. This would be done by paying out on 7% preferential shares that were part of the buyout. I can't remember if interest could be charged on subsequent debt but it probably wasn't discussed at the time (I don't suppose it occured to anybody that the debt could rise to the level it has). To say ME has not put money into the club is clearly nonsense as he has funded it all (now £80m+). Without that money we would have been bankrupt long ago. As for the money from Mings/Cresswell it is probably used to pay the wages. Ipswich are not the lowest payers in the league (ignoring those teams on parachute payment). We know from the court case that Chambers is on £6000 a week but that will probably only be his basic wage (less bonuses) and he will probably not be the biggest earner. You might note like ME but the true is that without him we would be in the s***. He might be worth £600m ish on paper but that will included the value of the company and is not necessarily a reflection of the cash he has available. There really is no point in whinging about the 'lack of ambition', ME is not going to pour addition millions into the club. He probably remembers what Magilton, Keane and Jewel did with it, and the football they served up. As for the hoofball all the teams in this league do it. It seems to have gone on for ever. I remember the football under John Duncan being much worse. Anyone remember Graham Harbey, David Lowe, Neil Woods, etc. The current players are much better. Unfortunately, I agree, they are not well used. Oh for a passing cental midfield player, a proper full back, etc. It's not going to happen so I will just dream of the past. At least it's relaxing as I'm of an age where heart attacks are a worry.

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brittaniaman added 13:22 - Feb 14 Also might I add about the game yesterday Why was there no defenders guarding the posts for the corners ???? too late now I know to be asking that question !!!!!
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karls_dad added 14:01 - Feb 14 We are just an embarrassment at the moment, nothing more nothing less, whatever we are paying the squad ? well its too much! lack of desire, ambition, etc, MM, seems to have lost interest and is just nother picking up his no doubt fat monthly cheque, i seriously hope that those up the A140 stay up this year as i would hate to think of what a derby scoreline would be with the squad they have compared to our bunch of want to be or never will be players! depressed just does not cover it, mid table finish, and for all those that said "this will be our year" i,m sorry it ain,t!

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dukey44 added 15:43 - Feb 14 But hang on the team doesnt need any additions as there was no one around better than what we got!!!!!!! Mick do us a favour......
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Seasider added 17:46 - Feb 14 Mick McCarthy's reputation proceeded him as far as I was concerned,as I knew what to expect;and boy he hasn't disappointed.This was ok for the first season as we escaped relegation;but we must remember that this was with most of the players he had inherited. We did very well in the first half of last season;but have flatlined somewhat since then. Two of the things he said he wouldn't do he has done ie playing players out of position and loaning a lot of players.His inactivity in the last two January's are inexplicable to most but Mick says thats because his squad is strong enough,which events have proved to be wrong. This month he did something unusual for him.Ryan Fraser had a tight hamstring after Reading game so he goes and plays him against QPR for the full game,and now he is out for at least 6 to 8 wks. On Saturday they won with identical headers because there was no one on the far post.Ainsley M-N was on near post.When asked about this on Radio Suffolk after the match this stubborn Yorkshireman said that he had got 2 teams promoted by not having anybody on the posts,he had never defended corners that way, inferring that he wasn't going to start now. Says it all about this Dinosaur ps bit puzzled as post by havinit69 criticising JAS has been upvoted as well as down by him.Presume the former is a mistake but didn't think system allowed this,and comes up 'you have already voted" Strange!

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horse added 19:10 - Feb 14 I was at the match in Bristol yesterday and had to laugh when I read mm said he was Frustrated not as much as the supporters I was with were if it wasn't for Bailiskosky it would have been a lot more so we go back to that same old same old story we don't need to sign no, but he soon signed another contract so I clearly think its BONKERS. I sadly rest my case.
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bohslegend added 21:46 - Feb 14 Change the record or leave Prebsa
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coolcat added 22:47 - Feb 14 Well said COYB11. Accidentally upmarked someone else after your comment. Best comment on here up to now.
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Dissboyitfc added 07:55 - Feb 15 His Comment on Smith deserving to play even though we can at times suffer for having a left footer in a right footed position, leaves me speechless. Playing people out of position to the detriment of the team is like playing your favourites. Pittman deserves to play! Bart deserved his place back after his family bereavement. NOBODY SHOULD GET IN THE TEAM BECAUSE THEY DESERVE TO PLAY IF IT EFFECTS THE TEAM IN AN ADVERSE WAY! tThese decisions are costing us big time and are the reasons i have lost faith in MM. I have been saying for such a long time along with so many others, we need a real right back and a real right sided centreback, chambers should never have left that position and we had a real RB in hewitt. I am so disappointed with the decision to reward him with a new contract! You can quote lack of funds not helping but the biggest problem for me is his stubbornness towards leaving out his mates and playing his favourites regardless.

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prebsa added 08:31 - Feb 15 bohslegend you cant honestly say you enjoy watching the way we play? Dont be like essex57 be honest!
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blueandwhite92 added 12:31 - Feb 15 Poor performance/result representing a club with no ambition and settling for average. Trouble is ME thinks it's ok to exploit the fans with the over ambitious, above average ticket prices. Doesnt seem fair to me
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dirtydingusmagee added 07:53 - Feb 16 ''best use of the players available to him given the injury problems '' yep and a lack of foresight, desire and investment .Playing pocket billiards ISNT GOING TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION .
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tallguy6767 added 01:22 - Feb 18 Ive gone from being a season ticket holder for years to going when I can to now not going at all as I cannot bring myself to pay good money to watch football from the dark ages. I think attendances will plummet next season as I'm hearing more and more discontent from fans all the time now especially from the more mature fans.
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