Debutant Kevin Foley felt Town could have got something from Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Bristol City having got a foothold in the game via Brett Pitman’s 61st minute goal.

The Robins, with new manager Lee Johnson in charge for the first time, had claimed a two-goal first-half lead via Aden Flint’s almost identical headed goals from right-sided Luke Freeman corners.

“The main thing is the result, it’s disappointing, especially in the first half to go down to two identical goals,” the January signing said.

“We pride ourselves on set pieces so we were disappointed. We got ourselves back into the game and we could have got something at the end, but it wasn’t meant to be.

“[Freeman] swings them in like a shot on goal and it was all about the delivery, just one of those days. Foley, 31, started the game in a right wing-back role before moving to the centre of midfield when the Blues switched to a 4-4-2 system having gone behind.

“I preferred it in the middle because I got a bit more of a foothold in the game and I managed to get on the ball a bit more,” the former Republic of Ireland international admitted.

#itfc defender Kevin Foley said it was 'good to be back out there' after making his Town debut at the weekend.https://t.co/Pi0jz4914T– Ipswich Town FC (@Official_ITFC) February 15, 2016

“We always knew we had the ability to change it, so that wasn’t an issue, and the goals didn’t come from our shape as it was just the set pieces.

“Second half I think we went a little more direct and we caused problems, getting the goal out of it, but it just didn’t happen at the end.”

Foley has been impressed with Town’s 10-goal top scorer since he joined the club last month: “Brett’s fantastic in front of goal, he’s so calm and he slotted it home nicely there, we had our chances at the end, but it just wasn’t our day.”

Meanwhile, manager Mick McCarthy is giving his senior players a couple of days off with the Blues not in action again until they take on leaders Hull City at Portman Road a week tomorrow.

“There’ll be a bit of downtime for them, some of them will be playing on Monday in the U21s but other than that they’ll get a couple of days rest and hopefully recover from any knocks that they’ve got.”

Town’s U21s are in action against Colchester United at their Florence Park training ground this afternoon (KO 1pm).

Photo: ITFC

Photo: Action Images

mickeyjb added 06:51 - Feb 15 We could have got something???? Shouldn't we be absolutely gutted that we didn't win let alone should have got something!! Que 4 articles from foley now about......well exactly the same as every time a player has his duty media session; as soon as I heard, Mick one of the best, fabulous facilities, great bunch of lads, want a longer contract!!!! Apathy, sorry
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essexbluey added 06:56 - Feb 15 I got something in the end at ashton gate' COLD
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Suffolk_n_Good added 06:56 - Feb 15 Sorry mickyjb I meant to up vote! Agree completely, just my fat fingers!!
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bobbyramsey added 07:28 - Feb 15 .....your 'avin a larf innit?
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Tufty added 07:34 - Feb 15 We pride ourselves at set pieces ! He knows that after a fortnight ?
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Penguinblue added 07:38 - Feb 15 I didn't see that Foley added anything to the team. When you watch football on TV, don't the Macarthy sycophants see how appalling his hoofball negative style is, and don't his moronic pre and post match comments, often disingenuous make you think how much he is ruining the club? The Town away support is great but why sing that idiots name? Yes he 'saved' Town from relegation once but I maintain any half decent middle manager could have done that - its a mystery why Jewel and Keane were so poor. Bart best keeper, Chambers and Knudson hopeless full backs - incapable of preventing crosses. Throw ins straight to opposition, passing only between the back four before they decide (probably with some embarrassment ) who is to hoof it forward. Murphy needs to show some aggression. No midfield because it is always bypassed. What on earth do they do in training? I put this all down to McCarthy. There is some talent in the squad - not the best as MM claims but good enough for a promotion push. But not under McCarthy.

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Mr_Evans added 08:09 - Feb 15 Is he being serious!? We had two chances all game, one of those being our goal. We were outplayed by Bristol City. Look at the highlights, they pass and move and pass and move - we just lump it. Even our goal is a hopeful punt up field and a hopeful flick on by Murphy.
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MarkFish added 08:18 - Feb 15 Defending like that we deserved f all. That was a diabolical display from what I have seen of it.
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ArnieM added 08:37 - Feb 15 Pass and move, pass and move . It's so difficult for us isnt it !
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Stato added 08:51 - Feb 15 I said it yesterday and I repeat it today please stop singing "super Mick mccarthy". Support the team but just find other songs to sing. There hasn't been the year on year progress so many have been harping on about and mccarthy is boring a lot of us to death.
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vanmunt added 09:01 - Feb 15 Watched the games yesterday, its amazing how managers at the top of the prem (and Liverpool) seem to think its OK to play young players while our archaic manager thinks all they are good for is washing his car.
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Kirbmeister added 09:10 - Feb 15 Another good opportunity to slag the new guy off to make him settle in better.
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northernblues added 09:14 - Feb 15 Comprared to this time last year, 4 places lower 9 points worse off and a goal difference of -18 (on last season) it's a top ten finish now the progress it seems has come to an end
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1RWR added 09:18 - Feb 15 kirbmeister: I think it's frustration dear boy, if the Portman Road cat had given an interview we'd all be on it's back, we all need a scapegoat & sadly it's Mr Foley who has to take the $hit end of the stick. Having said all that, I am totally pi$$ed off with the negative play & constant 'HOOOOOOF" every time one of the back 10 players get the ball! Not happy, sorry!
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karls_dad added 09:20 - Feb 15 I think its time for a massive change, from the very top down, to grass roots, we are served up the same old dross year in year out, we have had three years of hoofball, absolutely no need for any form of midfield as it sails way over their heads! When MM was appointed i was one of the few that wanted our funny man Ollie Holloway and was crucified for the thinking! on hindsight now, i,m pretty damm sure he would have been the better bet, and at least we would all be smiling as having the funniest manager in the league!

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jas0999 added 09:21 - Feb 15 We got what we deserved. Could have been four down at half time. Vast improvement required.
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Crawfordsboot added 09:26 - Feb 15 Disappointment I understand. Disagreement with tactics and a longing for cultured football I understand. However why do our fans(?) think that it is necessary to describe our players, or manager, using words like sycophantic, morons, idiot, hopeless or diabolical. How can that be support? They are non of these. Sure we are not at our best and we might not be easy on the eye but we are in with a shout and positive support is what is needed not such relentless negativity towards our team.

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oldelsworthyfan added 09:48 - Feb 15 In the last few matches I've watched two things continue to be obvious. Bart is a better goalkeeper than Gerks. Chambers and Knudson are two of the worst full backs that have worn the ITFC shirt for 50 years.
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blueherts added 09:53 - Feb 15 yes , give em a few days off - all those half days must have worn them out ! MM is coasting now - got his new contract - what motivation is there for him to get us up Think afew need to get out of their 'pipe and slippers mode' in our team and also MM I really cannot believe he was given such a deal without seeing any progress this season and having no desire to sign anyone when we so desparately needed to Oh yes , I forgot there is NO ONE better than we have in our squad - No money ? well enough to sort out a long term deal for MM and TC but not to help the team

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Surco72 added 09:54 - Feb 15 I agree with Foley we could have got something out of the game if we again weren't passed off the pitch , had created a lot more chances than them ,our defence hadn't let the same goals in that they have been conceding over and over again without ever being dropped because the back up is so poor in ability . We had any creative flair in the most average midfield I have seen at Ipswich for years and didn't play a long / hoof ball tactic that was out of date 10 years ago . And any that say MM has to play this style due to the players available to him is absolute tosh , he has got this squad together and this is how he sets up his teams , to play this system you need a large squad as the majority of the time we are chasing the ball due to our lack of possession and ability to pass the ball to each other and keep it . For a defender as a manager who sets his team up defensively and narrow most weeks with two defensive minded central midfielders also we let In a lot of goals , which is strange as they have all been so brilliant and outstanding every week ?

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Suffolk_n_Proud added 09:57 - Feb 15 One of the few mature, reasonable and balanced comments on here Crawfordsboot. Emotions rule too many minds on here.
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PortmanTerrorist added 10:02 - Feb 15 OBSERVATION: 95% of Posts on this site in past month are in unison. Typical points:- 1. We must strengthen in January 2. Squad is thinner and less able than ITFC claim 3. Quality of football is dire Can it be that all these loyal supporters (in the main) can be wrong ? Can one man and the (his) players who need to agree with him to get a game, be right ? I hope am wrong but this feels like the beginning of the end of MM at ITFC which will destroy this season and most likely next UNLESS there is a fundamental reappraisal of goals and strategy to achieve those goals. If ME is not bothered about promotion THEN JUST SAY IT. The fans deserve to know and we can then stop building our hopes up and maybe try to play some football, blood younger players, or heaven forbid play players in their rightful positions.....without the pressure of chasing promotion which affects all the foregoing !

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brittaniaman added 10:14 - Feb 15 WOW big deal !!!!! we will have Douglas back next Tues. according to MM. he will be our saviour ??? Well at least he will have had a full months rest by then ????
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wychyblue added 10:39 - Feb 15 Live in the midlands but go to all itfc games . Wolves fans around here are fascinated and amused by the similarities with his tenure there . They were saying exactly the same . Apparently Steve Foley was a competent right full back, got injured and didn't get his full back space back so Big Mick used him on the right of midfield where he was lost ( not his fault). Luke chambers out of position , Tommy Smith and Foley and Sears also , 40% of the outfield out of position and clubs leading goal scorer watching most of the game , how on earth can we expect anything else . He is stubborn so things will not change ( ask my Wolves pals) so a dose of realism has to be taken sadly. I will however keep travelling all over the country ( home and away ) as I have done for years and years to support the blues but still hope for something better

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blues1 added 10:43 - Feb 15 Penguinblue. Can only assume u weren't there. Foley was excellent when moved to the midfield role. Was one of the plusses on sat. Surco. Apparently we had 17 shots on sat. Can't say I can remember that many but that's what the stats say. Not many people on target admittedly but we did create chances. Agree with rest of ur post tho. Portman terrorist good post other than I hope ur right that it's the beginning of the end for mm. I'm sick of watching his crap brand of football. It won't be before end of the season mind, and shouldn't be neither, but hopefully at end of season he will go. I firmly believe the players we have are capable of playing better football but are being coached not to because of MM'S style of play.

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