Town boss Mick McCarthy admitted the Blues are “making it extremely difficult” to make the play-offs following their 0-0 home draw with Charlton. McCarthy said neither side were good enough to claim the three points.

“It was a tough game, neither of us were good enough to win it, we both had chances,” he said. “Why the hell they’re in the bottom three heaven only knows.

“[It wasn’t the worst 0-0] as a game to watch maybe, but it does neither of us any favours, us trying to get in the play-offs and them trying to get out of the bottom three.

“I go back to my first point, I don’t think either of us were good enough to win the game, because we both had chances.

“They’re a pretty tight unit at the minute, they sit back in and we weren’t good enough to break them down.

"We lost the ball, they caught us on the break, as we did to them at times and neither of us were good enough to finish it.”

The result leaves the Blues in eighth, seven points plus goal difference off sixth-placed Derby with only six games in which to close that gap.

“We’ll probably have to beat them at Derby,” the Town manager admitted. “We are at must-win, of course we are, can’t hide away from that fact.”

He added: “Try and win the next game, for us that’s all it can be. We’re making it extremely difficult to get in the play-offs.

“It’s getting harder and harder. But I’ve just said to the lads, stick together, we’ll try and get as many points as we can and we’ll see where it takes us, that’s all we can do.”

McCarthy felt the mix-up in the first half between Christophe Berra and Bartosz Bialkowski didn’t help the mood on or off the pitch just as the game was starting to settle.

“It didn’t, and it gave them encouragement. The game had started as you’d expect with one team trying to get into the play-offs and one trying to get out of the bottom three, it was a bit of a scrap for 10 minutes, it was a tough old fight.

“It started to settle down and that just made us nervy and it gave them a bit of encouragement and it doesn’t help the game in our way at all.”

More positive, David McGoldrick and Teddy Bishop both came off the bench in the second half, the latter making his first appearance of the season.

“I’m pleased to have them back on the pitch playing and at the end of the game I had Reg [Luke Varney] on, Didzy on and I had Bish on and was conscious of the time I gave them. I thought Reg gave us a really good shift for 45 minutes.

“And the other two lads, it’s difficult coming back and trying to be as sharp as you possibly can and need that whatever it is, that little bit of something, that spark when you haven’t been playing. That’s a gamble, but it’s good to have them back on the pitch.

“It’s a gamble worth taking in my book to try and get them on the pitch and try and get them some minutes.”

The Town boss had praise for keeper Bialkowski, who made an important double save in the second half and put in another very good display.

“He did, he always does. I’ve no problem with that at all. We’ve managed to keep another clean sheet but we’ve not scored, which leaves us with a point.”

Charlton boss José Riga was pleased with his team’s performance, believing only a goal was missing.

“We did very well, we created good opportunities, had some very good action offensively, we were strong defensively and we were even better than Ipswich on the strength of Ipswich, the set pieces,” he said.

“At the end only one goal is missing and we had the opportunities. We deserved the three points but deserving is not having, so our situation is very difficult.”

The draw and results elsewhere leave the Addicks seven points off safety with their Championship status hanging by a thread.

Riga added: “Until the end, while mathematically it’s still possible, we have to think about being able to make a miracle.”

Photo: Action Images

GiveusaWave added 06:42 - Apr 7 Agree Bobble. We still have a chance of 6th spot. 3 points against Brentford and it gets interesting again.
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essex57 added 07:51 - Apr 7 Quentchev I don't make predictions it was another poster trying to draw me out if you read my posts I'm sure you will see I am of the same mind as you and Mrdiddle
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blueherts added 10:39 - Apr 7 Good to see bobble - mellow and reasoned Like many on hear , I have supported MM and he took this club out of a very dark place so we could see and smell the roses and sniff the high octane fumes of premiership super charged football Alas , it seems that the ambition of the club does not match that of us supporters It is not ,all over ,and yes , we 'could reach the play offs BUT Unless MM has a complete change of character ie plays on the front foot to win , this will not happen He is by no means the worst we have had - but his biggest 'downfall' has been that he actually got us believing we had a chance this season - the last two muppets never did that This is where I cannot understand the 'ambition of ME/MM to push on We had the same January fall off last season only to limp over the line into the play offs - but that at least was positive So this year again we are in a great position again in January - with some major injuries and we have a chance to at least add a couple of players - money is available - apparently 'we have enough in our squad ' 'no one better out there' really ??! So , I will be there Saturday looking for us to play with freedom - it is a win or bust game so lets take off the shackles and , dare I say , maybe lose one of the defensive midfielders Or maybe move Chambers into CB - right and left footer and put in Emmanel to right back Bru ( in the middle ) with Foley , Feeney and Pringle , Sears and Dids - Bish and Dozzell on the bench - Take your foot off the break Mick and actually go out and try and win a game !!( not play 'not to lose'!!! And we wonder why he doesnt have cup success !!! must wn games ! That is all I have - lets speak on Saturday and if it is 6-4 or 4-3 ( to us ) great ! at least he went for it

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GiveusaWave added 11:02 - Apr 7 Sorry for the down mark essex57- was meant to be an up
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Cheshire_Blue added 11:19 - Apr 7 Picking the team is all about opinion and MM believes that Douglas and Chambers are the men for the job having regard to the resources available. My opinion is that I prefer to trust that judgement in preference to a few keyboard warriors on this site. Whatever your opinion you should express it without resorting to offensive or inappropriate remarks.
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coolcat added 13:18 - Apr 7 Totally agree Mr Diddle. Going to all the organised meetings and the AGM helps to give a more rounded view of what goes on at the club. Not always easy for me to get to all of them as I live in London. I recently went to one at the Dove in Ipswich & a recent event in London, which was very good: Luke Chambers and Giles Coke great ambassadors for the club. Well said Irish Tractor. To have achieved what we have with very little resources is a testament to Mick. We have been cursed with injuries to key players for most of the season but we are in a good position in 8th place & with Bishop and McGoldrick now back, with 6 games left our fortunes may yet change. The boys need our support more than ever now.

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Cheshire_Blue added 18:49 - Apr 7 Well said coolcat and Irish Tractor. Great to read a bit of common sense amongst all the drivel.
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