Town boss Mick McCarthy said he fully understood why fans vented their frustrations during the Blues’ 2-2 home draw with Rotherham, admitting that he’s “disappointed” by his own performance at present and that his team aren’t getting the results he believes they should.

“I was disappointed with the second half, but I wasn’t disappointed with the first half at all,” McCarthy said reflecting on the game. “I thought we played some good football and we created some good chances.

“But we gave a goal away. I say we gave a goal away, they scored by keeping on top of us, fair play to them.

“We didn’t clear it enough for us to push up and Chambo had been knocked to the ground and played them onside by virtue of being there.

“And I thought in the first half we did well. In the second, we never got a chance because we conceded that goal from a Keystone Cops moment.

"Two centre-backs collided with each other and it was just hooked in the net and we never got a chance to replicate the first half because we were 2-1 down.

“We were nervous and cautious and they could sit back and protect their goal and try and catch us on the break which, of course, happened. Thankfully they didn’t catch us on the break.

“But we kept going, that’s probably the biggest thing we could get out of it was that we kept going and if you’re ever looking for a point in a season when you want something to turn your bad moment around, maybe that’s it, a bit of luck, but a wonderful strike from a really good player, who it’s nice to have back.”

Regarding Christophe Berra and Adam Webster’s collision which led to Danny Ward’s second goal, he continued: “When things are tough and things aren’t going your way you have uncharacteristic moments unfortunately, that’s what costs you. But they have been different class the pair of them.

“The positive is that we got something, we kept going right to the very end, to the bitter end. Didzy’s had his 90 minutes and played well and it might be that one point which turns it around for us.

He added: “That’s not lucky, that’s a wonderful strike. He saved the bacon today, Didzy.

“He was fine in terms of his fitness, no problems with him physically, he was great and I think he must be because he struck that ball.

“If you’re knackered there’s no way he would have struck that ball as cleanly as he did, great technique.”

Regarding Rotherham, now under Kenny Jackett’s management, he said: “I was under no illusions that Kenny’s team would come here and be anything other than pretty tough and hard to break down, although we scored two against them, against that tough and hard to break down.

“And they are scrapping for their lives. Four years ago, Birmingham away, we had seven points, we go there and win 1-0. We managed to hold onto it and it made a big difference to us.

“I don’t see their team and see a whole load of bad players and think they’re a relegation side by any stretch of the imagination.”

McCarthy was asked about the “boos and jeers” towards the end with fans in the Sir Bobby Robson Stand chanting, ‘Mick McCarthy, your football is s–‘,

“That’s an understatement, that’s putting it politely, ‘Quite a few boos and jeers at the end’,” he said.

“We didn’t play well, I fully understand it. I’ve enjoyed probably three years and nine months, almost four years, of relative success here and people think I’ve been doing a good job and people were saying the other things, ‘Super Mick’, ‘Mick McCarthy, isn’t it great?’.

“It’s just tough at the minute for all of us, but I treat them both as impostors. I prefer the nice ones, but even that, I don’t get carried away with that and I don’t get carried away with being booed and jeered either.

“I and the players will continue to work to try and turn the season around and I’m hoping that the point today, as disappointing as it seems that we haven’t got three, it might just be the positive point.”

He says he’d much prefer it if there was a more positive feel around Portman Road rather than frustrated chants from fans but says it doesn’t get to him.

“Do I like them? No, I prefer a good atmosphere,” he said. “I prefer a good atmosphere around the club, the training ground - although the training ground’s a great atmosphere - but the town, the grounds, the matches.

“I much prefer a nice atmosphere but there’s only us that can create that by playing better and winning games.

“Quite clearly there’s an opinion about the way I play football today, but the only way I’ll [change] that is by winning games.

“And when we were winning and we finished in the top six, there were no complaints. I didn't hear [any complaints]. Generally you don’t if you’re winning.

“Does it bother me in terms of being shouted at? No, it doesn’t. But it bothers me because I am disappointed in my own performance at the moment that we’re not getting the results that I think we should with the team I’ve got.”

Much of the criticism aimed at McCarthy by his detractors has related to him fielding sides which they view as not particularly attacking and long-ball in their approach, but he says those accusations couldn't have been made about today's line-up.

“I’ve seldom changed but over the four years, that's not been the case, nobody’s really levelled that at me, maybe a bit last year,” he said.

“Some of my detractors, there are detractors giving all sorts of opinions about me at the minute.

“With Tom Lawrence, Wardy, Freddie, Didz, Bish, I don’t know what we’re go and do other than try and play football, to be honest with you.”

He added: “David McGoldrick has been injured for 12 weeks, Pits is injured for 10 weeks, Bish has not been fit, he’s just coming back fit now. Jonny Williams is just about getting fit. Reg Varney has been injured.

“It’s almost like I’m keeping all of them out. Do I go around and injure them all to keep them out of the team, my good sexy players, who can play football? No.

"Come on, give me a bit of credit for that. The more players you’ve got like David McGoldrick fully fit, we’re a better team.”

McCarthy was pleased with left-back Myles Kenlock, who was making his first appearance this season in place of the injured Jonas Knudsen: “Myles played well, I’m delighted with him. I didn’t take him off for any other reason but for moving to three at the back and putting players forward.

“A great decision that, wasn’t it? I take something out of it that it worked. Everyone can say it’s lucky. Or is it that we’ve got players in forward positions and it’s ended up dropping to one of them. Myles was good, I was pleased with him, very pleased.”

On Jonathan Douglas’s omission from the 18, he said: “Jonathan Douglas isn’t injured, I just left him out. That was the team I wanted to play, that strangely defensive team I wanted to play to play s-– football, that’s why I did it.”

Rotherham manager Kenny Jackett was disappointed not to come away with the win but said that point was a step in the right direction for the Millers.

“Football is a cruel game,” he said. “It was a terrific strike from David McGoldrick. We spent the last 15 minutes trying to get one of my midfield players to man mark him because I know if the ball does drop - although it was outside the box - inside the box invariably he’s going to hit the target.

“It was a terrific strike and obviously deflating for us, particularly for the players as they’d worked so hard.

“That’s two late goals in the last two weeks. We’re close anyway, sometimes close isn’t enough, but the bit that we have to find to be a successful team is there.

“I think we’re very competitive, certain things we need to improve on but we’re certainly working hard enough and making it difficult for teams and looking like a goal threat, which are pluses that we can build on.

“They’ve had a run of defeats, before today seven away defeats on the spin, so although it should have been three points and we’re desperately disappointed, it does stop the rot of defeats and gives the players a point to build on.”

Photo: TWTD

therein61 added 06:54 - Oct 30 There must be loads of people fired by the Evans empire for poor performance looking at Mick and scratching their heads!!!!! how much worse does it have to get(crowds under 10k, bottom 3) before this dreadful situation is brought to a close, he's finally exhausted the fans patience, and the body language of some of the players suggests they are on the same wave length as us

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Uhlenbeek added 07:07 - Oct 30 Looking forward to reading the report in the paper today (if they even warrant us a segment this week), always starts with "not one for the purist's" or 'not a game that will live long in the memory'. I hate this reputation we now have with everyone else as a boring hoofball team that look to scrap a draw
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GiveusaWave added 07:47 - Oct 30 Oldegold: I doubt Mick will fall on his sword and I doubt he'll be fired either therein61. MickszzzTactics: biggest disappointment for me in this performance was the lack of effort when we were 2-1 down. We started to time waste yet again which really angered a lot of the crowd in the Robson area. Time wasting at 1-1 is just about acceptable, but not when we are losing. It took a moment of individual brilliance right at the death to make this 2-2. There was major relief around the stadium but also a lot of anger: I feel due to the negative tactics and time wasting. Mick needs to do a few things before the next game: Impress on the players that if they don't perform they are likely to lose their place next match. Tell the players that time wasting is unacceptable, unless we are 2-0 up with 10 minutes left on the clock. When we are losing it makes no sense and we have done that so much this season. Stop ball watching. Mark at corners. Watch out for each other and check where other players are (we have had players crashing into each other Multiple times this season). Stop relying on Bart to pull off save after save. Help him out!q

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Europablue added 08:29 - Oct 30 Detractor boys
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Europablue added 08:42 - Oct 30 That last minute goal really papered over the cracks.
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OwainG1992 added 08:56 - Oct 30 It's very rare we play exciting football. So chucking attacking players on the pitch when I genuinly struggle to remember us last bossing a game with possession excitement etc, Is probably going to take time for that to click! So we spend the next 5/8 games getting us to a new style? Then the seasons gone already! Just feel so fed up. I love in Leeds so rely on updates etc and right now I don't even feel excited when my phone buzzes just expect the worst.

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karls_dad added 09:55 - Oct 30 After yesterdays debacle felt i had to say something..........I know sod all about footbal! there you go, thats my knowledge! only ever played as a kid and was crap then! But what i do know is that we were playing the team at the bottom of the division, that had not won away all season, yes they had a new manager but were stll a team in a new learning curve! So to me remember i know sod all, but i do know people in general, surely the most sensible thing to have done would be to start with our most attacking minded team, big man best up front with Sears, and Jonny Wiliams our most creative midfielder to supply! now that would have certainly put Rotheram with some problems, go for an early goal or two, they would have thought here we go again, another defeat on the cards, heads down and we could have cruised to a win? To leave Best and Williams on the bench until it was too late was just foolish, in my humble lack of knowledge opinion! start strong, get what we need and then sub later should we need to, ars about face to me is Mr Micks thinking, but what do i know apart from we are fast becoming an embarrssment and heading for a relegation fight!

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juniorblue added 10:07 - Oct 30 MM should do the honourable thing and go. I am sorry Mick but enough is enough. Crowds getting lower, fans frustrated and the worst 'football' played in years. I remember watching the 2nd division promotion team who had style and a positive attitude. Please get a new Manager in who can bring some excitement back to Portman Road.
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mannos6 added 11:57 - Oct 30 Mick must go i think he is starting to realise he will need to go soon, only thing I'm worried about is T.C Being left in charge I think that happened at wolves. So pretty sure the majority of us want a new man in charge so who would you want? I think the new man will need to know the history and the culture of the club and obviously needs to work on a shoe string and want to play football. I would like Nigel cough I was really impressed with burton down here.

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HackneyBlue added 12:27 - Oct 30 If you want a point to be made regarding fans then surely a protest like Blackburn Rovers made yesterday would get the message through,Evans will not want more bad publicity,yes i know thousands including myself have not renewed our season tickets and thousands next season will do the same but the club appear not to be bothered by this(they never asked me why my 3 tickets were given up).ACTIONS speak louder than words.

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martin587 added 13:12 - Oct 30 I cannot understand why we have an owner who wishes to distance himself from the supporters and there concerns as to the direction this club is going. At the moment this club is in free fall with not much hope of getting anywhere near the play-offs or even promotion. Gates are falling and the football is putting it mildly,Terrible.!! Is there money available in the January window.? Will MM still be here.? Having been a season ticket holder for over 50 years I am seriously concerned what is happening at my club.I have come to the point where I don't enjoy watching my club,but come Tuesday or Saturday the pull is still there. Please MM either sort things out fast or just walk away.

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yorksblue added 13:22 - Oct 30 Nigel Clough is clueless. Blades were well rid of him. Dire football.
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ChrisFelix added 13:45 - Oct 30 It all started to go wrong with McCarthy at the end of our play-off season. Instead of investing to improve the ream we got Douglas , Coke & Toure. The money for Mings was not properly used. We have stagnated since. Team's that have reached the premiership i.e. Bournemouth ,Watford , Middlesborough have spent & improved their squads. But they have no more devine right to play in the top flight than we do. I wanted McCarthy as manager but I now feel his time is numbered. Go to Sheffield , set up to win without Douglas in the starting 11. If you don't I fear that its curtains

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BillBlue added 14:17 - Oct 30 Two things I wish. The first is that McCarthy would stop thinking and saying that he has been successful here or even had 'relative success', he hasn't he has failed miserably, not only on the field, and brought this once great, powerful and highly respected club down to become the laughing stock of the Football League. That is total failure.The second is I wish you supporters would stop thanking him for what he did in the past because he did absolutely nothing more than any Manager is paid to do and, remember please, that idiot was overpaid for doing a normal job.

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tractorkent added 17:35 - Oct 30 I really want to thank MM for saving me a fortune both on a season ticket and petrol money each home game.I did drive from Kent every time we played at home.
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Ipswichtown4life added 17:36 - Oct 30 Mick I dont fully blame you for whats going on.. you can only deal with the hand thats been given you.. Evans really needs to look at himself and be happy with doing nothing with this club.. this garbage of "oh i gave keane and jewell money and it didnt work" look what mick has done with little to no money.. back him with decent money.. i know webster cost a fee but 3 o 4x that would help us amensley .. Come on Evans .. let us love our club again

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dalinghooblue added 18:40 - Oct 30 Clacton Blue. My tongue is out of my cheek.
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tractorkent added 18:42 - Oct 30 I with also say you get managers like MM and Roy Keane when you have a owner who doesn't know anything about the game
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surgery added 18:47 - Oct 30 tractorkent.....valid point, but can you name one who does?
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dukey44 added 19:04 - Oct 30 It's first time in a long time when I've seen nearly everybody agree on a subject? Surely mr Evans we can't all be wrong?? Please just sort it and get rid of Mick?
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rfretwell added 21:18 - Oct 30 Oh come on, millsy surely knows better Tha to trot out that "overcoached" rubbish. Our mist creative players are gradually getting back to full fitness as is Best. When they do we will rise again. There were signs yesterday - McGs clever play, Joniestas quick forward balls up to Best, Bishop running at defenders in the box and getting the odd shot away.
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CarlosValderrama added 21:31 - Oct 30 Anyone who thinks Mick has done a bad job when you consider that he has brought more money in from player sales and has spent next to nothing in three seasons, needs their heads read. The blame for our current treading water predicament lies firmly with Evans and the lack of any plan or investment. We wouldn't be a championship club without Mick. He absolutely deserves respect.

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The_Romford_Blue added 01:53 - Oct 31 Our owner is to blame.
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MicksZzzTactics added 05:09 - Oct 31 @The_Romford_Blue + @CalrlosValderama + others here on news pages with a similar view: PLEAZZZZE!!! Our owner is "guilty" of a lot of things, no doubt .... but ehhhhhhhhh A) He isn't the one that decides on these for long proven-to-be DYSFUNCTIONAL & insufficiently creative favorite-laden & square-pegs-in-round-holes laden 'default' starting lineups! Lineups which so often as in way too often, winds up leaving the OBJECTIVE spectators, home and away ones, with the over-all sensation of having just viewed some of the most predictable negative, boring, sleep-inducing, and outright uuuugly with extremely few "shots on target" football/hoofball known to Mankind!!!! B) Nor is he one that in 99% of league games NEVER tactically sets up 'TO WIN' (its already more than well documented & established that our dinosauric manager would inherently be all "Gung-Ho" about close to 46 no-scoring or low-scoring "excellent" 1-point draws!!!), nor is he the one that at the same token nearly never ADJUST said narrow-minded and 1-dimensional tactical approach EVEN coming out to the 2nd half in games where the opposition to use a popular expression "WERE THERE FOR THE TAKING"!, either due to us thanks to our own doings emphatically having had the upper hand in the 1st half and/or the opposition very visibly turned out to having themselves a collective off-day and/or the opposition simply fielding such a substandard team on the day (due to several key injuries/suspensions etc) that they could only performed overly tamely, especially offensively!!! C) And in further extension of B) nor is he the one that then alarmingly often makes these unequivocally UNSOUND & even sometimes outright wimpy substitutions (outlined in more detail in my earlier post on this article)! D) Nor is it our shy and mute owner the one that directly OFFEND & ALIENATE fans in abundance, new as old ones , time and time again with his beyond arrogant "I don't give a flying f@ck [about you the fans!] -- and even stronger inferred -- [the fans' in his opinion: feeble intelligence!] over-all SMIRKY behavior ...... and statements of course, many of which are undebatable DELUDED btw ..... all neatly wrapped around a gigantic case of 'Delusion of Grandeur' self-esteem and derailed egoism!!! - - - - PS: In case you silly lot for some really really FRIGHTENING reasons (mental as well as visual ones!) still find yourself 'unable' to figure out and answer who is then FACTUALLY the one solely responsible for specifically both A),B), C) and D) ..... it is of course "Our Savior" aka Mick 'The Dinosaur 'McCarthy .... and certainly not "our owner"!!! Period, end of story!!!

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