Boss Mick McCarthy felt "a penalty and a worldy” were the difference between Bristol City and the Blues following his side’s 2-0 defeat at Ashton Gate. McCarthy had no complaints regarding the first-half spotkick won by Tammy Abraham and netted by Lee Tomlin, with Luke Freeman slamming home a brilliant volley after the break.

“The difference between the two teams was a penalty and a worldy, that was the difference,” he said.

“I thought they started well, I thought we got to grips with it. Was it a penalty? Yes, it was.

“I thought the referee waited a long time. He said to me coming off that if it had gone out he couldn’t give a penalty, I didn’t really understand his explanation, but I think [he meant] if it had gone out and [Bart had] caught him afterwards [he couldn’t have given it], I’m not quite sure.

“I just hope it wasn’t their appeals that got the penalty because they were quite vociferous. But I looked it at half-time and I’ve no complaints, I think it was a penalty. We’d have wanted it.”

He added: “Tammy Abraham’s reacted quicker than any of us. They’ve got their bit of luck just by reacting, nicking a ball, as Reg did last week, he chased one down."

McCarthy felt the Blues were in the game until Freeman’s goal in the 72nd minute: “The turning point was when that unbelievable flying bomb went into the top corner because we were on top then and we’d had some good chances and we didn’t make the most of our final pass or final cross. We wasted a few really good opportunities.

“Of course you could say the turning point is if [David McGoldrick’s shot which hit the post] goes in, then we’re one-all. I think we go on and get something out of the game, whether we win it or not, who knows.

“But I don’t think we’d have been beaten because we were doing alright then, we were playing well.”

The Blues are still to record back to back wins during what's been an inconsistent season, but McCarthy wasn’t unhappy with his team’s performance today.

“One step forward, one step back, but the difference is that I’m not going to grumble about how we played or the performance playing against them,” he continued.

“I know when they get to 2-0 we’re winging it a bit, we’re trying to push forward and they had a couple of chances.

“But that’s at 2-0 when we’re [chasing the game], like QPR last week, they were down 2-0 against us and they were winging it and we got another goal and could have got four or five or six.

“Up until that point in the second half we’d been playing well. Goals change it, of course.

“How do we change it? Just keep playing the way we are. The freekick that we gave away for the [second goal], I said it was a rubbish freekick by them and it ends up in the back of our net. Maybe it was their day. Looked like it.”

He added: “I’ve no complaints about the performance. Bristol City, with their players, who have got a good side and play 4-4-2, with the two lads up front, they started well, they needed a performance, they’re the home team. Let’s give them a bit of credit for the way they started.

“But I thought we got to grips with that and before the penalty I thought we just got to grips and were probably equal to them.”

His biggest frustration was that Robins keeper Frank Fielding wasn’t forced into too many saves: “We didn’t work their keeper enough because we broke on them and I thought we played some good stuff. We were lacking in that final third. We’ve only scored 17 goals, so that speaks for itself.”

He added: “We’ve had eight clean sheets and a lot of those we didn’t score in those games, apart from the couple that were disallowed. We need to get the first goal if we can, it changes the game, like it did today.”

Regarding Freeman’s goal the Town boss felt it was probably the best scored against Town this season - “I suppose so” - and that there wasn’t much his side could have done to prevent it.

“If I can’t do owt about it I don’t try and make excuses or find some reason for it, that was just an unbelievable strike,” he admitted. “Completely unstoppable. We were right behind it, as soon as it left his foot it was flying in the net.”

McCarthy says midfielder Teddy Bishop, who was left out of the 18, picked up an injury in training: “He’s got a bruised foot from Friday’s training.”

Bristol City manager Lee Johnson was pleased with his team's display having made five changes and matching the Blues' 4-4-2 system.

“It was everything I wanted from my team," he said. "It was a really steady performance, I think. It was very professional from start to finish.

“It was almost like an away performance in once sense but it was really important we held that position of strength and gave ourselves the opportunity to get the first goal.

“In recent weeks we’ve been conceding reasonably early and I needed to get a group out there you could trust, could communicate, round pegs in round holes at the right times.

"We know we’ve got the quality at the top end of the pitch, Tammy Abraham, Aaron Wilbraham, Lee Tomlin and Luke Freeman, to go and produce a bit of magic. We did that today and I’m very, very pleased and relieved that we won.”

Regarding Freeman's goal, he added: “It was worth the entrance fee alone, wasn’t it? It was a fantastic strike.

"We actually do work quite a lot on that sort of thing in training. It’s a difficult technique that, to get that control and dip as well as the power is not easy to do.”

Phi

trncbluearmy added 06:44 - Dec 4 He`s completely lost the plot reminds me of the final days of jewell If he has half the balls he thinks he has he will resign Monday
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muhrensweet4thijssen added 07:05 - Dec 4 Sorry I just don't understand who some people think will come and manage our once great club??? Who would do a better job with no financial backing at all. I'm not saying the football served up is acceptable for the high cost to see this 'entertainment' but quite simple.... Don't go! Watch some local football to get your fix. We are a club in the dull drums. WHO would replace McCarthy? People can't deny he has done miracles really when you look at the other squads in this division. So please, please prove me wrong, name a competent, progressive manager who we could afford, who works with a tiny budget who would come to a club in the dull drums? The only 2 I have thought of would be warnock(not available) and wait for it..... What about giving Burley another crack????

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ArnieM added 08:10 - Dec 4 Evans the problem. No meaningful money is spent. McCarthy has his hands and one keg tied firmly behind his back. I also hate the boring style of football from MM. BUT what else can he do when he is simply unable to buy in quality players? Playing kids like Dozzell us NOT the answer. He's far too lightweight at the moment......you only need look at Bishops physical frailties ( and he's far bigger than Dozzell). MM uses/ acquires the players his mingy budget allows. Blame EVANS. I was at Bristol yesterday and even with the Iikes of Didsy, Lawrence, Ward and a target man Reg in the team we simply failed to make their GK work. Knudsen YET AGAIN was utter trash. The shinning light in the outfield team was Webster. The tactics are poor. It IS " safety first" , every game, home or away. And the team looks afraid to attack. So overall it is in my eyes PRIMARILY Evans' fault for minimal meaningful investment since MM took over. But I also feel MM tactics are boring. Problem is, is this because he has do little money to buy in real quality?

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juniorblue added 08:20 - Dec 4 I have just read MM's views on the game. I now feel the need to run out my front door screaming "No!!!!!!!". To save myself from looking stupid I thought I'd write something instead. I used to think that MM is a decent bloke. But now I am starting to think that he is totally arrogant and deluded. Any other team would have waved goodbye to him for the total lack of inspiration, drive and creativity in our once great club. I find it truly sad how the team has developed in to a boring, one style of play joke. MM talks about the youth players but when it comes to match day produces the same team sheet. Play them! I would much rather see a young team learning to play together than a bunch of no hopers who cannot string two passes together. Like many other supporters I do not feel that I want to go to Portman Road while this management team is in place. Who has the money these days to waste? Please, please someone at our beloved club sort this out.

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juniorblue added 08:23 - Dec 4 Sorry forgot to say. Huge respect to all the Town supporters who went to Bristol.
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grumpyoldman added 08:27 - Dec 4 I thought the definition of a miracle is something totally unexpected and beyond perceived understanding. How does what MM has achieved fall into this category? Getting players to work together in a system is his job, he has never been and will never be a miracle worker, please don't confuse limited success with miracles, other managers do a better job with less resources. It is often stated by the club that we spend a lot of money on players wages. For the effort and skill they show on the pitch most weeks, the club is being grossly over charged and for that the buck stops with MM and Evans cronies at the club.

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phillo added 08:29 - Dec 4 "How do we change it ? Just keep playing the way we are" - the definition of madness is to continue to do the same thing but expect ....... oh I give up ...... been said before, he ain't changing or listening ..... we are all doomed !! Happy Christmas !!!
8

Tractorboy1985 added 08:53 - Dec 4 Just f**k off mate!! I'm done with this shambles of a football club! Don't celebrate goals like i used too.. Evans is the problem.. billionaire who supports town?? My ar$e!!!! If any of us had serious cash we would know what to do with the money! And install an old soak with the kick it and chase it mentality would not be a pick of mine! It's so sad the sorry state we are in! I want him gone but let's be honest.. who would we get? I want would have more faith in my Mrs picking the next manager than that faceless tw@t evans! Who else runs a football club and doesn't want to be known? Joke! The club is a laughing stock! No more hard earned cash is going Evans way and us fans need to make a stand.....

6

SpiritOfJohn added 09:20 - Dec 4 So much negativity at the moment. The manager should be attempting to lift the mood, instead he looks forward to producing more of the same turgid anti-football next weekend and praying that we score first. Expect he will announce an unchanged 11 on Monday for the Cardiff match.
6

ArnieM added 09:29 - Dec 4 ....and we will struggle to get a point.
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patthegimp added 09:51 - Dec 4 What do you expect MM to say after match. The truth which is that the players are just not good enough and never will be, the youngsters are still too lightweight for this division and that mid to lower third of the table is the best we can hope for with the cash available. If MM went all out attack with these players we would get crucified.
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BanksterDebtSlave added 10:02 - Dec 4 Sears(Pitman) McG Lawrence Skuse Williams Ward Josh Webster Berra Kenlock Bart ........Bru Bishop/Dozzel Chambers Pitman(Sears) McDonnell ....Well it least give something like this ago if we're not going to spend
1

Cheshire_Blue added 10:24 - Dec 4 What actually is the definition of ' offensive, libellous and inappropriate' ?
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Michael11 added 10:47 - Dec 4 So after 4 years, we're only VERY marginally better off than when he first arrived. What a complete waste of time. There's been no long term strategy whatsoever! We just live day by day signing whoever is cheap and available during a transfer window. Ultimately, we could sign Messi and he'd find a way of playing his pals like Varney instead. I've completely give up and he won't leave until his contract expires or we're relegated.

8

oldtimer3 added 11:53 - Dec 4 Well said Tactor Boy and like junior blue i dont go any more that MM decided to play the reserve team to play Man Utd at Old Trafford REMEMER that was enough for me
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grumpyoldman added 12:10 - Dec 4 ArnieM, if being the manager of Ipswich is so bad and MM is supposedly working under a handicap why does he stay, why did he sign a new contract at towards the end of last season? He realises it doesn't matter if he fails he has a ready made excuse, it's and easy ride. MM chooses the players we sign, MM decides who plays in any match, MM decides the tactics, MM decides when and who to substitute. Evans organisation subsidises the club £8,000,000 every season, where would we be without that, what standard of player would we be able to afford, yes I know it's a tax write off but without it we would be up poo creek without a paddle.

2

BillBlue added 12:15 - Dec 4 muhrensweet4thijssen - Come back RK all is forgiven! Would he do? LOL HaHa!!! By the way what are dull drums?
4

Lightningboy added 12:38 - Dec 4 @ muhrensweet4thijssen I would love to have Burley back here but fear that he'd not get as much time as he deserves to put things right - if he came in with Holland or Magilton then i'd be delighted. The bloke i'd love to see back here is Magilton - who was doing a perfectly decent job on absolutely no money before ME came in with his chequebook and got everyone's expectations (stupidly) up & thinking that we could buy our way into the prem straightaway. We played some truly beautiful football at times under Jim - the ridiculous thing is that in the 7 years of complete failure that ME has put us through since giving Jim the sack we would've probably gone up long ago by now if he'd stuck with him.

6

Seasider added 12:41 - Dec 4 McCarthy seems quite happy with yesterdays performance even though his team lost leaving team 16th. This man won't change and moulds his I am I have in his own image, dull and uninteresting. They face Cardiff next which is a 6 pointer down towards the bottom of table Just what Mick likes;so can use words like scrapping for points and grinding out results. He will never change Leaving his mate's and real blokes in centre mid to the exclusion of Jonny Williams and the useless Knudsen instead of Kenlock shows he doesn't care too much for tippy tappy football, as he puts it;or youngsters; as half team now over 30. Have experienced many highs and some lows in 50+ year's; but never felt so apathetic as now. A car packed with 5 blokes from N.E.Essex,has now reduced to 2 and occasionally 3,and I fear it will be just me next year if the current malaise continues How much longer will we have to endure this arrogant, stubborn and self opinionated Dino who seems to enjoy being bloody minded ,upsetting fan's and swearing at press conferences

16

Seasider added 12:41 - Dec 4 McCarthy seems quite happy with yesterdays performance even though his team lost leaving team 16th. This man won't change and moulds his I am I have in his own image, dull and uninteresting. They face Cardiff next which is a 6 pointer down towards the bottom of table Just what Mick likes;so can use words like scrapping for points and grinding out results. He will never change Leaving his mate's and real blokes in centre mid to the exclusion of Jonny Williams and the useless Knudsen instead of Kenlock shows he doesn't care too much for tippy tappy football, as he puts it;or youngsters; as half team now over 30. Have experienced many highs and some lows in 50+ year's; but never felt so apathetic as now. A car packed with 5 blokes from N.E.Essex,has now reduced to 2 and occasionally 3,and I fear it will be just me next year if the current malaise continues How much longer will we have to endure this arrogant, stubborn and self opinionated Dino who seems to enjoy being bloody minded ,upsetting fan's and swearing at press conferences

5

Keaneish added 13:35 - Dec 4 muhrensweet4thijssen - Graham Alexander, Mark Warburton or Phil Parkinson. If we have more cash to spend I'd love Sherwood or Poyet/Taricco's name in the hat but these aren't realistic. Gary Monk was available but instead, we gave MM and TC another contract....
8

Seasider added 14:51 - Dec 4 I wouldn't mind George as long as Matt Holland was his assistant. There are of course many good managers about, both home and abroad;but logically the best ones are already in situ;so it would not be easy Some of those currently doing well at lower league clubs would no doubt be tempted;but as with Jimmy. Floyd Hassle-bank not capable always of making step up successfully Anyway unlikely to be a vacancy here for some time I fear!;but we can dream Never been so despondent in over 50 years,not even with Roy Keane,who didn't treat cups with disdain or PJ,both of whom showed more respect for fans

5

Taricco_Fan added 15:43 - Dec 4 McCarthy is coasting along, doing just about enough to keep himself in a job, always able to pull a result out of the bag when the pressure is building. Had to laugh at all the people gloating about the QPR result last week as if their belief in McCarthy had been vindicated. What is the old saying about a swallow and summer?
5

Pilgrimblue added 16:03 - Dec 4 its not that there aren't good replacements out there as plenty above have suggested. It's that we cant get rid of MM so while I'm not wanting the results to get any worse I'd be prepared to drop into relegation places if that will get rid of him. We've got a good squad that possibly lacks a proper centre forward. But with MM picking the team and his tactics we've no chance.

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phillo added 16:25 - Dec 4 All I want for Christmas is Poyet/Taricco confirmed as new ITFC management team ...... that's all ....
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