Boss Mick McCarthy was frustrated that his side conceded two bad goals after the Blues’ 2-1 loss at QPR, a game he felt Town should never have lost having put in a “terrific performance”.

“If frustrated is another word for completely pissed off, then yes I am,” McCarthy responded when asked if he was frustrated by the result.

“What went wrong? We conceded two bad goals, that’s what went wrong. We created loads of chances, the second half was a terrific performance, but we haven’t scored and we’ve given a milky goal away.”

He added: “Very happy with the performance, I thought we played really well, it was a good performance all round.”

But he admitted it was frustrating that the Blues have again been unable to record back-to-back wins, something they’ve not managed since the end of last season.

“Two good performances but a really good performance and a good result and a good performance and a bad result, unfortunately,” he continued.

“You’ve more chance of winning if you’re playing well and we have played well today but if you give goals away like we have, then it’s going to be difficult.”

Regarding QPR’s winning goal, which came in the 83rd minute via Pawel Wszolek after he had got in behind Adam Webster, he said: “It was a great header from Jonas and the ball came back and it was a poor clearance.

“Inevitably if you don’t clear it properly it ends in behind you, which is where our ball should have gone and they were sticking it in the net instead of us.”

McCarthy was pleased with Tom Lawrence’s overall performance as well as his excellent goal: “Tom’s been a thorn in their side all afternoon, certainly in the second half when we went to 4-4-2. He created chances and he scored a great goal.”

He was also impressed with David McGoldrick’s display, although said that the Irish international was disappointed not to have scored.

“Didz is back at it, he’s playing well,” McCarthy continued. “He himself says he should have scored, he’s disappointed that he didn’t.

“If we don’t score a winner, it should have ended one-all, we shouldn’t have lost that game.”

McCarthy explained why he started his side in a 3-5-2 system for the first time: “I wanted two up front and I knew they’d be playing three in the middle, so I matched them up them up there.

“The shape of the team had nothing to do with the goal, I thought we played well in the first half, after five or 10 minutes I thought we started and played well. We dominated up to the goal.”

Why did he switch back to 4-4-2 at half-time? “We played well but they were sticking it in behind us and in the channels and having a bit of joy and just wanted to get Wardy on, a bit more of an attacking threat.

“I thought Josh played well, it was nothing to do with his performance why I took him off, I just wanted to go to 4-4-2.”

McCarthy was pleased with Josh Emmanuel and Myles Kenlock’s performances in the wing-back roles.

“I thought they both played very well,” he added. “Myles, unfortunately, was struggling with his calf when I took him off. I might have changed a striker, been more attacking, but I couldn’t, that was forced upon me.”

The introduction of Jonathan Douglas rather then Andre Dozzell prompted boos from some Town supporters and then chants of the 17-year-old’s name.

“I guess that’s what they want to see,” McCarthy reflected. “We’re away from home, it’s not like the game on Friday. It’s a different game completely.

“Poor old Kevin Bru was running on empty and we’re coming here and it required Dougie in there. They’d got three in there at one stage and we were playing 4-4-2, so we might have got overrun and we didn’t.

“We’ve just given a [bad goal away]. The criticism can be levelled because we’ve lost, but we’ve given two piss poor goals away in a really good performance.

“It gives people a stick to beat me with because we’ve lost but ultimately that’s bullshit, to be honest with you.”

Does the defeat change his plans for next week’s FA Cup third round tie at home to Lincoln? “Not really, I’d not given it too much thought before today. But no, I’ll be playing as strong a side as possible, we need to win it.”

Photo: TWTD

Penguinblue added 19:53 - Jan 2 Whenever I hear the announcement at Portman Road about offensive language etc I think of the sheer hyprocracy of the 'management' of the club and the appalling and foul mouthed 'manager' we have to suffer
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heathen66 added 19:53 - Jan 2 Yes Mick we did play well, however when the game was there for us to win, You in your wisdom decided to see if you could shut up shop and grind out a 1-1...again. A Bru running on empty is still better than Douglas and Skuse with a full tank !!! You are too worried about not losing, and that is killing us.
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yorksblue added 20:01 - Jan 2 Anyone fancy our chances vs Lincoln? Will it be Mm's "strongest side" for cup comp's, or a genuine strong side?
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naa added 20:08 - Jan 2 Nothernblues, Keane took over a team near the play offs and spent a few million. Mccarthy took over a team adrift at the bottom and has sold millions. To compare them directly in this way is pointless. Things aren't going well of course but I think there's a very real risk of relegation if we change managers. I truly believe that Mick is mostly over achieving with the funds he's had given to him. People are moaning about our style of play, which I find bizarre considering that this year is the first under Mick when we haven't been idling lumping it up the pitch. Plus I've no idea why people think we are a premier league team. Since Bobby Robson left 34 years ago we've spent a total of 9 years in the top division. Only under Burley did we have any consistent period of quality. But I understand the worry people have. Just be careful what you wish for.

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blues1 added 20:11 - Jan 2 Cheshire blue. So u think that 15000 town fans use twtd but only 396 have signed the petition. Many don't read this site. If like me they do, they don't necessarily sign. Lilke me, they haven't, but Want him out. The facts are that 80%+ of town fans want him to go. So the minority, presumably like you still support him. A petition of this kind is just a symbol of the feelings of the fans. A poll if u like with a target number of votes. Many of us prefer to voice our opinions rather than sign petitions but doesn't mean wedding agree with the point of it.

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Bluetone added 20:19 - Jan 2 The motto of some of the world's bravest soldiers is "he who dares wins" unfortunately we have a socalled Manager who is not only stubborn and arrogant but is also a coward.
4

itfchorry added 20:21 - Jan 2 You are embarrassing this once great Club - Save for a very very small deluded numbers You are not wanted here anymore - McCarthy OUT
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itfchorry added 20:21 - Jan 2 You are embarrassing this once great Club - Save for a very very small deluded numbers You are not wanted here anymore - McCarthy OUT
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norfolkbluey added 20:22 - Jan 2 MM must go soon. To have lost against QPR who have had such a bad recent record is a disgrace. I thought MM was a hardman defender with a water tight defensive history. We hardly ever score on regular basis and now we're leaking bad goals like sieve. Why is ME so scared of asking him to leave? Could it be the club is £30,000,000 in debt with a team worth £3,000,000 at best. Still we remain rooted in mid table going nowhere. So disappointing for the fans. I blame the fans because we are bovine with the occasional moo! Still MM has the players confidence in the dressing room!!!

5

Walk_the_Wark added 20:56 - Jan 2 Nearly everyone on here wants him out now... SIGN THE PETITION!!!! Or invade the pitch??? Do something!! Cos moaning on here every week sure aint going to get rid of him
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phillo added 21:06 - Jan 2 Seen something I've never seen at a football match before today .... a manager who has completely destroyed a great atmosphere & turned 2,000 fans against him with one substitution!! Everyone was ecstatic with the first half performance -even tho we had conceded we were clearly the better side & it could only be a matter of time. Team applauded off at half time. Few mutterings after the break when Mick clearly sobered up & realised he isn't a progressive attacking manager and needed to revert back to his previous dour self .... but although not so dominant we were still clearly the better side and you could argue it worked with the goal (but I remain conviced that it would have come anyway AND that way was much more enjoyable to watch ..... but hey let's give some credit if it's owed) Team energised, crowd energised, pushing for winner, clearly dominating a poor QPR when ..... what's this ..... another sub ..... DOUGLAS !!! WTF Cue booing, no singing, toxic atmosphere, anti chants and eventually the requisite winner for the opposition. Enough is enough ... no matter he much he defends it that was a negative substitution at entirely the wrong time and he lost us the game ..... end of. I'd have more respect for him if he acknowledged it may have been wrong but no he's taking the fans on again. Well Mick most of us have been with this club longer than you and are likely to be longer after you (although the way things are going maybe not!!) so f**k off .... I'm not interested in you telling me I know nothing .... I know how we used to play, I pay & travel 100's of miles to follow the team to feel proud & be entertained (or at least hopeful!) .... so thanks but no thanks .... on you way Dino

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d0nk added 21:07 - Jan 2 Id love a stick to beat you with mick
5

oldbri added 21:08 - Jan 2 Did I get it wrong or did we loose because Berra made a stupid back header and Webster let a man get behind him and then did not chase him down strong enough .
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d0nk added 21:10 - Jan 2 Well said phillo. Its time this dinosaur became extinct
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Vanisleblue2 added 21:12 - Jan 2 Dozzell gives a Masterclass (Dec 29) Dozzell warms bench for 90 minutes 3 days later. Douglas comes on McCarthy, please show some respect to the Ipswich fans...you are basically saying to us we do not know our team or football and that you alone are right every time. You are not...results, performances and players have shown us this over 25 games. Also if you dare play the reserves on Saturday and we lose to Lincoln City with your total disregard to the FA Cup and to the amazing supporters of our great club and their hard earned money, I will hound you out of Portman Road from Canada. I will not listen to the crap that the team you put out should have beaten Lincoln anyway.

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rightwinger added 21:14 - Jan 2 A lot of poor losers on here tonight!
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pup12 added 21:33 - Jan 2 I don't buy knenlock injury,to convienent .Anyone else or am I going crazy ????
8

Brownie added 21:36 - Jan 2 Oldbri & others correct re how the goals were conceded. Stats always tell half a story. Did MM substitutions cost us the game? No. Did they stop us from trying to win the game? Yes. If you were the manager and wanted to win the game would you bring on Douglas to play alongside Skuse? They simply don't work together and are certainly not a positive & creative force for the team. If young Dozell can't be trusted to play 20 minutes after his performance the other night then don't put him on the bench. When would he brought him on - when we were 3 up and cruising which was never going to happen. What was the point of him & other positive subs such as Sears being on the bench if not to bring them on to try and win the game. The frustration is the team played well. I just couldn't believe the substitutions and we all said so as they were made. The blue army were singing 'were going to win 1 all' and to be frank I think MM believed them. Great support though. Just lucky I am already grey! COYB!

15

manualthetisfanclub added 21:41 - Jan 2 The bloke has arrogantly stuck 2 fingers up to supporters again. Played different formation for 1 half, then soon lost his nerve to go back to his boring 442, with the game fairly even. If kenlock injured, can understand Knudsen sub, but as for Douglas instead of dozzer, that's just poor. Game was there for the taking. But happen to think Mcgoldrick had a poor game today, from what I saw, his touch was indifferent, passing poor and his shooting more suited for rugby. Apart from Lawrence, this team carries no threat at all! The sooner he goes the better, because they are only going one way and that ain't the playoffs

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oldbri added 21:43 - Jan 2 Brownie , I agree entirely. I was just trying to give the forum a little bit of Ballance.
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martin587 added 22:14 - Jan 2 Then why did we ? MM. Incompetence.!!
1

superblue70 added 22:27 - Jan 2 The last remaining mm lovers have really lost it tonight, most are more defensive than a mm team sheet
7

Surco72 added 22:34 - Jan 2 If you wanted to revert back to 4,4,2 why did you leave the centre backs that keep making mistakes on and take off a right back who seems to do well whenever he plays ? And if your left wing back is struggling but you want to win why not bring on an attacker as wing back rather than a poor defender ... ? Sears has played wide most of the season anyway . You went for the draw , sat back and f..ked it up again you negative , boring stubborn man

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TB42 added 00:19 - Jan 3 McCARTHY: “It gives people a stick to beat me with because we've lost but ultimately that's bullsh*t, to be honest with you.” Guess the arrogance has returned after short term apparent humility.... 1-1 at 48 minutes Defensive substitutions at 69 and 77. He reverted to type and was playing for the draw; no more. You do not need to be a rocket scientist to work that one out!! Responsibility is his and his alone.

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alfromcol added 03:46 - Jan 3 I would have some respect for him if he admitted for once that he was wrong.
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