Town boss Mick McCarthy hopes the Blues’ performance in Sunday’s derby with Norwich City at Carrow Road and the 1-1 result will help repair a relationship with supporters which he admits has been “broken at times”.

January, during which Town exited the FA Cup at the hands of non-league Lincoln City, marked a low point in the 58-year-old's four and a half years at Portman Road with various polls, including one on TWTD, indicating that the vast majority of fans felt it was time that McCarthy, who celebrates his 25th year in management next month, moved on.

The Town boss himself said he would consider his future in the summer, despite having another year on his contract and the club having an option for a further two seasons.

But February has seen an upturn in form with the Blues taking seven points from five unbeaten games having drawn with three of the Championship’s top five - leaders Brighton, fourth-placed Leeds and Reading in fifth - and at Norwich, who are eighth, as well as inflicting Aston Villa’s first home defeat of the season.

"I would hope that performance and result goes a long way to repairing our relationship with the fans," the Town boss told BBC Radio Suffolk after yesterday’s game.

"It's been broken at times. They've not enjoyed it, they've not been watching good, attractive, winning football. I get that, I've not been enjoying it particularly.

“So, over the last five games I think they've seen us play really well, and I would think helping stop Norwich in their tracks during a promotion push will endear us to our fans a little bit more."

Photo: Action Images

Green_Army added 12:07 - Feb 27 Possession NOR 53%-47% IPS Goal Attempts: NOR 23-4 IPS Shots on Target NOR 7-1 IPS Corners NOR 14-1 IPS Yes we grabbed a point, but it's far from a great performance. MM set up to be organised and to play for the draw again but it's mentality that will never gain us promotion. It could of been worse though.
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magic added 12:15 - Feb 27 Money invested in squad in millions. NOR 57-1 IPS Great result Mick. Thankyou!
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christiand added 12:16 - Feb 27 I wouldn't say yesterday's performance is going to galvanise us fans. We were hanging in there a bit, clinging to that point - thanks Bart! I felt we kept the ball better, but really lacked a cutting edge in the final third - Ruddy could've been subbed off due to his lack of involvement. MM is better focusing on the performance of previous games this month rather than yesterday to justify his comment. After a very testing 4 or 5 weeks of fixtures, I really hope we can build on this and start getting some wins on the bounce.

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blueblood66 added 12:23 - Feb 27 Mugging us off with a draw at scum? Please. One win in 7, beat a rubbish Villa side woop woop. 15th place doesn't have me jumping for joy Mick.
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Gonefishing added 12:24 - Feb 27 No it wont. With the exception of Bart we were poor
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dirtyboy added 12:24 - Feb 27 People need to realise that only two or three of our players would get a look in, in that Norwich squad. Some seriously talented players, that, given a moment, can and will punish you. Point away from home against that team is good, no question about it. Not the level of the last few games, but not the same opposition either, that team should be top two on paper, they're a dangerous team and our boys were under huge pressure to give us fans something yesterday without messing up...boys did good...now on to the next few games and push on and finish the season with a flourish.

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Cloddyseedbed added 12:36 - Feb 27 Out of 37 games played Bart has been mom 15 times. I think us supporters have a right to be pee'd off with the owner and management as it's been backs to the wall in most games. Yesterday, ok we got a draw but didn't play as well as we had the last few games. Was it because Skuse was back in midfield? Was it because we have no main striker? We all know, it's because the club is starved of money and has extreme cost cuts in place for whatever reason that we are struggling. One or 2 classier players would make a huge difference to whoever is manager to work with. Season ticket sales will be interesting in the summer, will season ticket holders once again be told next season we will be better and have a stronger squad. I personally think that statement over the last few seasons has been proved to be a lie and supporters are being taken as idiots by the owner. The club is being run into the ground.

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BergholtBru added 12:36 - Feb 27 Mick. Most of us don`t have a problem with you and appreciate what you`ve done. It`s just a small number of clueless numpty heads who have little idea of how football works who make a lot of noise.
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vanmunt added 12:36 - Feb 27 Dogged back to the wall performances, stubbornly hanging on to an away point is sometimes a good result.. stubbornly hanging on to a point week in week out regardless of opposition is boring dross. Anyone that tries to tell me that hoofball is acceptable due to lack of investment is a pillock. I am still firmly in the Mick out camp.
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barrystedmunds added 12:37 - Feb 27 In four and a half years of Mick being in charge have we really progressed? For me, no. If anything we've gone backwards. We're pretty damn awful to watch, our brand of football is probably one of the most dire spectacles in the Championship, so for all the ravings of an upturn in fortunes this last month, I'm still of the opinion that Mick needs to do one! I know the "careful what you wish for" brigade will be out in force but it's a risk I think we need to take.

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PortmanTerrorist added 12:39 - Feb 27 Everything MM says about his team is about right, and that we set up to draw against a team with the talent available to the Scum is a realistic position to take. However, that argument is blown out the water when you consider we set up to draw (at best) against a non-League side ! Mentality needs to change and/or the management of the Club - maybe those to changes are interdependent...still. Sorry Mick, a few draws, a fortunate victory, and an uptick in performance from abysmal to acceptable is not what am looking for. We were a 2/10 and now maybe a 6/10. WIth this level of investment we need to be 8 or 9/10 every game to have a chance in this league to really progress. Mick either needs to get more from HIS players or secure more investment in the squad from ME. If neither are happening he should walk and he probably thinks the same is my guess. As soon as we are safe we need a decision on direction from Mick and ME.....not wait until the Summer as Mick suggests. That might suit him but for OUR Club that will be too late for any kind of planned rebuild by Mick or anyone else that is appointed.

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osborne added 12:41 - Feb 27 Personally there is nothing to mend. I've trusted Mick through the good times and the bad times. I think Mick has done a sterling job since the day he arrived given the paltry funding he's had to make do with. I'd hate to see him go only for a new manager to be given the funds that Mick should have been given. I believe that if Mick had been allowed the money to invest in players he would have used it wisely and successfully and we would have been in a better place by now. Can't see anyone coming in and managing the club as well as Mick on the current budget - so why not give it to Mick? He deserves a rousing welcome of 'Super, super Mick' on Saturday IMHO

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essextractorboy93 added 12:41 - Feb 27 Great away point and nobody can deny that. Everyone was fearing February and yet we have come away unbeaten and unlucky not to win a couple more games. Give Mick a bit of money in the summer and we will be back up there next season. He has spent 1.5 million in the time Norwich have spent 50 million! There is no way any other manager we could realistically attract could do a better job!

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MattinLondon added 12:44 - Feb 27 For most of the season (and under MM management) the football has been appalling. True the budget hasn't helped but if a Sunday league team can string a few passes together then do can a professional football team. We played well yesterday but Bart kept us in the game. I think a change in management and thinking is needed. I wish MM well and am grateful for what he has done. But I just think it's time for him to go.

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bluey123 added 12:48 - Feb 27 Idiot manager idiotic statement he has no idea how the REAL ITFC fans feel he has been awful the 2 years football the worst in our history even Keane and Jewell we actually saw football . Please you McCarthy lovers look at the facts 2 wins in 10 strikers that can't score and the only players who show anything are loans and short contract players so doubt any will be with us next season . Take Bart and Lawrence out of this team and we would be relegated by now McCarhy OUT

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nodge_blue added 12:49 - Feb 27 Doesn't the green army user name in the top post indicate where their loyalties are? What a muppet.
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ClausThomsen added 12:54 - Feb 27 It's too little, too late - you've been here 4 years and had your chance. You've won back a bit of respect with the February run but 2 poor seasons aren't wiped out in a month. Just think, Gary Rowett got Brum to 7th with a far sh*tter squad than we have. Get him in ASAP
2

howdonblue added 13:04 - Feb 27 MAGIC I Totally agree ! With what McCarthy has had to spend I thought we did ok ! I thought spence going forward looked good but defensively a little rocky ! I thought Berra was superb IMO . And Dave mcgoldrick was superb a constant thorn in the Norwich side. I've not been mcarthys biggest tactical fan this year however I have never doubted that with the backing he deserves from Evans he can get us out of this league . But Evans and his cronies have to. Back the man

24

blue75 added 13:04 - Feb 27 If McCarthy thinks a draw against the inbred's is a result to celebrate, we're in more trouble than I thought the football was god awful!!! As McCarthy said this league is bonkers anyone can beat anyone, we just don't do it very often or very well. For he'll never mend any bridges he's just not an Ipswich manager. We needed him to save us and sort out the mess. For that I'm grateful and always will be . But now we're heading the same way as his Sunderland and Wolves teams down. Let's see if I can get more minuses than yesterday!!! McCarthy Out!!!

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OldClactonBlue added 13:04 - Feb 27 Won't be changing my mind until I see Bart look to pass the ball to one of players rather than lump it down the field and back to the opposition.
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TractorCam added 13:10 - Feb 27 I certainly wouldn't say Mick set up for the draw, we kept the same attacking line up that has been played last few games. Ultimately Norwich are a better side and we couldn't seem to get anything to work, whether it was trying to pass up from the midfield or lump it from the defence. Brilliant build up play for the goal, passed it around nicely. Shame we had to concede so soon but did mean we were able to have a few more go's at them. Naturally as the game comes to a close we were sitting back, as you'd expect by that point, but I wouldn't say we set up for a draw from the start.

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pragmatic added 13:15 - Feb 27 lets all do a Blackburn/ forest/ Coventry etc!!! wake up you "numpties" Mick in!!!
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SpiritOfJohn added 13:22 - Feb 27 It is good to see Mick extending an olive branch to the fans and he has admitted that previous performances have not been good enough. That is progress. Now I want to see him pick some attacking teams, including some of our promising youngsters in preparation for next season. Also, let's attempt to sign Huws and/or Toums before we get too carried away with an upturn in fortunes.

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cday908 added 13:25 - Feb 27 I, along with many others, admit to have had doubts about Mick over the last season and a half. I feel though, genuinely, that people need to wake up a bit. For the budget been given to Mick, he's done absolutely fantastically and although it's been suggested before, I genuinely feel that this summer more than any other, Evans will see and rise to a need to invest. Investment aside though, this month, we've competed with the best in the league. Should have had Brighton and Leeds and yesterday, could've had an early penalty which would've been a game changer. I think the performance yesterday was one of unity - a real grinded team performance. Mick has the dressing room and I think that matters. I would urge people - get behind your team. Nothing's ever straightforward nor perfect in football but as with a few seasons ago, a little bit of positivity and faith can go a long way.

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itfctrent added 13:27 - Feb 27 Yesterday's result will not mend your relationship with me personally, Mick. I understand that the budget has frankly, been woeful and that to some extent the style of football that we have had to endure over the past couple years has been necessary because we have not had the players to play the Ipswich Town way. For me, my main problems with yourself are that you have consistently played players out of position a la Freddie and Chambers which has completely drained the confidence out of them (it must be said that they are looking much better since being played in their proper positions, coincidence, no!), the inability to apologize for some of the sh1te that has been served out this season especially. We have not had an apology from our performances against Lincoln, Derby, Forest to name but a few. Finally, the constant retorts that you make about the fans in press match conferences. That is totally unacceptable! That is why fans in their thousands have left since you joined. The performances and results this month have been better, without a doubt, but yesterday especially, we played woefully and if it was not for Bart (AGAIN!) and Jerome missing several chances, we would have lost. Thank you for your time, but I'm afraid your time is up. The sooner this season ends, the better.

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