“We’ve got 10 games to play, we’ve got to play better than that,” was manager Mick McCarthy’s assessment after the Blues dismal 0-0 home draw with his former club Wolverhampton Wanderers.

“In the second half they were the better team but they haven’t won, have they?” McCarthy responded when told that Wolves boss Paul Lambert had said he thought his side did enough to win.

“[As was the case with Brentford on Saturday], they’ve had the better of the second half again, why that is I don’t know.

“Well, actually it might be that we’ve got some good players and they’re actually quite a good team, despite their position.

“I’ve no idea why they’re there, look at the players they’ve got with Marshall and Bodvarsson, they’ve got a £13 million striker on the bench [Helder Costa].

“They’ve got good players, Weimann cost a chunk of money, he was a Premier League player. That’s their front three. Dave Edwards up behind, I think they’ve got good players.

“I watched them against Reading on Saturday and actually they should have got something out of it, they could have won that as well. But they’re not doing and the only positives I’ve got is that we didn’t get beat and we got a clean sheet.”

Asked to assess the seven-game unbeaten run, which only includes one win, he said: “Thank goodness.”

He added: “If I look back everybody was looking upon [the February games] with increased trepidation and fear and I said at the time we’d probably go and play well in those games, we went to Villa and won and picked up some good points.

“And it’s just as well we have and that’s another point from what’s been a bloody tough season.”

McCarthy was pleased with his side’s defensive performance: “All the talk about changing the shape and changing the tactics but we weren’t playing that well that we could have [switched it around], it was a case of sticking with it and making sure we got something out of it, which we did.”

In the second half Luke Chambers was audibly geeing his side up, which McCarthy said he’d expect from his skipper.

“I would hope so and of course he was and he would, he’s a good captain, Chambo,” he continued.

“I asked them after the game, it was a rhetorical question, ‘Did anybody not try as hard as they should tonight?’.

“And I know full well they do every week but we played against a good side and we have to give them a bit of credit and I’m not going to be giving my lads stick, other people do it better than I do.”

Does he believe the February run took a lot of his players, including some who haven’t played a lot of football this season? “I’m not looking for excuses. We’ve got 10 games to play, we’ve got to play better than that.”

Did he feel Emyr Huws was missed? “It would appear so but I thought Toums played very well, he gets on the ball and passes it forward. But Emyr’s been excellent.”

McCarthy says the Wales international is confident he’ll be over his hamstring injury in time for Saturday’s trip to Barnsley: “I think so, he’s quite positive about it.”

Reflecting on the table, the Town boss says the Blues, who are 16th, nine points off the relegation zone, aren’t yet safe: “I think we’ve got a bit to do, I still think we’ve got to scrap it out.”

He admitted he was frustrated not able to take three points from one of these two games - “Of course” - with the final whistle signalling the first boos for several home matches.

Reflecting on that, he added: “We’ve got to play as we have in all the games and the expectancy is that we get the three points.

“But even if we’d have played better and there had been more chances, I just think that’s going to be the case for me now, if we don’t play well here and we get beat I’m going to get it in my earhole. Well, so be it.”

The Blues boss, who is still undefeated against Wolves since taking over at Town, two wins followed by five draws, was pleased to have Tommy Smith back in his starting line-up after nearly six months out following back surgery but says the New Zealand international began to feel the pace before he was replaced.

“He was finding it tough after half-time, a couple of things went against him and it was the right thing to do to take him off,” he said.

“It’s a long time to be out and it’s a pretty physical league, a very physical league and it was a high intense game. But it was nice to have him back, though.”

Wolves boss Paul Lambert, whose side ended a run of six successive defeats in all competitions, said: “I thought in the second half we were really good, I thought we deserved to win the game in the second half.

“I thought in the first half we were pretty comfortable, I didn’t think there were too many chances.

“In the second half I thought we were well on top, hit the bar and hit the post and had lots of the ball coming to a really hard place.It’s a big point and it stops the slide that we were on.”

Photo: TWTD

muccletonjoe added 06:37 - Mar 8 Must admit. They should be giving out medals to anyone who wants to watch this for another season. Not entertaining on any level.
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shakytown added 06:40 - Mar 8 You select the team. Coach the players and supposedly set out the tactics for victory. You are bloody awful at all parts of you job Mick. Time to retire to the paddock and let someone else try to sort out this mess.
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martin587 added 06:54 - Mar 8 You've lost the dressing room and the players respect now MM.We are fed up with your pathetic excuses.There is nothing left here for you now.Please just go.!!🚴🚴
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superbob added 07:11 - Mar 8 our 2nd half performances are poor because the players are poorly conditioned, also why we get so many injuries and injuries to new signings!! a whole new regime is needed at 1st team level!. i heard a rumor that even though the club have it,the 1st team don't use that GPS stuff the big clubs use because mccarthy doesn't like it!!
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Jewels added 07:13 - Mar 8 Absolutely unbelievably bad. Two points that are really making me angry. Why does he played Spence instead of Emmanuel? Emmanuel is our player he isn't bad and will only get better with experience. Also I cannot believe Moore came on again ahead of pitman and sears. He is tall but cannot win a header, inexperienced, slow and weak. They must feel absolutely insulted.
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runaround added 07:27 - Mar 8 Mick, it's your team following your instructions & tactics. If they aren't doing it you put in players who will! As the only changes you make tend to be removing the youngsters, one must assume you are happy with the way we're playing?! After some better performances in February these 2 home games were a chance to really move forward & give fans hope but we've failed spectacularly. Mick is wrong when he said he'd get it in the ear if we don't win, it's about entertainment & trying to win, being on the front foot like we used to be with Tabb in the side. Mick, your time here is up & things will get worse until you go

15

martin587 added 07:33 - Mar 8 Mr.Evans,PLEASE do the right thing and release MM of his duties today.This club cannot carry on in this diabolical way.WE DESERVE BETTER.!
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phillo added 07:34 - Mar 8 Correct me if I am wrong but if you aren't playing well (by Micks own admission) - especially at home - against a team generally considered to be below par don't you at least try things like MAKING ALL YOURVSUBS !!! & with enough time to affect the game (not 7 min) I'm incredulous..... and please don't say "but it's Evans fault.... he gives poor Mick no money" - Sears,Pitman both available to Mick ...... BUT HE CHOSE TO NOT TOO ..... or does Evans also tell "poor Mick" not to use subs as well ??!?! Muppet

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GiveusaWave added 07:57 - Mar 8 Jewels Emmanuel did play instead of Spence.
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Radlett_blue added 08:26 - Mar 8 You just KNEW Mick was itching to say that Wolves had a £13m player on the bench, didn't you?
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TimmyH added 08:34 - Mar 8 I wonder where Mick would sit in the league on the managers salary's?...I bet he'd be in the play-off places. As said he's here for the money and wouldn't be at all surprised if he see's his contract out. Mick out!
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muhrensleftfoot added 09:06 - Mar 8 Against a team near the bottom that have lost 6 in a row, how can you play with such defensive tactics. I rate Skuse as a defensive midfielder, but it's no coincidence that our better performances in Feb were when he was injured. I like the three at the back and wing backs, because it gives license to the midfield to be adventurous. Why isn't Dozzell given a chance in there now? It would suit him. Why bring on a non league forward when you have quality on the bench in Pitman & Sears? And Mick, Wolves were good were they? You're having a laugh. Sorry Mick it really is time to go now. I don't think we will ever be relegated under you, but the abject lack of entertainment for nigh on 2 seasons is really testing my resolve to buy a season ticket next year after 42 consecutive years.

14

Daleyitfc added 09:15 - Mar 8 The first question asked should have been "Was there any point this evening when you considered trying to win the game?"
10

TR11BLU added 09:16 - Mar 8 Well if hes here next season I wont be making the 3 1/2 hour round trip to home games week in week out. Just go before the last breath is sucked from our club
11

rozeeboy added 09:29 - Mar 8 One of my best mates is a Wolves fan and we always got to both fixtures - but not this season. Both teams a dross right now and he certainly wasn't going to shell out £37.50 for a ticket to sit in the away section. Seems we were both right in staying at home. Amusingly, the guys at Sky Soccer Special went to Portman Road twice last night, once at 25 minutes of the first half (probably coz they were contractually obliged) and the second when Wolves were pressing in the 84th minute. Summed the game up nicely.

12

brittaniaman added 09:45 - Mar 8 I can see the Stubborn Dino Annoying us Fans again by choosing a midfield of Skuse, Douglas,and Diagouraga (all though the latter is the best of the 3) just to Spite the fans, as he has said before that he does not care what the fans think of him ??? I AM IN CHARGE !!!!!!
7

KiwiBlue2 added 10:00 - Mar 8 Shame that Huws was not on the park as I think that he would have made a difference. Also thought that Pitman should have started. I will be very interested to see the line up for Saturday at Barnsley. If we are to do more than inch ourselves to safety point by point McCarthy has to grasp the nettle and play either Pitman or Sears partnering McG with Lawrence back to wide midfield and Skuse on the bench and Huws and Diagouraga in central midfield. Huws and Diagouraga are much more likely to give the front two better service through the middle. Fingers crossed but dont hold your breath.........

5

thundercat600 added 10:09 - Mar 8 So, why do ITFC play negative football/hoofball, I can tell you why its because that's the way their manager wants them to play. Maybe its because he has a useless bunch of players, after all a donkey will never be a good as a thoroughbred.
7

Bluetone added 10:12 - Mar 8 Another dismal ground hog day interview. For goodness sake Marcus has some compassion and let McCarthy go now.
8

planetblue_2011 added 10:26 - Mar 8 He keeps with a stale forward line against Wolves, which didn't work against Brentford. Yes Lawrence & McGoldrick are the best skilful players at the club & yes Lawrence has scored 10 goals. The big question is WHY is he leaving the best finisher at the club in Pitman on the bench. can't he see in that 2nd half performance we needed him up there to give something of a goal threat. I asked this same question a couple of weeks back where is Pitman?!!! WHERE IS PITMAN MICK, play him next game for fxxk sake....

6

Cheshire_Blue added 10:33 - Mar 8 McCarthy leaves, still no money, what chance his successor doing any better ?
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Lightningboy added 10:40 - Mar 8 We have a tired old manager and we're turning into a tired old club..I honestly dread next season if we Still have McCarthy churning out this dirge. On paper we have a decent enough squad to be in the top half of this league,pushing for the play-offs..unfortunately we have such a negative manager that i'm fairly certain he'd take 46 goaless draws through a season if it was enough to keep us mid table. This HAS to change if we're going to move forwards otherwise it will be more of the same next season folks..if not worse (can you imagine worse?) ITFC and our owner need a damn good kick up the 4rse before it's too late.

9

Razor added 10:45 - Mar 8 Was there over 15,000 in the ground last night?
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StowTractorBoy added 10:50 - Mar 8 MM you are deluded if you think Wolves were a good team. They were very ordinary and we were shocking. Why the team was changed from Saturday I will never know. Kenlock and Spence both played well against Brentford and are young and hungry so why rest them. Smith was rusty and nowhere near ready for his return and was fortunate not to give away a goal. A point gained but only because Wolves should have won the game - its back to square one after last night and difficult see when the next win will come from. In football however you never know.

4

Radlett_blue added 10:52 - Mar 8 Razor - 15,000 seats sold, which will include probably >1,000 season ticket holders who didn't show.
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