Town boss Mick McCarthy admitted that the Blues were beaten by "a considerably better team" following Derby’s 2-1 victory at Portman Road, but was pleased with the way his side fought back after the break having been very much second best in the first half.

“My verdict is that we were beaten by a better team, a considerably better team on the day,” McCarthy conceded.

“I felt sorry for him, he had to make so many changes and he still had such a strong bench. My heart was breaking for Gary.

“They’re a good side, they’ve been very expensively assembled prior to Gary getting there but he’s now getting the best out of them.

“He’s a good manager as he proved at at Burton and Birmingham and they were too much for us in the first half, they could have been out of sight, to be honest with you.

“It’s really paramount that you don’t give a goal away from a corner kick as simply as we did when you’re playing against a good team. Up until then nothing much had really happened.

“That was a real body blow and they then all of a sudden looked like a real passing footballing team.

“I said they could have been out of sight because [Matej Vydra] should have scored immediately after the goal, Adam Webster’s struggling with his achilles.

“But then, to my team’s eternal credit, as they always do, they fought back and they’ve had them on the back foot.

“I know they’ve had other chances, but it made it at least exciting and it made it look like we’d had a go, which we have. We never do anything other.”

Regarding his team’s character, he added: “That’s never been in doubt about the team, they way they perform every week. No one ever comes off and says they downed tools or they didn’t work hard. Team spirit is never in doubt.

“I thought we passed it better in the second half. I changed the way we were playing in the second half.

“I’ll never know whether it was going to work or not because we were 2-0 down after four minutes of the second half after an unbelievable strike, a bomb that he put in the top corner.

“But I thought we did much, much better and at least made a game of it for the last knockings of it.

“We did end up getting a foothold in the game with Waggy and Joe up top and Bersant Celina in behind. It didn’t work completely, but it made us better.”

McCarthy was pleased with Waghorn’s set pieces, which were also praised by his opposite number Gary Rowett, one of his corners leading to Garner’s goal.

“There’s always some positives out of it,” the Blues boss continued. “He kept the pressure on because he put three in, three balls that they had to defend.

“And I have to say, I’d have to compliment them for their defending because we put a lot of balls in their box in the second half and they’ve had to put their heads on them and block them. They’re a good all-round team.”

McCarthy says he’s not yet sure the extent of Webster’s achilles problem, the defender having been forced off in the second half.

“No idea until tomorrow,” he said. “He’s come off. He’s put it in a bucket of ice, he’ll let it cool down, they’ll assess it tomorrow and we’ll find out more then.”

Asked how he will approach the transfer window, which opens on Monday, McCarthy responded: “Not with any great delight, I’m sure, because I’ll not be going out and buying players. Adam Webster, I think he’s got a sore achilles today, that might grumble on.

“I’ve lost pretty much all the midfield players, so we might need to have some recruits unless we get some injured players back. But we’re going to be looking to loan players, so it’s going to be a difficult January.”

The Town boss isn’t expecting any of his injured players back for Tuesday’s trip to Fulham, aside perhaps from Cole Skuse, who has been out with an ankle knock.

Derby manager Gary Rowett felt it was his team's "biggest win of the season" and was delighted with his team's first-half display in particular.

“It’s a difficult place to come, how many games have they lost here all season? Probably two or three," he said.

“They put you under a lot of pressure with the way that they play, they’ve got a real energetic side.

“But I just felt in the first half we blew them away with some really, really good attacking play.

"Our front four were unplayable at times and, in my opinion, we should have been out of sight, should have been three or four goals ahead at least.

“But when you come in having played so well, having missed those opportunities and you’re only 1-0 up, there’s a little bit of you thinks you’re going to have to go again because you know what Ipswich are like under Mick, they won’t let the game go, they won’t give up in any way, shape or form.

“We then got the goal fairly early in the second half, a great strike from Sam. I deliberated over the team, I knew every other part of the team but I changed the striker around about 15 times over the last two days in my mind and eventually I just felt he deserved a chance.

“He’s not really had an opportunity while the other two [David Nugent and Chris Martin] had had their chance and we needed to freshen it up. We were certainly rewarded by giving him that opportunity.”

Pointed out that it was a brave decision to leave out Nugent out at Portman Road where he has scored 10 in eight games.

“I know," laughed Rowett. "He only told about six people that he’s never not scored at Ipswich! But it’s such a difficult decision and that was part of my thought process

“But also part of my thought process was who might we play at Sheffield United on Monday and Nuge has been excellent at home.

“Sam’s goals will give me that decision to make but physically it will be hard for any of that front four to go again with that same zip and pace.

“But Nuge has been great and, like you say, I think he’s scored every time he’s played here. But I’m just not one for those types of statistics; you’d pick every player against their former club.

“For me you have to pick the right team in your mind and I think we got that just about right today."

He added: “I think that’s the biggest win of the season for us today because of the way we had to do it.

“I thought Waghorn’s delivery is probably the best I’ve ever seen in terms, just of his pace. We saw that in the home game where he set the goal up and it was right on the money, it’s so difficult to defend those moments.

“I’m disappointed with the area they scored in, within the posts, three or four yards out, that was poor marking.

"As soon as Ipswich scored their goal they then put you under pressure, like a dog with a bone. They get a chance, they get a lifeline in the game they perhaps didn’t deserve and they go for it.

“They’ll try and hunt you down and make it difficult and in the end we had a left-back playing left wing, we had a right-back playing holding midfielder and we were just trying to stop them from getting that chance that would get them back in the game.”

Photo: TWTD

nineteenseventyeight added 20:53 - Dec 30 Lady luck was there today, we should of been 4 goals down by half time, I love you Chambers but you was awful today, Celina was awol most the time, Ward was clueless and if we sell Bart then lady luck will go with him.
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dukey44 added 20:54 - Dec 30 Not being funny Mick but derby played how their manager told them too? They play to their strengths and not how we played? But we seem to just defend and hoof it cause that's your strengths and how you tell your players to play? As far as I understand EVERY TEAM in this division is better than their position says on paper so what does that Make your team then Mick? Please close the door behind you and let's get someone that wants his team to play to our strengths that's if we got any left after you've ruined most of our players now? Bye Mick ✋✋✋

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RegencyBlue added 21:00 - Dec 30 Not a great MM fan myself but given what he had available today the team he started with was pretty much the best available. Never expected anything from this game and a 2-1 score line doesn't even begin to show the gulf in class on show. The real mistake by MM was the team put out against QPR. That cost us three points!
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Rensham added 21:16 - Dec 30 Could have won against QPR with this team. MM's Tinkerman never works.
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blueboy1981 added 21:45 - Dec 30 ...... isn't it amazing how every team we play is 'a good team' ? - when some are blatantly there for the taking - repeatedly not done so, by our Managers incompetence most of the time. Excuses have been exhausted - but some still trawl for them.
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norfolkbluey added 22:57 - Dec 30 I feel quite sorry for MM in these circumstances. What can you expect from a team of misfit reserves. Let's face up to the situation of no money. ME has no real commitment to the club and he can't trust his manager with his money or he would have invested in some quality players in the mid field as well as at the back. The team looks light weight . You need to build a strong tall group of players in this league to escape. Huddersfield are a team who have done just that! Lets just get through to the end of MM's contract and survive yet another year in the championship. A record perhaps, especially with the little or no investment investment.

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Rensham added 22:58 - Dec 30 Oi Mick !! you're not some elder statesman pundit pontificating on the opposition. You're the Ipswich Town manager who should be begging to keep his job for the rest of the season.
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TimmyH added 23:00 - Dec 30 agreed...so fed up of him going on about the opposition in post match interviews when we lose, so far there must of been 10 clubs that are going to the play-offs that we've played.
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TimmyH added 23:02 - Dec 30 Huddersfield had quite a few loanees when they went up last season...
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BillyBaxterwasbest added 01:17 - Dec 31 What a lot of moaners,and give up quick charleys you are, if you cannot get it quick you throw your rattles out of the prom, kiddywinks! Grow up life is not a bed of roses, people like MM and ME work very hard to bring success to our club and all you can do is MOAN. GO UP THE ROAD TO NORFOLK IF THATS ALL YOU CAN DO AND GOOD RIDDANCE.
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Rensham added 05:52 - Dec 31 Amazingly still only 5 pts off top six. MM has more lives than a cat.
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ChrisFelix added 09:03 - Dec 31 Didn't expect anything from Wolves & Derby. These two teams I expect to get automatic promotion. But how a manager with no much experience put out that team against Rangers amazes me. Sorry but Kevin Bru never was good enough & Ward is an attacking midfielder
0

Barnesy added 09:59 - Dec 31 If we had the same fight we had in the last 20 mins then maybe we could have got a point. I am not a big fan of Didz but felt he did shake it up when he came on.....just need that end product!!
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dukey44 added 10:20 - Dec 31 Billybaxter what team you following then? So u like what you seeing happening to our club? By the way I've followed The Boys since the 70's ? Evans doesn't seem to care now and the managers tactics are some of worst I've ever seen? The team plays how he tells them, so you happy with long ball tactics, good on you then!!! WE are tosh simple take tinted glasses off you may see the same as the majority sees now.... poor football!!

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terryf added 10:53 - Dec 31 I'm no fan of McCarthy but some of us need a reality check. Our midfield has been decimated and we were well beaten by a Team that cost several millions of pounds. First half we were not at the races and, Derby's movement always seemed to create an extra man in space. By contrast we were static and even during our offensive spell in the last 30 minutes you could see why Derby do not concede many goals as they regroup behind the ball so quickly. I agree that McCarthy's tactics are often baffling but the bottom line is that unless the Owner is prepared to splash the cash and assemble a decent squad that can compete against the big boys a mediocre mid table position in the Championship is the best we can hope for many years to come. The likes of Huddesfield's achievement last year will be a rarity.

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TimmyH added 10:54 - Dec 31 Do one!! Billybaxterwasbest - finger continually stuck on the down arrows? as you love Mick so soooo much, and I should say to the detriment of Ipswich Town Football Club.
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Dissboyitfc added 11:05 - Dec 31 Billybaxterwasbest.... i wish i could mark you down twice for that comment! You refer to fellow town fans as give up quick Charles, an absolutely pathetic statement, we are all entitled to an opinion but the facts are this, we are the championships longest serving team! The team are no better in fact probably gone backwards since Magiltons time, played some lovely football under Jim.We are a team heading nowhere i think we are entitled to express our displeasure, its what the site is for!!! MM out asap!!!!!!!

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Swn98 added 11:15 - Dec 31 prebbs why take him to Barnsley he lives in Bromley!!
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Swn98 added 11:21 - Dec 31 Barnsey i think that even the supporters who usually disagree with me will admit that Mcgoldrick underperformed yesterday what was MM supposed to do he only had one other option the underperforming Sears this i think sums up our problems.
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dangerous30 added 11:25 - Dec 31 Well I hope you all have a great 2018 and the team gets some injured players back. Just remember we are all town fans and have different opinion.
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Swn98 added 11:34 - Dec 31 pebbs007 have you asked young ambitious Gary Monk if he wants the job with all the restrictions placed on him by the owner, plus the burden of the so called fans webb site twtd when the required results dont materialise and the negative obscene chants from the terraces when he doesnt produce results.
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Battyboy added 12:00 - Dec 31 MM the team you put out each week cannot keep the ball!!! If you don't have procession how an earth you expected to win.
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AdyCOYB added 12:04 - Dec 31 Went to see Town for the second time this (1st against Bristol C) , appeared to use the same tactics for the 1st hour. Felt sorry for Garner yesterday, couldn't have been great trying to win headers against two tall CBs and when he did when a header had to chase it down himself! No one looked to anticipate it. Derby appeared to have an extra man in midfield although we must have had a compacted midfield with one up front? Would have changed tactics after 20 mins. not an hour! Look more threatening down the flanks. Wasn't a game for Celina if we were playing it in the air to Garner, who needs it at his feet to attack full backs. Unlike some comments on here, i thought Iorfa did ok getting down line creating crossing opportunities. It was a frustrating afternoon, i hope we can get some our squad back from injury as we do not appear to have much depth. Lastly please be kind as this is my 1st ever post and is just my opinion from where i was watching.

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blueherts added 12:55 - Dec 31 Having been to last three games - first time in a while - Wolves and Derby are way ahead of us in terms of resources , playing style and ability - even though we nicked a victory at their place afew weeks back The one game that sticks with me is the QPR Shambles - a team there for the taking and we could not muster any real effort , even in the final 20 minutes . prob one of the worst games I have seen at PR in terms of quality by us and them Celina is a decent player but either as an impact 20-30 minutes or played in an offensive set up - why not bring him until 86 minutes ? MM after a hopeless effort last season did start brightly and as a supporter , financially , of the Academy , the likes of Downes , Nydam , Wolfenden , Dozzell , Morris etc is really exciting and where we should be focusing - which to be fair MM started to do This midfield injury pile up is crazy , and if you took 7 or 8 midfielders out of any team - the main engine room you stand little or no chance Waghorn and Garner have been good on the whole but without a midfield no strikers will flourish QPR are a bad team and we took 1 point out of 6 Derby are a good side with some big strong athletic players who coast a lot and we took 3 out of 6 The season defining moments are the next month - and if we fall away , get knocked out of the cup - we need some plan and direction for next few years The academy is strong , the U23s playing well and in Klug and Nash a good foundation is being built We may well lose Bart - who can blame him , more money doing the same job at a higher level who wouldnt take the opportunity ? I am strangely excited about a future where youth will come in and to be honest I cannot see MM here next season . He seems resigned to that

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nineteenseventyeight added 14:23 - Dec 31 Billybaxterwasbest...give up? just think any supporter thats is a teenager right now has not seen any decent football or their team in the Premiership, im lucky ive seen them since around '76, feel sorry for the younger ITFC fans
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