Blues boss Mick McCarthy wasn’t unhappy with Town’s display despite their 1-0 defeat by Sheffield United at Portman Road as they exited the FA Cup at the third round stage for the eighth successive season.

“My assessment is I thought we played well up until the goal,” he said. “I’m not unhappy with the performance.

“I’ve just been asked if I was unhappy with the performance. No, I’m not unhappy with the performance, I’m unhappy with the result.

“And it probably sums this moment in this time up when we have an appeal for a penalty turned down [when Daniel Lafferty appeared to handle Luke Chambers’s early header].

“It could have been given but I’ve no idea what a penalty is now having seen them all this week. But it did hit his hand and it could have been given.

“And then [Nathan Thomas] hits one right in the top corner, that was the difference in the game, certainly in the first half.”

Asked whether he was disappointed that his team didn’t create more in the second half, he said: “It was just our final pass, our final cross wasn’t good. They’re a good side, they defended well, they sat back in and made it difficult to break them down.”

Towards the end the crowd made their frustrations known for the first time in a couple of months.

“It’s only been waiting, it’s only been in the background, it’s never gone away,” McCarthy reflected.

Did he understand the reaction with Town not registering a shot on target? “I can’t really control people’s emotions or reactions, can I? I can only do my best to try and get the team to win games.

“And if we do I guess we get cheered and if we don’t, at this moment, I guess we get jeered and people are wanting change. I can’t help that.

“I think they’re a bit sick of the same old and they want a change, don’t they? I guess that’s understandable. But for the moment that’s not happening.”

The prevailing mood going into the game was less than positive with supporters concerned at players potentially moving on.

Asked whether he understands given that and another early cup exit why spirits among the support might be low at present, he added: “I go back to my earlier comment, with the players I have at my disposal I try and make sure that they play as well as they do and what they always do is give everything, to be fair to them, and try and get a result. And we need to get one asap.”

Defender Tommy Smith is close to joining the Colorado Rapids, Kieffer Moore Barnsley, while David McGoldrick has been linked with Cardiff and Birmingham, and Crystal Palace have shown interest in Bartosz Bialkowski, although we understand have now moved on to another target - understood to be Getafe's Vicente Guaita - following discussions with the Blues this week.

Regarding New Zealand international Smith’s absence from today's squad, he said: “He’s poorly today.”

Quizzed on the interest from the Colorado Rapids, which TWTD reported earlier this afternoon, he added: “Apparently so. I haven’t seen any pictures tweeted in the first class lounge in Heathrow yet, so I’m hoping he’s still poorly. Well, not hoping he’s still poorly, but you know what I mean.

Asked whether he knows anything about the proposed switch, he added: “I’ve not spoken to Colorado Rapids.”

McCarthy says he is not actively looking to sell players - “I’m not looking to get shot of players, no” - and neither is owner Marcus Evans: “No, we’ve got to have a team that competes. We were on the back of the top six four weeks ago. I’d like to be tagging along the back of that again. I don’t want to be getting shot of players.”

The Town boss says it's not the case that the club is giving up on the season with the Blues 12th, still only seven points off the top six.

“We need to get a win. Let’s not start looking at the play-offs, let’s start turning it around and making sure we get a victory," he added.

"We’ve got Leeds coming here next week, it’s not going to be easy, and we need to win really.”

Blades boss Chris Wilder thought his team ought to have made the margin of victory more comfortable after the break.

“I think we had some good chances just after half-time to take the game away from the opposition, so we were a bit frustrated that we didn’t," he said.

“Both teams made a few changes and fortunately our changes were maybe just a touch better on the day than the opposition changes.”

Regarding Thomas’s brilliant winner, he added: “A good goal, a good strike.”

Photo: TWTD

Gcon added 20:31 - Jan 6 Take Blueboy with you. Please.
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Gcon added 20:33 - Jan 6 On another note, I'm away and caught bits of the match on the radio today. I thought it was big of Jordan Spence to do his bit on the radio, after the impact of his red card the other day. He's a very likeable, eloquent and bright lad.
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blueboy1981 added 20:42 - Jan 6 Gcon .......... plenty to say of no substance as usual, when you've had time to trawl the excuse diary - but I note - NOT there . just do one along with your messiah. Shows how high your expectation standards are to support such a Dinosaur. Sleep well - rest assured your mate Mick will.
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LILYDRAIN added 20:43 - Jan 6 I used to be proud to say I was a Tractor Girl but not any more. What would Sir Alf and Sir Bobby say?
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Pilgrimblue added 20:50 - Jan 6 Don't like the language BUT just wish Mick would go home to Bromley and not return. Evans failure to sack him after Lincoln has cost him and us dearly so hope he now mans up this week. Appoint Klue/Nash to hold fort until proper search is carried out. Fans would support that win or lose. If there's no change then I'll be making my feelings known next weekend.
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MicksZzzTactics added 20:54 - Jan 6 @martin587 Good spot-on post ...like the overwhelming majority of posts here tonight, thankfully lol (Simply the ONLY manager, and severely 'Delusion of Grandeur' suffering manager at that! of a professional and also "officially ambitious" football club on PLANET EARTH that could possibly make such a beyond GROTESQUE statement / post-game assessment after such an dead-awesome hyper anemic showing! and this btw against a freaking reserve team from mighty mighty Sheffield! Aye I has have explained and in much more painstaking detail before: The dreaded Dino is *certifiable* off his nut ....and then some!!!!!!!!!!) However my main point is actually this = What's most alarming imho & speaking of what also literally "beggars belief": How ANYBODY among our ultra esteemed :-) :-) fans in their "right" frame of mind can seemingly endlessly continue to be COMPLACENT with this manager (and his so called awe-inspiring "accomplishments") ....not to speak of *unconditionally* WORSHIPPING him, absolutely "beggars belief" Martin!!!

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kevinocallaghan added 20:58 - Jan 6 Suffolkboy and ChestnutSe, good to hear realism and reason from you both. Haven't people taken notice of our unbelievably long list of midfield injuries ? We were depending on an unfit Hyam and Bru today. Can't blame Mick for not wanting to chance losing Wags or Garner for league games where we need them more than a cup game . There's been more positives this season than we've had in a long while. Also Bosmans and frees are the obvious route to take this window, as once our own talented midfielders return, we can only realistically have do many on our books. Won't miss D McGoldrick either . Too hot and cold for me . Has shown similar apathy towards Ireland duties !

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Bluewelshman added 21:11 - Jan 6 I heard him say "..not disappointed about the performance.." on the radio, and immediately thought "F**K YOU". I saw someone put a comment in the chatroom during the match saying "..Micks been in football for years, I'm sure he knows about it better than ill informed fans like you lot..". Really, MM's wide experience of football, and he thinks that todays performance is acceptable...again to Mick and the prat in the chatroom...F**K YOU. COYB...oh yea, and Mick out.

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leftie1972 added 21:25 - Jan 6 The rats are starting to desert the sinking ship, Smith going, Mcgoldrick going, Skuse will go next and then we're in League 1.
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kevinocallaghan added 21:34 - Jan 6 Don't panic Mr Manwaring !! We won't be in league one . Please.
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ScottCandage added 21:40 - Jan 6 This is all Mick had to say: "I was disappointed in the result, I was very disappointed that we couldn't muster a shot on goal, but I was pleased with the effort of the lads, especially with such a short squad." Then nobody really would have had any problem with Mick. But he didn't. He's digging his own grave. (And agreed with many, he couldn't give Drinan a few minutes for Sears?)

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BerlinBlue added 21:44 - Jan 6 Oh dear. Give us back the real ITFC.
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bluebudgie added 21:49 - Jan 6 This is the real ITFC Berlin Blue !
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norfolkbluey added 22:21 - Jan 6 OMG what has to happen before MM gets the push. Could it be letting the team slowly slide towards the bottom of this league with only a couple of games to go? I can see Norwich overhauling us soon to complete the misery. Having a long injury list is no excuse as you only have to see that SH UTD had a reserve team out today that beat us. Our attacking line are clueless and have been for a long time. THATS DOWN TO THE MANAGER. ME for the sake of your loyal fans get someone in fast or there will be so few next season that the club will be unviable. It can happen just look a club like Coventry.

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Theipswich added 22:24 - Jan 6 Should anyone be surprised ? The worst manager probably in our history ...the worst football which is a disgrace to our heritage. How on earth do you expect to win a match if you don't attempt to shoot at goal...words fail me...SHOULD HAVE BEEN SACKED YEARS AGO
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Tractorboy1985 added 22:29 - Jan 6 Mick I've met you at numerous events... however I won't be meeting you no more! I've felt sorry for you being hired by the corrupt Evans and having your hands tied! However clearly specsavers have a new advert with out manager!!! Happy with that performance? It was truly embarrassing! Maybe 1 shot on goal at best?? This club needs a new philosophy from top to bottom!!! Evans billionaire owner Ipswich fan?? You tax dodging deluded little hermit... if any true Ipswich fan had money they would clear the decks.. new manager.. new players.. get rid of the deadwood.. Knudsen chambers kenlock bru sears mcgoldrick! 12,000???? Joke!!! 2 reasons... main= Evans... 2nd mick! FOME FOMM

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Umros added 22:40 - Jan 6 That cause you are robbing the club whilst we pay your wages, maybe if you'd have to actually pay out to watch that tripe you might have a different view........then again you probably wouldn't cause you don't know what your doing. What a joker.
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algarvefan added 22:40 - Jan 6 I don't really care any more who the manager is, who's in charge, who holds the purse strings but PLEASE can we put out a team capable of having a fecking go and playing good football whilst attempting to do so. Win lose or draw I will support anyone who will bring football, entertaining football, back to Portman Road!!!!
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cranky_old_tractor added 22:55 - Jan 6 We desperately need something fresh around IP1
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pazzy added 23:04 - Jan 6 to win you need the best goal scorers on the pitch not sitting beside it we all love fa cup and we the fans get ignored every year club going nowhere fans going elswhere
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dukey44 added 23:30 - Jan 6 Suffolkboy sorry but you talk tosh we are a very badly run club by a tosh owner and management team and you can't see that so what do you watch at Portman rd that everybody else seems to watch?
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BrettenhamBlue added 00:34 - Jan 7 How can any manager say they are happy with a performance when we had zero shots on target? It's like a Sales Manager saying they are happy with how things are going when they made zero sales at a major event. Completely deluded! Great to see MickszzzTactics back :). Only positive to take away. And feel sorry for Connolly, he must be wondering what an earth he's walked into a lot of the time. Just one more moan. Why were Chambers and Iorfa constantly time wasting when we were 1-0 down? Very, very strange tactics.

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liam88 added 01:07 - Jan 7 I like the fact that he can't buy players just loans and freebies to end of season and a lot of his tripe are being cleared out as well. Indication that he's off in may.
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GiveusaWave added 04:38 - Jan 7 ...not a single shot on target and I'm growing increasingly concerned about our upcoming fixtures. Hull City and Burton have very winnable fixtures coming up and if the gap between us and relegation turns into 9 points then we should all start worrying. We are not an in-form team and look like a relegation side. Last season so many posters said we wouldn't be sucked into a relegation fight...and they were proved wrong in the last few weeks of the season. Could easily see this happening again.....

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Rensham added 07:36 - Jan 7 At the moment MM's more likely to get a new contract. At any other club in the football league he'd be sacked or he's resign. But no he's still here. I expect Milne, Evans and MM are desperately trying to work out a way to explain a new MM contract to the fans. ME needs to sort out MM contract NOW. or there won't be a football club or any supporters.
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