Boss Mick McCarthy admitted the Blues’ dismal goalless draw with table-propping Burton Albion was “probably the worst game” at Portman Road this season and was his side’s “worst performance”.

Town never looked like getting more than a point out of what had been billed as a must-win match against the division’s bottom club, who claimed their first ever point against the Blues.

“It was [as frustrating as it gets for a manager],” he said. “Probably the worst game here all season and our worst performance when I consider how we played and won games earlier in the season. It was tough.

“Everybody is asking me why that was and I say maybe the opposition had a bit of a bearing on that as well because I thought they played well.”

He added: “I think it’s always a combination of both [how we play and the opposition]. I’m not going to blame any one thing but I would imagine [Burton manager] Nigel [Clough] has come in here and said he thought his team played well and they acquitted themselves well.

"I think you have to give some credit to them, but we were disappointing, it was a poor performance by us.”

After a poor first half, McCarthy was pleased with the way his team started the second period but felt they were unable to maintain that improvement.

“We started [the second half] well, but we didn’t get anything from it and it then fell into that malaise again unfortunately,” he admitted.

McCarthy was disappointed that the Blues were unable to build on last week’s 2-0 win at Sunderland.

“Of course. At the end of it though, you just make sure you don’t get beaten. We didn’t play well at all. It was a tough game, they’ve made it really hard for us today.”

The Blues boss had praise for keeper Bartosz Bialkowski, who made two crucial second-half saves: “He’s great, isn’t he? He’s a good goalkeeper.”

McCarthy was also pleased with Mustapha Carayol, who made his Town debut from the bench: “Very much, I thought he played well when he came on, Muzzy.”

The home crowd - the lowest for a league game in almost 20 years - made their feelings regarding McCarthy and his style of football clear on a number of occasions, as they have so often over the last year or so.

“I tell you every week, the only thing I can affect that with is if the team plays well and we win,” McCarthy said when quizzed on the fans’ reaction. “I’ll continue to try and do that.”

Should the players take some responsibility having failed to win a game which they went into as firm favourites?

“That’s the problem, isn’t it, 'firm favourites'?” he reflected. “That doesn’t do us any favours at all.

“We got two goals last week at Sunderland and we could sit in and catch them on the break and make sure it was tough for them to play against us. I thought they did that to us today, certainly in the second half.

“I’m more than cool to get stick for the team performance. There are times when some of the decisions we make with the ball or some of the final passes [aren’t what they should be], but they’re my players, so my responsibility. I’m cool with it. If it takes it off them I’ve no problem.”

McCarthy has often praised his side for their never-say-die spirit and keeping going even when things aren’t going well and says this afternoon's display was no different.

“And they did today, they kept going and a less together and committed bunch of lads could have got beaten in that game,” he added. “And I still go back to it, I don’t see Burton as being [whipping boys].

“I just see the players they’ve got on the pitch, they’ve got a lot of Championship players. And I would imagine they thrived on the fact that we were firm favourites today and there’ll be some suggestion that we took them lightly or we didn’t do it, which if anybody does questions my professionalism and that of the players.

“We didn’t, we haven’t played well and they’ve done well. It’s a combination of both unfortunately.”

McCarthy, who arrived unusually late for his post-match press conference, wouldn’t discuss what he said to his players after the match.

“I wouldn’t tell you,” he said. “That’s my private business. I wouldn’t allow cameras in the dressing room ever, unless we’d won the league and they come and see us popping the corks or we’ve qualified for a World Cup when we let them in, I think that was nice for posterity for them. Other than that, I wouldn’t. It’s private what I do and how I do it.”

Burton boss Nigel Clough was in no doubt his team deserved t win: “Of course, it’s two points dropped. The performance deserved three points. The performance at Aston Villa [when they lost 3-2] deserved something last week.

“To play as well as we have done in two games and only get one point is very harsh on us.”

Despite only picking up just a point and remaining bottom, the draw ended a run of five defeats on the trot in all competitions and Clough says his side is moving in the right direction.

“Of course, from where we come from from the Reading game 10 days ago,” he reflected. ”We keep harking back to it and how bad we were, and we were, to put in two performances like that away from home gives us a lot of encouragement, but only one point.

“But it’s nice to break the run of defeats and nice to keep a clean sheet that we thoroughly deserved today.”

Clough says Darren Bent might have taken his opportunity had he been playing more regularly.

“It’s his second game in eight months, nine months, so you can’t be too harsh on him,” he added. “But if that goes in I think we win the game. But there were numerous other situations as well today.”

Regarding Kyle McFadzean’s late header which Bialkowski saved superbly, Clough said: “I’m not sure if it came off him or the defender. But it certainly ricocheted and it was a brilliant save.

“Ultimately that’s what’s stopped us as much as chances, I think that save was a magnificent save.”

He added: “We tried to make positive substitutions to try and win the game and tried to win it right up until the last minute with the freekick. We couldn’t have done any more today apart from score.”

Photo: TWTD

jollyroger added 19:28 - Feb 10 Out out out out out out out out out out do you get it maccathy you and your crap football are not wanted . Please Mr Evans do the right thing and put us out of our misery
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MicksZzzTactics added 19:29 - Feb 10 CHUCKLES! Priceless Dino summary .... but fairly honest except we didn't play quote "well" at any point of the game mind you! ... and THANKFULLY the majority of this year's obligatory post game public relation "stunts" of his has actually become a lot less deluded of late. But now Ladies & Gents: Let's play a little 'Who wants to be a Zzzillionaire' shall we... Question: When was the last time Muck referred to a game, as the quote "WORST game WORST performance for quite some time"??? (Hint: It's not that terrible terrible loooong ago! lol) Easily disposed of ultra dysfunctional, gutted and anemic-looking (although they staged an awe-inspiring 3 goals comeback today in Bristol!) Sunderland of LAST WEEK suddenly looks little more than an mere *aberration* from the norm or "standard" of late ....in our MUCK-NIFICENT 2-3-5 run since before Christmas doesn't it :-) :_) And ohhh imho we didn't even *really* play remotely AWESOME as a unit at the Stadium of Light, from what I have seen, hear or read, especially considering how utterly poor they were once they had missed a couple of decent early 1st half half-chances! So to sum all that up what does playing soooo relatively many quote "WORST game WORST performance" within a fairly short space of time really tell us &(i.e the fans) & of course Indifferent Marcus (if he cares one iota at all that is!) about how Mick is HANDLING, MOTIVATING or simply CONNECTING with his assembly of 'Proper Blokes'?????????????? (Personally me thinks not particularly well nor respected to put it mildly!!!.... But as always: NOBODY (well nobody not named Leon Best or Maitland-Niles's angry mum! lol) dares to "rock" the sinking boat, apparently! Sad Sad Times indeed!)

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hadleighboyblue added 19:31 - Feb 10 I agree with Mick Mills when he says it's not just the result , but the performance . That was truly awful today , we were lucky to get a draw , Burton played the better football and had more passion . Totally unacceptable , surely ME can see that things have to change , the sooner the better before we lose more support . If ME doesn't act the club will stagnate even more

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Mark added 19:34 - Feb 10 All the normal arguments about the opposition having more to spend go out of the window when we play a team like Burton, yet still they manage to show us how football should be played, passing and moving the ball. It was similar to the home against against QPR and Sheff Utd (with all their changes in the cup), we were very poor and it is just not good enough. I hear the arguments about MM working on a small budget and making good signings, and I am not suggesting appointing a rookie manager who could take us down, but suppose we appointed someone like Nigel Clough - he knows the Championship and lower leagues, he knows how to wheel and deal (on much smaller budgets than at Ipswich), and his sides know how to pass the ball. We could do worse. I think it is time for a change now. We just cannot send out the season ticket renewal packs offering up another season of MM, look at the fans walking away and what the fans who remain chant.

21

Carberry added 19:35 - Feb 10 One shot on target against the bottom team and they had two. Where on earth are we heading? It's not like we battered them and they fought a backs to the wall rearguard action, we couldn't beat Burton, the whipping boys of the division. It is time - he has to go and so does the owner but both those things could be very difficult to achieve.
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brittaniaman added 19:47 - Feb 10 WHOSE FAULT IS THAT THEN DINO ????????
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Seasider added 20:01 - Feb 10 Think Mick McCarthy may have had a bit of go in the dressing room today,and quite right too.There are so many sides who keep the ball better than us;in fact just about all the teams. Our full backs were dreadful,dont think Skuse is 100%;but the Dinosaur plays him together with Knudsen and Chambers, regardless of their performances;so as Manager he is responsible for the present results and malaise running through this club. Today Bart gets top mark,followed by Mussy.Chambers never moves forward and pumps the ball high to the corners.On occasions good passes;but because the two central defenders are so static together with the two defensive mids there is no cohesive pass and move forward in the Ipswich team.A couple of the others were passable;but with half the team giving below standard performances, consequently we witnessed a dire match with the first shot by Ipswich on target about ten minutes from the end. It is difficult to think that Evans has any ambition for this club,especially if he leaves McCarthy in post;so the theory that he is running this club,not for the fans certainly,but for some Corporate Tax reason will gain credence.

14

Pinewoodblue added 20:07 - Feb 10 Ca we please have a different photo for Mick's press conferences. Mick McCarthy and cups just don't seem to go together.
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BillyBaxterwasbest added 20:11 - Feb 10 We have a good professional manager, a good chairman, a great stadium and 50% of our fans are normal, the other 50% want it all now, like small children who can't get what they want they bleat and moan all the time, grow some, or join the Norfolk lot they deserve you!
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blueboy1981 added 20:21 - Feb 10 BilliyBaxterwaebest .......... ?????? - of course, great idea - the Club can afford for that to happen now can't it ....???? Perhaps it's you who needs to grow some, and become a realist, that may be a good start. Not at all sure your namesake would have agreed with a single word of your post - maybe you should change it ..... ?? and show some respect to a once great Town player.

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Dissboyitfc added 20:23 - Feb 10 Billybaxterwasbest... Priceless you do realise how long we have been in this division? we hold the record. when was the last time we had a cup run? I think we have been more than patient, unbelievably so in fact! MM OUT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!
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Pilgrimblue added 20:30 - Feb 10 The cups are just like McCarthy, they have no substance! He was shown up by Clough who's team cost less but outplayed Town. I and many more wil not be buying ST if this clown is given two more years. He's wrecking our club but only Evans can stop him. Why give Skuse two more years? We had an option for one year so what's the hurry! He showed today his good points (breaking up play) and worst ( dreadful passing and poor movement). Playing Downes would be a step forward and he's ready while Skuse will be in his mid thirties.

10

warktheline added 20:35 - Feb 10 Silly billy! Unreal, but entertaining nonetheless !
6

Northstandveteran added 20:35 - Feb 10 BillyBaxterwasbest. Seeing as you down every post I write, I would like to send you an olive branch by saying that I do agree with you, in part, regarding your last comment. Portman road is indeed a great stadium
19

Bert added 20:39 - Feb 10 This game was about as bad as the smell in the loos. If this was arguably the best available team to put out today, is the Manager to blame or the players ? Perhaps both are. That said, most posters on here will go for MM because they don't like his brand of football. Nether do I but today it was the player's who just did not get their act together from the first minute.
5

heathen66 added 20:42 - Feb 10 Sorry Mick...we were out played by the bottom side.They had a plan and we didn't. They passed it around nicely and were unlucky not to get all 3 points. Now Burton have a lack of finances but were far better than us. I expect those BA supporters were proud of their team and of their manager. That was embarrassing, You were let down by your players and you let yourself down with you lack of any tactical nous, But worst of all you let us (the supporters of this once great club) down.

8

billlm added 20:48 - Feb 10 Absolute crap pee you wnker
1

heathen66 added 20:52 - Feb 10 Mark... Good shout RE Nigel Clough Just think what he could do with a budget like ours, however unfortunately I expect most of next seasons budget has been spent on new contracts for Chambers, Knudsen and Skuse. Today we were lucky to get ...nil !!!
2

cat added 21:01 - Feb 10 Honest from McCarthy, but I did not really expect any different. Ironic that he happy to take the critism away from the players, cause today it's worked a treat. Credit to Burton though for being an organised unit, if nothing else! Unfortunately for MM this type of performance has been an all to regular occurrence over the last 3 years, and it don't take much to upset the restless ‘natives'. Time to freshen things up. I'm all for an up and coming manager in the Cowley mould, who will bring our own talent through, opposed to some mercenary off the managers merry-go-round of ‘has been's'.

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wayway added 21:11 - Feb 10 '''Be careful what you wish for''' I wonder if 'Different Class Dougie' has been fixed up with a club yet!!!
4

bobble added 21:12 - Feb 10 ode to mick....thanks to leonard cohen.. "So the great affair is over but whoever would have guessed It would leave us all so vacant and so deeply unimpressed"
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bobble added 21:12 - Feb 10 ode to mick....thanks to leonard cohen.. "So the great affair is over but whoever would have guessed It would leave us all so vacant and so deeply unimpressed"
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bobble added 21:12 - Feb 10 ode to mick....thanks to leonard cohen.. "So the great affair is over but whoever would have guessed It would leave us all so vacant and so deeply unimpressed"
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RoyalAscotBlue added 21:15 - Feb 10 Perhaps the players are just as disappointed as the rest of us... hearing that you're going to be sticking around after the summer? Maybe that's why they couldn't be bothered to show up today? Again, just like the rest of us!
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dukey44 added 22:03 - Feb 10 billybaxterwasbest sorry but I personally think you are a complete moron there you go vote me down but I think it's true as you talk tripe!! The club is a total mess!! So u enjoying the tosh week in and week out? You not a relative of the Irish moron in charge are u??
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