Boss Mick McCarthy admits that it’s now unlikely that the Blues will finish in the play-offs this season.

Town are currently 12th, eight points from the top six, with 14 games remaining, including tomorrow’s home match against second-placed Cardiff City.

“It is [now unlikely that we’ll make the play-offs],” McCarthy conceded. “I’m not writing it off because I never would but we’re playing a team who I’ve just been told haven’t lost since New Year’s Day and they’re a very good side.

“There are some really good teams in the top six and we’re eight points behind them. There’s 14 games to play, the top six teams generally get one and a half points a game, maybe even more.

“So they’re going to get 21 points, that leaves us needing 30 points from 14 games and we’ve not had that form all season.

“So unless the form book completely collapses, it’s unlikely. But we’ll try to get to that tally.”

Is there now added motivation to finish ahead of Norwich after their late, late equaliser in Sunday's derby?

“I think that’s always the case,” he said. “That would be nice, to finish above them. I don’t want to finish 17th and 18th or wherever we finish, we want to be going up the table. But it would be pleasing if we did.”

Has the season’s biggest frustration been failing to claim all three points in games such as Sunday's when Town have been on top?

“I guess there have also been times when we’ve not played that well and we’ve endured and Bart’s made a save,” he reflected. “Burton could be one of them.

“Derby we beat away from home and yet they probably had about 20 shots and they had one fly past the post and missed a header late on, so maybe we got away with that.

“But the points we’ve given up, Sheffield Wednesday and Norwich, are appalling points to give him.”

He says they’re the type of matches which tend to remain with you as a manager: “Yes, of course. There’s lots of games I remember vividly for different reasons.

"I prefer to remember the good ones and the things that have happened and they don’t stick with me, they tend to drift away. It’s the bloody bad ones that keep coming back and haunting you!”

Photo: TWTD

FenboyBlue added 20:45 - Feb 20 God that is depressing to read but sadly realistic. Y'know it wasn't that long ago in the days of George Burley & Joe Royle that you'd look at an 8 point gap with 14 games to go and think that was do-able. Maybe that's a bit delusional but we did use to win most games back then, we had no fear of anyone, and it bred the confidence that we would win each game even if we didn't. Our mindset now seems to be avoiding defeat and grabbing a point away from home. We'll never climb a table thinking that. It's a very strange business model we're following. And I thought successful businessmen were obsessed with growth, so I'm not sure how you'd spin the past 2 years of being moribund.

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warktheline added 21:20 - Feb 20 @bluepatriot, so if we stop 'moaning' the Mighty Mick will drive us up the league! When you think you've heard it all......another one steps forward !
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blue75 added 21:28 - Feb 20 Careful FenboyBlue making comments like that people might start to think we should be trying to win games not play for the point. You can't win games without money Joe Royles budget must've been 20-30 million a season how we played back then!!😂😂😂
3

Lightningboy added 21:30 - Feb 20 Years ago my heart would still be saying we can still make the play-offs,8 points is do-able with 14 games to go.....But that was years ago...at the moment not only could I not care less with the current set up/lack of style but I don't want to get promoted as things are. World of difference between now and the 1999-2000 set up...if you don't understand what i'm saying or why i'm moaning then you don't understand what this club used to be about.

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baxter7 added 22:16 - Feb 20 I read on here people's comments about how well mcarthys done on his budget what a load of rubbish did any of you mcarthys fans watch Rochdale the other night playing good football against a premier league side their budget is a lot less than ours yet they played nice football yet our messiah mcarthy sets his team up not to lose even at home instead of going for it with attacking football that's all a lot of fans want and not the hoofball we have to watch home and away so please don't go on about his budget anymore it's rubbish

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heathen66 added 22:18 - Feb 20 Really ??? Having only picked up 10 points from the last 10 league games I thought we would have been still right in it. In all honesty we have been out of the play-off picture since September !!!
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therein61 added 06:59 - Feb 21 Maybe just maybe if you didn't set up for a point every game then we would have been in the top6?? just a thought from one who knows eff all Michael.
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BlueMachines added 07:02 - Feb 21 You have to be a ‘true fan' to qualify for getting a Norwich ticket due to their priority system. And if I recall they sang your football is .... fairly loudly. That speaks volumes.
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karls_dad added 09:51 - Feb 21 I have not been to Portman rd for a few years now, not a very well person should suffice, play offs unlikely? damm nigh impossible is more accurate!! People quoting matchday pricing as a reason for falling attendances? So will someone enlighten me as to what their average spend is, buy a ticket on the gate say Sir Bobby Robson end, the cost of a beer and a no doubt delicious hot pie? or even a cup of tea, as maybe next year if i,m well enough i will venture down from North Norfolk, i would appreciate that info, thanks

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Razor added 10:36 - Feb 21 Whichever way you slice the cake another WASTED season. I remember Joe Royle was once asked how he was coping with such tight pursestrings----his reply was that he did not even have the pursestrings!
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Northstandveteran added 12:35 - Feb 21 Karlsdad I have posted on here before about the price (apologies for repeating myself) The last game I attended was the Norwich game, and as previously posted I had no change from £60 and that really was doing the bare minimum. Vfm? Errrr, no
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blueboy1981 added 14:12 - Feb 21 blueheartXT ......... you obviously hadn't noticed ( so WAKE UP ) - we are already there. Why do you think the ground is empty ..... ??? Like I said : WAKE UP. - or you'll miss the next Bus.
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