Town boss Mick McCarthy said he apologised to his players at their impromptu post-match on-pitch meeting as he felt it was his presence which led to the toxic second-half atmosphere during the Blues’ dismal 3-0 defeat to Hull City and impressed upon them the importance of sticking together.

Asked what he said at the meeting of players and staff after the final whistle at an again fractious Portman Road, McCarthy said: “That we’ve got to stick together, absolutely. You just make sure everybody knows that. I don’t doubt that for one minute, they’ve got my support and I’ve got theirs.

“And it was a tough old evening but it really is a matter of sticking together and not fragmenting because if we do then it’ll really go pear-shaped and I don’t the atmosphere represented the way we’ve been playing, to be quite honest.

“A bad night tonight, but we’ve played against a bad team with good players. And fundamentally it’s a disgrace that they’ve been down there all season long with those players, so fair play to Nigel Adkins, he’s finally got them going and he’s got a good team.”

McCarthy said his side started well with Jordan Spence hitting the post in the eighth minute: “We did. We conceded a soft one but it looks like a good strike but I don’t think he should have got a shot as free as he did on the edge of our box.

“[Allan McGregor] made a good save from Wardy and I think it was from a goalkick which should have been a corner that they scored their second from.

“We just got out of shape, to be quite honest, and they picked us off. And they were a good side then, they were better than us tonight.”

The Blues boss explained his six changes in the third game of four in 12 days: “And we’ve got Saturday to go. Waggy and Callum were probably the bigger changes but both have played the games, both are on nine bookings, if they get another booking they’d both be suspended for two games.

“They’re the squad, the squad I’ve got and I made the changes and I thought that we could compete with the players I put on the pitch.”

Asked about the toxic second-half atmosphere, McCarthy said: “It was horrible. It was awful.”

Did it make it difficult for his players? “It’s dreadful, as I said to them at the end. To their eternal credit they kept going actually, not one of them stopped. The heads didn’t go down, they kept running, they kept tackling, they kept chasing, they kept trying to play.

“And I thanked them for that and I apologised because it was probably my presence there that caused that atmosphere and they shouldn’t have to play in that.

“But that’s the way it is at the minute. I just thanked them for their efforts and made sure they all stick together and that everybody saw that we are as one, which we are.”

How does it feel on the touchline when chants are being aimed in his direction? “It feels lovely, of course it does. It’s a lovely feeling.”

Does it get to you? “It’s not nice but I can stand that. I can stand it so long as the lads are with me I can stand anything.”

Does he feel it’s undeserved? “I don’t think it represents how we’ve played recently and the results that we’ve had.

“But it does seem like unless we win that’s always going to happen now. Not a lot I can do about that except win, try and win.”

Is winning now enough to get fans back on side? “You tell me, you’ve got the ear of them better than me because I don’t listen to them or take a great deal of notice.”

After the opinion was offered that it probably wouldn't be, given the impasse has gone on for so long, he responded: “If that’s the way you think. But that might not change my opinion.”

Hull manager Nigel Adkins was delighted with his side's victory which sees them move nine points from the relegation zone.

“It was an excellent away performance from the players,” he said. “That’s back-to-back victories. We’ve come away from home, got a clean sheet and three goals.

“We did all the things you’ve got to do to win a game of football. Our performances have been consistently good.

"There’s no flukes when you get the result. Yet, you take nothing for granted, we have to keep building.”

Photo: TWTD

Shotleytractor added 23:39 - Mar 13 Kieron Dyer for new boss anyone?
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rollercoastertown added 23:42 - Mar 13 Ipswich town, is becoming like a ghost town.
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chrisbobs added 00:12 - Mar 14 I'm a season ticket holder in SBR Lower. The mood of the crowd was fine at kick-off, albeit with low expectations for understandable reasons. The "toxic" atmosphere that Mick talks about only really came to light when we went 0-2 down - through poor defending against a team struggling to stay in the league, whilst we had barely worried their back line. If Mick picks a decent XI (personnel and tactics) and those XI "put in a shift", trying to win the game, then the atmosphere will be fine. But neither happened today. Losing at home to Hull is unacceptable. Going 5 matches at home without scoring is unacceptable. 2 positive points for the crowd today, firstly the youngsters got nothing but positive feedback, Morris in particular. And secondly, some of the gallows humour was very good (though I doubt Mick agrees :))

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MicksZzzTactics added 00:25 - Mar 14 @Lightningboy Absolutely right you are mate! As other has also noticed tonight, the beyond arrogant, unscrupulous & constantly living "In Denial" especially about his own 'Me Culpa' & l football tactical shortcomings uber toZzzer, has now astoundingly SUCCUMBED to not merely make this a childish "ME (him) against THEM F@CKERS" (the clear cut *majority* of us fans -- and thus a large chunk of those who ultimately facilitate his lofty pay cheque! -- and feasibly a as much as roughly 3/4 *majority* of us fans, as according to all five local polls within the last year which again all had a truly superb 'Margin of Error' & 'Confidence Level' compared to the professional survey industry's own high standard!!!) ... but now also sadly trying his darn best to additionally make this "THE PLAYERS against THEM F@CKERS" debacle?! How LOW can you go Dino??? Evans & the itfc board: Kick this ultra obnoxious HAS-BEEN manager out of our once proud & revered club NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

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jas0999 added 00:51 - Mar 14 It's a disgrace he's still at the club. Evans needs to do something. Annnouncement on his future needed tomorrow.
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ericclacton added 01:08 - Mar 14 Super Mick, top man, loves the fans.....
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blue75 added 02:14 - Mar 14 McCarthy still doesn't understand it's not the winning of games we're moaning about if it was just about points on the board we'd all be happy, but it's not it's about the brand of football he forces apon us. Can no one explain that to him we don't hate Mick McCarthy the man just the manager.
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muccletonjoe added 04:34 - Mar 14 I should think everyone at the club are very pleased we are playing away at weekend.
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black_shuck added 06:05 - Mar 14 It's all about me. everywhere I manage its all about me.
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deano85 added 06:13 - Mar 14 The strangest thing of all this, is that ME has never come out and publicly defended MM... If he wants him to stay, you would think we would, and openly state that its his fault with funds etc THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED
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Kropotkin123 added 06:29 - Mar 14 "I don't listen to [the fans] or take a great deal of notice" - One of the fundemental issues really. If he listened or took notice, he would understand. Worse than the "toxic" atmosphere is the amount of people that didn't turn up.
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runningout added 06:32 - Mar 14 Marcus Evans is still wounded from Roy Keane coaching days and transfers falling short. Mick McCarthy will be remembered by a premature celebration, and lack of lip control.
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black_shuck added 06:53 - Mar 14 He that falls in love with himself will have no rivals.
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massivemole added 06:55 - Mar 14 Has this clown resigned yet!!!!!!!
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marco007 added 07:08 - Mar 14 Let's share some actual facts MM We lost 3-0 to a team that has won twice away in 2 years! We have not scored in 7 1/2 hrs at home and only scored twice in 13 1/2 hrs! A ridiculous team selection highlights your disrespect towards us the fans! Looks like you threw in the towel on any slim hopes we had of the play offs! Your points just do not make sense and us fans are not mugs! Football is a game of entertainment...leave before the crowd gets too small !

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DurhamTownFan added 07:12 - Mar 14 ‘The players kept running and talking and chasing' Sums up exactly why the fans don't like you, mick. Turning every game into a scrap regardless of how poor the opposition are, and you put yourself under constant pressure by giving the ball away when we do get it. Keep the ball and try to attack from the start and the whole dynamic changes.
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Daniel72 added 07:14 - Mar 14 I think leaving out Webster was the most curious of the changes.. whilst we weren't scoring at least we had a system that seemed to stop them scoring.. the one saving grace of MM's approach.. but with that and the other changes was it a League Cup game?
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smithy0981 added 07:14 - Mar 14 That's what you get for a totally sh*t starting line up McCarthy. We are not good enough to be able to make all these changes every game! McCarthy has totally run out of ideas and still does not know his best 11. Also chambers is no where near the quality of Webster, Webster is our best defender by a mile chambers should be on the bench end of
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runningout added 07:25 - Mar 14 Webster has a few weaknesses that need ironing out too
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poggie added 07:26 - Mar 14 Typical Mick - instead of apologising to the fans, he blames them!! Please just go!!
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therein61 added 07:26 - Mar 14 Week after week I think be positive it can't get any worse then our great leader proves me wrong Mick you have reached an all time low tonight with your little cuddle on the pitch at the end unless it was you saying stick together boys i'm effin off!! if you are then please take no/ 4 & 8 with you they can do your garden until you get another job.
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Sixto6 added 07:28 - Mar 14 I think any other manager would've been sacked weeks ago, but with our unambitious owner I'm pretty sure there is an agreement in place for mick to see out the rest the season with a nice little pay off as long as he keeps mouth shut about contracts......well I bloody hope so ! Sad times! New fresh manager please - not another “well he got promoted 7 years ago so knows the division “

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Westy added 07:37 - Mar 14 Mick. It has already gone pear shaped.
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cat added 07:44 - Mar 14 Last nights huddle was nothing more than the ‘Dinos last stand'. Like Blues75 says it not all about the winning. This season our league position is probably better than most thought after the Charlton friendly, but for a mid table team going nowhere, entertainment is what it has to be about, something McCarthy can't deliver. ADIOS DINO Zzzzz
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gunnerblue added 07:45 - Mar 14 Hasn't MM highlighted the problem? "It was because of me that the atmosphere was so toxic in the second half". No 5h1t Sherlock! This is not news to anyone.... other than MM it would appear. How much more of this Dull, dull, tiresome, boring, football must we suffer before some one puts us out of our misery or,....... we all do what thousands have already done, and find something else to do with our time. MM / ME is driving me away from my club....... after 51 years. It hurts more than I can say.

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