Blues boss Mick McCarthy felt his side were hard done by after a controversial penalty saw Brentford to a 1-0 at Griffin Park. McCarthy, whose team lost by the same scoreline in a similar manner at Birmingham last Saturday, was pleased with his side’s performance despite the defeat.

“I was just listening to [Brentford boss] Dean [Smith] and he was saying they’ve deserved one like that, a pretty soft one, so that usually means when the home manager’s saying that that it wasn’t a penalty.” McCarthy said. “Yes, I do [think we were hard done by].

“It was a similar story at Birmingham last week. I can’t do anything about it, can I? We’ve played well today, I think. I was happy enough with the performance. It looked like it was going to be something like that which would win the game.”

Smith had said in his press conference that Town had given his team as tough an afternoon as anyone this season.

“I think that was fairly obvious,” McCarthy added. “They were getting frustrated, our only downside was that we weren’t good enough with the ball. We could have been better, we’ve not made the most of our opportunities to hurt them. And it’s hinged in a poor decision, in my view.

“We keep trying to do the same things. And when we got the chances he [Brentford keeper Daniel Bentley] made a good save and there was a good block right at the end of the game. We’re still trying to do the right things, the lads were great, I’m delighted with them.”

Asked whether his position at the club has made it more difficult for the team, he responded: “I can’t for one moment in time imagine it’s helped but I think you’ve seen the way the players have played for me, they’ve not downed tools or stopped trying.

“They’ve ben terrific today, they have in the last three games. But the atmosphere it’s created is not good for anybody.

“They were great, terrific, always, they’ve been great, everybody, for five and a half years they’ve never lacked that and that’s why the opposing manager is in here saying we’ve made it as difficult for them as any other team.”

After Monday’s very open game against Millwall, today’s match was more typical of most of the Blues’ games this season.

“It’s strange, isn’t it?” McCarthy reflected. “If Cardiff come and do it to you, and they did it to us and nicked a goal, he [Kenneth Zohore] handles it and he toe-pokes it in, nobody’s bothered, it’s Cardiff, it’s brilliant. But because we’ve lost everybody thinks it’s wrong.

“If you think we’re as good as every team, we can just go and play how we want because we can’t, so you have to do what’s needed. And I think we have today but unfortunately a penalty has cost us.”

McCarthy had praise for Luke Hyam, who was booed and abused throughout by the home fans for his role in Alan Judge’s injury at Portman Road two years ago.

“It was an excellent performance, an emotionally good performance, a mature performance for somebody who has had to endure constant abuse throughout the game,” McCarthy continued. “I’ve just welcomed him to my world.”

Asked about the chants aimed at him by sections of the Blues support as he left the field at the end of each half, he added: “I can’t for one minute either say it’s deserved, warranted or makes me feel warm and cuddly inside. But hey ho, that’s the way it is, you know. They’ve only got five more to do it.”

Bees boss Smith admitted Town had given his team a difficult afternoon.

“That was as tough a win as we’ve had this season," he said. "They made it very tough for us. They went man for man, made it very difficult to get our passing game going and you’ve got to give them a lot of credit for that because they worked extremely hard to stop us.

“I feel we’ve had two chance of note in the first half. The one from Neil Maupay which Bartosz Bialkowski’s saved with his foot and one for Romaine Sawyers over the top but chances were few and far between.

“I was probably getting a little bit frustrated on the sidelines, which is unlike me, but we just couldn’t get our passing game together today and it became a difficult game for us.”

Regarding the penalty, he added: “I saw a hand on the back of him and Sergi’s gone down. It’s soft, I’d probably be annoyed if I was Mick, but we’ve had enough which haven’t been given for us when they should. So, no excuses, I’ll certainly take it.”

Reflecting on the game further, he said: “I knew it was going to be tough, there’s no such thing as a Mick McCarthy team that lies down as a mid-table-nothing-to-play-for team.

“He’s going at the season, so it’s a credit to him and the players that they keep working as hard as they do as they did today.

“A very hard-working midfield and they made it very difficult for us. We’ve had plenty of games here where we’re dominated and not won, so it’s nice to not dominate but to get over the line and win a game today.”

Photo: TWTD

Northstandveteran added 19:29 - Apr 7 Swn98. Just can't help yourself can you? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
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rfretwell added 19:29 - Apr 7 What a disappointment todays team selection was. No Folami despite a very good debut at PR. Sears battled hard but too lightweight against bigger defenders. No shots from him. And Carayol - was on the bench so fit, had a storm in game at Preston so why wasn't he put on? Brentford were not very good, both teams misplaced loads of passes. A game low on quality. No real creativity in our midfield. Nydam closed down well and kept the ball with safe passes but he's not a Dozzell with his marvelous eye for a forward pass and ability to bring it off.

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dirtydingusmagee added 19:37 - Apr 7 Well I'm surprised to see Swn is still happy with things , thought he had moved on .
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Mark added 19:43 - Apr 7 Depressing, but entirely predictable. A week ago we lost 1-0 due to a penalty, and today the same again with the same sort of defensive line up. Did we try Folami, Drinan, Morris, Carayol even from the bench...no, Sears again despite no goal in nearly a year. It really underlines why the fans are glad MM is leaving.
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MicksZzzTactics added 19:46 - Apr 7 Wanted: Editorial-like Correction "Game hinged on yet ANOTHER display of piZzz poor managerial dino decisions!!!" (And once again there were PLENTY of them to pick from/pick on ...from start to finish!!!) Not gonna talk more about the mind-boggling LAME starting Xi or the subs cause did that plenty both pregame and on the match review article....but rather about the for the umpteenth time with scared sheeeiiit-less of losing & hence ultra negative-minded MM we consequently offered somewhere between very little (usually first well past the hour mark!) or simply close to NOTHING up front!!! ... and while 'Time of Possession' can sometimes be misleading , well we also for the umpteenth time under MM besides being 'OutsShot' additionally were also *distinctively* 'OutPassed', 'OutDribbled' & 'OutAerialed'! PS: And while the 3 latter mentioned stat-categories wasn't against our fervor in the case of the latest home game versus Millwall, where we -- for on a very rare occasion! -- actually *ENTERTAINED*, thanks to both being *UNCHARACTERISTICALLY* daring in our tactics & personnel & subs particularly in the 2nd half, for good periods of the entire contest! .....well just for record I would like to state that imho now in retrospect (having seen the highlights, gone over the offensive stats & read other more neutral reviews) I simply can't FULLY agree with neither TWTD' bluetinted review nor MM or many of the fans immediate mainstay afterwards: "That a draw was fair" ...and that (seemingly ENTIRELY because we took a good part in the entertainment) "we deserved a something from the game (i.e. a point) and it would have been harsh if we hadn't salvaged it" ... when while we certainly had other chances as well, we factually nevertheless STILL 1) needed a very gifted goal no. 2) largely depended on their "miscuing" up front and 3) as so often before against other opponents too had a SUPERB 'King Bart' to thanks in the end.... ..... .....Cause you simply just can't talk your way around them 'Total Shots' stats, (again!): 21-10! That now makes it a combined SURREAL 43-18 in favor of Millwall over these 2 contest! And all they have to show for their superior fireworks display is 1 meager point. Us on the other hand.... well Hallelujah! Hallelujah! as like @Timmy I deeply wished that we could have played Millwall EVERY week under Mick this season or any season really!!! , you know some loco special dispensation from the FA so we could have has a 46 games 'Round Robin' tournament :-) lol :-), cause these 2 games were surely among the very FEW memorable *truly great* ones in what otherwise was yet ANOTHER forgetful Dino led season! 6 goals (could have been more) we put past them! while also largely entertaining the very entertainment starved ITFC fans ... nevermind the tiny little fact that to be perfectly fair to them, then we probably did "NICK" 3 of those 4 points we put into our account. :-D :-D

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pazzy added 19:59 - Apr 7 please tell us the team by 5pm on tues because if its like todays I for one am staying at home we enjoyed millwall game mm cant have us enjoying the football so he changes team last season we beat Newcastle so we set of for Rotherham hoping for more but he makes 10 changes a waste of a trip its a wasted trip to any cup game as the beat said we used to play 3 sometimes 4 games a week no problem PLEASE CAN WE TRY AND HAVE A CUP RUN

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madmouse1959 added 20:03 - Apr 7 A new level of complete incompetence by Marcus Evans. There is nothing to gain what-so-ever in allowing this stubborn apathy to continue. What possible reasoning can be used that we have to carry on watching this team limp to the end of the season ? Still using the poor players and the negative tactics. Still using players who may not be at trhe club next season. ALL this McCarthy mess is only down to the reluctance of paying up a couple of contracts. How pathetic !!!!

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Seasider added 20:20 - Apr 7 Agree madmouse,Marcus Evans needs to take action NOW. The owner has made several misjudgements during the decade of his tenure,and worringly he continues to make them.Leaving McCarthy in post for the rest of the season,is the most recent. McCarthy comes out and praises nearly every performance.If it was so good then why haven't Town won in 6 matches,and sit 14th in the table,beneath the chirping'Canaries' ? If he were to replace the Dino now with a Caretaker like GB,then I am sure the present gloom would lift from Portman Rd,and Mr Evans would not be out of pocket,which seems to be his main consideration in most of his decisions. Also it wouild be nice to actually address the fans for once,instead of permanently staying in the shadows.Oh and the players would probably appreciate a chat with you as well. Here's hoping,but not expecting !

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muccletonjoe added 20:34 - Apr 7 5 more games and at least the moaners and sore losers will have to find another target for their poison
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dirtydingusmagee added 20:43 - Apr 7 rather be a sore loser than a complete loser Muccletone hope the blisters on your hands heal quickly,must be painful .
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prebbs007 added 20:56 - Apr 7 Spoiling defensive strategy FAILS AGAIN stubborn old Cn&t
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Domsterboy_blue added 21:03 - Apr 7 We are trying to stop Brentford people . Brentford. Am I missing something here?
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grinch added 21:10 - Apr 7 really think fans need to wake up there most probably is not a que of managers just waiting for a call to drop what ever they are doing to take over a mediocre squad as with all jobs why shouldnt the owners expect an employee to work there notice most jobs have at least 2 moths notice if not more he is not being sacked just nit being contract renewed. Also there are not 10000 fans just waiting to buy season tickets we are and have been fir many years pre MM aswell a poor attendance club in fact our league position on the whole reflects the support that us average at best. What we may win is the biggest whinging award fans have not helped the team this season just dragged them down blame is not only at ME or MM but also the whinging fans...am sure if any manager read the drivel on here they would think why would i want to manage a team for that poor support. Stop moaning about everything MM is going just ser out the last games or stay away but stop the constant Jeremy Kyle posts its pathetic and belittles true town support

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blue75 added 21:20 - Apr 7 Over 5 1/2 years of doing the same thing game after game worked for the 1st 2 years!! Then it just became boring as it failed more often than not!! He'll never learn and at his next club it'll be the same the proves that. Time for Marcus to let his mate start his summer early put him on gardening leave and let out club try to get some dignity back!'
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alfromcol added 21:34 - Apr 7 Five games to go. On recent performances that could mean 3 shots on target, 45% possession and perhaps a goal. Something to look forward to?
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itfchorry added 21:36 - Apr 7 Really don't believe that I support the same club as MucclletonJoe SW98 Gcon Kikapu Woodbrigian Baxterwasbest
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grubbyoik added 21:45 - Apr 7 What is the point in all of this... He's going to get paid till the end of the season anyway.. so might as well put him on gardening leave.. then we can see what kind of players we have playing different tactics between now and the end of the season.. you never know Freddie with a strick partner might just start scoring.. give Morris a run out .. give Drinan a run out.. play Kenlock more .. Anything... But not this!

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Sparkerino added 21:56 - Apr 7 I can't quite remember ever being so down after a Town performance. It was just so...craft-less, joyless and with basic errors you wouldn't expect on a Sunday morning. Is it lack of confidence? Is Celina only allowed by the terms of his loan to only play a certain amount? Every time I watch, he gets about 10 minutes, yet looks the most creative force in the side. I came with 2 Arsenal supporters - at least they now realise that they have NOTHING to complain about, when they see how the other half lives.

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bobble added 22:35 - Apr 7 the game like the majority of others these last few years hinged on poor management and poor tactics....
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dukey44 added 22:59 - Apr 7 Mick and billybaxterwasbest are both still here?
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ChrisFelix added 06:50 - Apr 8 No the game hinged on poor team selection ( yet again) That's why I have decided to give Tuesday a miss
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Europablue added 07:22 - Apr 8 I'm not sure why people feel the need to hold a grudge now that McCarthy is going. I'd rather he played some youngsters in the last few games. It's a weird situation, but the next 5 games may as well be preseason. I don't care about them. I'm only interested in who we are going to bring in. Let's get our energy behind the team ready to welcome the new manager and get some positivity. No need to expend negative energy on a man who is halfway out the door.

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Swn98 added 08:37 - Apr 8 Don't worry Europe blue the negative energy on the news site inexhaustible there will be plenty left for next season.
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blockb_steward added 08:40 - Apr 8 We set up for a 0-0, so negative...I feel sorry for anyone who was there I have been 100% behind MM and TC until the middle of this season. The whole position is not just toxic but completely insane and these gents should have been relieved of their duties a couple of weeks ago and paid up. It's true some fans are never happy and will moan regardless, however, change is so desperately needed at ITFC. MM and TC are a safe pair of hands and yes we should be careful what we wish for etc etc and no doubt they will come back to haunt us sooner rather than later BUT....please let us play football again and get some excitement back on those terraces. It's true that nobody likes playing us as MM set their teams up for a tight game but nobody wants to watch it either.

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tractorboybig added 09:18 - Apr 8 Mick obviously sees a different game to me ? all the games I have seen this year Ipswich have been crap. Other than hillsbourough ( owls were poorer than us) we never look likely to score a goal. Is Mick saying a 0-0 draw hinged on the refs call?
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