Manager Kieran McKenna felt the second half of the Blues’ 2-2 home draw with Derby County was the “most broken game” he has been involved with and “barely a football match”.

Town were 1-0 in front at half-time via Jacob Greaves’s first goal at Portman Road having been well on top and in control.

But the Rams levelled from the penalty spot through Carlton Morris five minutes after the restart and then did their best to stop the Blues from getting back into the rhythm with frequent stoppages for injuries.

After referee Leigh Doughty failed to award Town a stonewall penalty for a foul on George Hirst, Rhian Brewster gave the visitors the lead but Jack Clarke’s 106th-minute penalty claimed a point for the Blues, who are still without a win at home.

“There were probably two different phases to the game,” McKenna said afterwards. “I thought until the point of their first goal it was a good performance, another step up. I believe we’ve had that week by week in many departments in the performance.

“The main thing I’d really criticise us for is that we should be 2-0 up at that point with the chances and the territory that we’re getting - we need to be better in our final execution to really turn domination and a good performance into goals.

“And then there was the phase after our goal, which there’s a lot to learn from. It shows how quickly a game in the Championship can turn, especially against some of the more direct teams because you know you’re only one long ball or a flick on or a bounce of the ball the wrong way away from them having a chance.

“And from there, I’ve done about seven interviews now and I’m not sure I have a word for the game from the first goal that they scored until the end of the game.

“It was probably the most broken, lowest ball-in-play game that I’ve been involved in. It was barely a football match.

“Made worse by, for me, a really bad refereeing decision that should give us the opportunity to go 2-1 up.

“Made worse by us conceding a really poor goal from another long ball that we don’t defend well enough and they by an opponent, who, you can say did well or whatever or whatever adjective you want, to completely break up the game, stop the game, which meant there was almost no ball-in-play time.

“We weren’t able to get any rhythm in the game to build the attacks that we would want to build and it was really difficult. We need to learn and do better in that phase but, honestly, it was also really difficult.

“The big positive from that phase was that we found the equaliser because it’s a long time since we’ve had one of those at Portman Road, for this group probably the first time. Obviously the first time for boys who have just arrived, but even players who were here last year.

“A late goal that gets us a point on the board, with subs involved in the action, I think that could be a big, big positive for us and we’re going to need more of those as it goes along.

“There was loads in there, we’ve been through a lot in the game today and the supporters have been through a lot.

“There was a really good performance out there where you could see the growth in the team, you can see the direction of travel, you can see players coming in now and having a big impact and the potential for us to really push on.

“But you can also see the challenges of the division, how hard people are going to make it for us, how we’re probably not up to full speed yet to do it for 90 minutes.

“How we probably don’t have the full consistency and the confidence in the group to really stay strong in that moment when it went against us with the first goal and we really did lose our way.

“So you can see where we could get to and where we’re travelling in many aspects. And you can see some of the growth that we still need and in the end, hopefully a really good moment for us.”

In his press conference, Eustace said he was surprised my the length of injury time - 13 minutes announced and around 17 played - while he said he didn’t see the Hirst penalty incident or former Town loanee Lewis Travis’s stamp on a ground Jens Cajuste’s chest.

“It’s pretty obvious I’m going to disagree with all of them but we can all say what we want to say,” McKenna added.

“It felt like the most broken game. I didn’t have my stopwatch on, but it felt like the most broken game I’ve been involved with.

“That’s a big challenge this year. The minutes of ball-in-play in our games so far has been incredible. The first game was 44 minutes, I think on average it’s about 46 minutes at the moment.

“I think it makes for a really poor spectacle. I don’t think it’s helping the league. I think it’s poor for the league. I understand why it’s heading in that direction, and it’s much more at the moment than our last time in the division, but I think it’s a really backwards step.

“But it is what it is. It’s what we have to overcome. I don’t know what the ball-in-play in the second half will have been but I think it will have been really low.

“The most injuries I’ve ever seen on the pitch without anyone going off injured, and 16 minutes of added time without VAR probably sums up what the flow was.

“I thought George Hirst’s was a penalty at the time, I cannot accept that the ref gives that from where he is.

“From that angle, when you see a defender dive and go to the floor and clip at an ankle you need a microscope to see how much, but when a striker is at full stretch and knocks it past him, it doesn’t need much contact. Any contact in that situation is a penalty. For me there is contact.

“I haven’t seen the second one back but it looked stonewall from where I was, but maybe that’s an Ipswich lens but I didn’t even think it was an argument from where I was on the sidelines. Everyone can have their piece and say what they want to say.”

Asked what can be done about the breaks in play for alleged injuries, especially from goalkeepers with Derby number one Jacob Zetterstrom among those to take to the turf in the second half, McKenna responded: “I think the rules are there now with the eight-second rule and with outfielders having to go off after 30 seconds. No one’s quite cracked the goalkeeper one. I think there should be a rule for it, in my opinion.

“The percentage times of a goalkeeper goes down injured, if you look at it in terms of goalkeepers missing a game or having to come off, I’d imagine it must be an incredibly low percentage.

“I think, if you ask me on the spot now, there should be a rule that if your goalkeeper goes down and receives treatment, one of your outfielders has to go off.

“Whether that would make enough of a difference I don’t know, but I know that ball-in-play at the moment is something that the rules are trying to push in a positive direction and I’ve seen the stuff in the league this year and certainly our early games of the season the ball-in-play is really, really low.

“I don’t think it’s great for the game as a spectacle and it’s a challenge for us as a team, but it’s a challenge we have to deal with.”

One big positive for the Blues was the display of midfielder Cajuste, making his second full debut for the club following his return on loan from Napoli for a second season.

“I thought he had some outstanding moments, there’s no doubt about it, he had some outstanding moments driving through the pitch,” McKenna said.

“He could have a really, really big impact this year and I’m happy to have him here, but at the same time, he’s someone who has still got room to grow, room to improve. That’s his first minutes on the pitch today.

“We think he can get better and better if we keep pushing him and he keeps pushing himself.

“I think if we can all go through that process, then he could be a big, big player this year.”

The Blues, favourites for the Championship title, have taken only three points from their first four games, but McKenna says that’s off the back of his toughest summer at the club with the turnaround in players more significant than anticipated.

“Whether it was three points, six points, five points, seven points, it’s been a really, really difficult summer in almost every aspect,” he continued. “Certainly by far the most difficult in my time here.

“We’re coming out of the back of that period now and we go onto the next chapter. I wouldn’t feel drastically different if we had five points or six points. Of course, points are important, we want to win our first game as soon as possible. I feel like we’re not far from that.

“But we’ve come through an incredible amount as a club over the course of the summer and as a team over the course of four games. We now move onto the next phase.

“I think by Monday night we’ll be a in a really strong position in terms of the depth and quality that we have in the group.

“That’s not been the case right through the summer, but will be there by Monday night and now we’re on to the next challenge because we have to bring that group together, we have to keep working hard on the training pitch.

“It’s going to be really difficult to do that over the international break, of course, but we’ll work really hard with those that we have.

“And really importantly we need to work really hard with the group coming together and building that shared mindset and mental strength and resilience, and all those things that you need to be successful in the Championship.

“It’s been an incredibly difficult summer, we’ve got a really big challenge ahead of us. In some ways it’s quite exciting because I know there will be expectation on us, I know how difficult it is and how it’s going to be.

“But I really believe that we can still have a really good season. That’s the challenge ahead of us, we’re going to take it on full steam ahead and we’ll do what we can over the international break.

“But the reality is we’re not going to get the group back until 48 hours before Sheffield United and then we’ll be out there competing.

“It’s going to be tough. I think we have most of what we need in the building now to be successful and it’s up to us to do that work and try and pick up some results in the meantime that gives us the time to do that work.”

Photo: TWTD

ArnieM added 19:33 - Aug 30 You need to be far more flexible in your tactics McKenna. You were out thought today and thats not the first time. Start to use players to thrurcstrengths, not just shoe horn them in to your one bloody tactic!
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Mark added 19:33 - Aug 30 There will be lots of games like this, a real scrap in the Championship. I hope we have the right players for the physical battle ahead. Our quality needs to shine through and earn the wins we need to move us up the table. Despite the late equaliser, today's result feels painful, especially with Norwich winning.
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ITFCSG added 19:35 - Aug 30 So how are you going to counter teams that play anti-football and the low block? We have been unable to do so since the L1 days, remember the Lincoln, Cheltenham, Morecambe games? If we are vastly superior (we should, after all the obscene spending) then low block or not we should be able to find a way to pick the lock and win. Just like how established PL teams still managed to beat us when we played the low block in the Prem.

15

Cookieboy added 19:37 - Aug 30 As I said earlier. The referee had a stinker, and I think the occasion got to him. As for Derby manager moaning about tine added on, he only has himself to blame for those diabolical tactics
25

Dug added 19:41 - Aug 30 Start with your strongest team and you might find us winning a few games, I would also like to see you change your system to find a winning formula then stick with it!
7

Rozeeboy74 added 19:45 - Aug 30 Welcome back to the Championship Mr M. This is why you are paid the big bucks, to out-smart the opponents. We are a big fish now and you need to work out how to cope with 23 teams who will park the bus at Portman Road (maybe 21) and the poop-housery they will bring with them.
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dirtydingusmagee added 19:49 - Aug 30 all that money spent and we cant beat a team of spoilers and teach them a lesson . Very poor ,its not just about bad refs , Come on McKenna , sort it out. I said at the end of last season McKenna will have a lot to prove this term and will be under pressure to produce the goods with all the backing he has had.Not going well so far,its been woeful ..As others have said there will be plenty of teams that will use those tactics against us now and we need toplay accordingly, no good moaning about other teams being crap if we cant beat them .

5

Bert added 19:52 - Aug 30 The most influential man on the pitch was the referee and that should never be the case. I agree that the second half was such an awful advert for a game of football mainly because the ref allowed things to happen that should not. That said we have to find a way to combat teams like Derby.
13

blueboy1981 added 20:02 - Aug 30 If you are capable McKenna - SORT IT !! 40 plus Games suggest you are not - and your ‘stock’ is diminishing with every game. At most Clubs you would have GONE by now, being categorised as a Highly Paid One Trick Pony ! When do you prove that you are not ??
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Maccaisgod added 20:07 - Aug 30 What a total collection of morons you are. We have a totally new squad and people expect it to work immediately. Idiots.
9

Gforce added 20:10 - Aug 30 The most anti football game I've ever seen. I saw Eustace actually point to their keeper to go down,to waste another 4/5 minutes and break up play for the umpteenth time. After those appalling tactics I hope he gets sacked and Derby go down. Keiran spot on with his analysis.
21

WhoisJimmyJuan added 20:11 - Aug 30 Yep. Sorry, but there's an element of clutching at straws beginning to creep into KMcK's post match interviews now. It is true the team is in a state of flux but that mitigation can't go on forever. Some big signings still to bed in so it's see where we are end of September. Pressure is building.
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BlueRuin69 added 20:12 - Aug 30 Derby were awful, aided by joke of a ref. Ipswich will gel and improve COYB
12

ChingShady added 20:22 - Aug 30 Can you narrow minded bells realise we just got a whole new team. Today in that first half we saw what's to come. Relax, give them a bit of time. Couldn't be more exciting time to be a town fan in the last 3 years, I don't see the ride ending any time soon. What a team we now got, time to put it all together, there's no better man for the job than Mckenna.
7

armchaircritic59 added 20:27 - Aug 30 " The low block ". When I started watching football, way back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, it was simply known as " playing defensively ", someone just came up with a fancy name to suit modern times. 60 years or so later, and teams still have huge problems breaking it down for some reason. I think just about everyone knows there are two ways to do it. Looking at our current playing staff, I would have said we were very well equiped to do one, not so much the other. Though that last option might change soon. Obviously the best option didn't work, as neither goals came from open play. I remember back around the time last season ended, when several posters were commenting that it would actually be good to be back in the Championship, to watch some " proper " football. I hope they're enjoying it so far! Finally a quick note on the game, I've said before that I no longer attend games largely due to health reasons, but watch as many as possible from home. To sum up, two poor teams, one wanted to play, but largely couldn't, the other had no intention of doing so, and the referee was awful, but let's not make the mistake of thinking he was the only reason we didn't win, even if he did somehow miss a certain penalty. If I think a player has had a really poor game and there was one today, I never call him out by name. I rather take the view that players know when they've been poor and don't need telling by me or anyone else. You hope a bit of professional pride will kick in afterwards. Welcome back to the " proper " football people!

4

pablo123 added 20:33 - Aug 30 And we're the most broken team since you've been here
-8

hello66 added 20:35 - Aug 30 Patience……. Please
3

Woodbridgian added 20:38 - Aug 30 Bur surely we created that narrative by playing in such a predictable way. If the opposition play a high press and stop us from playing out from the back our game stops. So many times today a long ball out from the back would have been so much more effective! Not want any of of want to see but this is the championship and that’s the way teams are going to play when they come here.

3

ArnieM added 21:05 - Aug 30 I have to post this ...and some won't like it , but this is how im feeling about things guys All the players in the current squad bar, Woolfy and Chaplin, are now McKenna's.. and its not good watching it niow. We are so one dimensiobsl and predictable. But I've just got a horrible sinking feeling its all going to implode now. Spending money like its water is definitely Ashtons MO, he did it at Bristol, until the money ran out, and put them into debt, then he pissed off.....to Ipswich! And its happening at Town as far as i can see.... I've always had grave doubts about him ....we shall see wont we... but Ashton has always worried me, and since the other executive left the club, Ashton has an unrestrained role at the club now and I think thats exactly how he likes it, because I feel he has an ego bigger than this club. This is potentially a very destructive situation at Town now.

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FollowEnglandAway added 21:06 - Aug 30 Broken manager
-5

jas0999 added 21:08 - Aug 30 Same narrative from McKenna. Bottom line, is whether anyone likes it or not (and I don’t), Derby we’re never going to turn up at PR and attack. They came with a game play - a negative boring one - and it was too good yet again - for the highest paid manager in the championship. Very worrying that McKenna doesn’t realise, that as the manager, it was HIS job to combat the Derby tactics. Get a couple of goals up. Attack. That would stop Derby. Sadly McKenna was found very wanting. Not a single win at home this calendar year. Nine straight defeats in PL - even Southampton and Leicester managed some points. Five games this season. Zero wins. Sorry, not popular, but it’s time that McKenna faced some criticism. He’s not been good enough.

4

churchmans added 21:09 - Aug 30 ArnieM get a grip of yourself! Where the hell have you been last 20years!! Phuck me! Some people jesus
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braveblue added 21:10 - Aug 30 Moaners had to stop yesterday. Great signings. Now back in. Shocking ref. Should have had stonewall penalty. We were not great but will get stronger. Get a grip.
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churchmans added 21:13 - Aug 30 Jass0000phuckin9 or whatever your name is! Mckenna knows and sees what you see and all of us see! It is chit!! But with time and team togerthness it will come good! We should be tearing this leauge up
0

braveblue added 21:27 - Aug 30 Moaners had to stop yesterday. Great signings. Now back in. Shocking ref. Should have had stonewall penalty. We were not great but will get stronger. Get a grip.
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