Boss Mick McCarthy admitted that Millwall deserved all three points after Town’s 1-0 defeat at the Den, debutant Ryan Fredericks netting the winner with a 40th minute cross which eluded Blues keeper Dean Gerken.

“We deserved to lose because they played better and we played badly,” he said. “I thought they played very well, to be honest.

“I didn’t think for a minute that they’ve got a bad squad of players, I think if you look back at my quotes from when we won 3-0, I said I didn’t think it was a 3-0.

“They’ve got a good squad and, fair play to Ollie, he’s got them going today. But it was always going to be the case.

“The crowd were up, they played well and we’ve let a bit of a blooper in. Despite everything else, if you let one of them in, you’re not going to win.”

The Blues boss, who started his management career with the Lions, was in no doubt that the goal was down to a goalkeeping error and said Gerken felt the same: “Yes, and he does himself.

“I think he just misread the flight of it. When he put it in I thought ‘Happy days, it’s going behind’. But I’m not in the nets, the keeper’s there to stop it.”

Immediately after the goal Gerken was spotted remonstrating with his defenders, perhaps, it was suggested, as they’d indicated to him that it was going over.

But McCarthy said that wouldn’t have been the case: “If somebody shouted at him and told him to leave it and he did, I’d be seriously upset with him. No, he’s just misjudged it, he obviously thinks it’s going over the bar.”

McCarthy thought the early injury to Luke Hyam was a contributing factor to his side taking a long time to settle: “It doesn’t help, he’s been an ever-present just about, and it’s a nasty cut he’s got. To be fair, I thought out of all our subs I thought Tabby did great.

“The game had settled down then and the goal came out of the blue, it changes it completely because the game was going nowhere until he picked the top corner out. It just changed the course of game for them, unfortunately.

“He’s got a nasty cut, he’s gone to get it cleaned out, stitched up and we’ll have to wait and see until we get a proper thorough assessment on it to see what he’s done. It’s a real bad cut on his leg.”

The Town boss had no problem with Liam Trotter’s challenge which led to Hyam’s injury: “I don’t get too upset with tackles. I think they both went for the ball. I don’t get wrapped up in all that.”

Hyam later tweeted having been released from hospital: "Thanks for all the messages. Thankfully it was only a bad gash and nothing worse. Shame about the result, back [at] it next week!"

McCarthy also played down a late spat with his Millwall opposite number Ian Holloway: “There was some suggestion that one of our players should have been booked and I don’t get into that. But Ollie and I are good mates, I’ve no problem with him.”

Holloway, who picked up his first Millwall win in his first home game, was delighted: “I’m made up, I think the lads deserved it. We took on a fantastic bloke, you’ve only got to look at what he’s done in the last year or so, it’s almost a miracle.

“I think he’ll be disappointed, if he’s honest, that we were up for a fight, we were ready for it. My question is ‘Where’s that been?’.

“It was a fluke goal, I don’t think Ryan meant to do that, it was a cross. I’m just delighted we held on. Yes, we could have scored a couple more, but I’m very pleased with the lads because what I asked for, they gave me and for me that’s the bare minimum.”

Holloway said he had apologised to McCarthy for their touchline squabble: “We had a ruck on the side, I said that that bloke deliberately blocked somebody so Danny Shittu got smashed into.

“I mentioned booking him and I shouldn’t have said anything because Mick would never do that and I’ve just apologised to him. I was so caught up in things there, I’ve got to make sure I control that or I could be in trouble. But it’s only passion.”

Photo: Action Images

alfromcol added 20:21 - Jan 18 Just got home from the game. Our midfield was non existent again. How MM can say that about Tabb I don't know. He needs to watch the game from the stands so he can see what is going on. Our worst performance for some time. Why o why did we persist with high balls for Shxtu to nod away, almost every time. I felt sure MM would notice this and change things at half time, but nothing happened. As for their goal, enough said. We really do need strengthening in mid field, the back four were overrun so many times. We made Martin look good.

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TimmyH added 20:29 - Jan 18 Why is Mick always giving the opposition credit before and after games?...it's doesn't matter who we play. Almost fooling himself into some sort of reasoning why we keep playing badly. 'Preston are no mugs', 'Ollie has inherited a fine squad' etc...almost a defeatist attitude before we've even kicked a ball.
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Cheshire_Blue added 20:31 - Jan 18 Same old story. Goalkeeper not good enough and again no goals scored. MM is trying to do a job with his hands tied behind his back. We are 10th in the league table which is probably a fair reflection of our ability and will remain so until ME gives MM the tools to do the job.
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BriggEnd added 20:32 - Jan 18 6th place a few weeks ago was a false position for ipswich but it was good while it lasted. Mick has done a great job while he has been here so lets get behind him. My view is we have no spine in our team or no creative midfielders and when put under pressure we defend way to deep. We also have a goal keeper who is costing us a few points with his errors gerks is very average at best. The bad performances from the team are out weighing the good performances at an alarming rate of knots.

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muccletonjoe added 20:49 - Jan 18 Tabb may or may not have been dreadful , I wasn't at the game , but who the hell do you expect him to put on for Hyam? Given the transfer fund he has been given I don't think there is any manager alive who could have done any better. He really is not the bloke who should be getting the abuse
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strikalite added 20:59 - Jan 18 There was only one set of lads who did us proud today...
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townietilidie added 21:12 - Jan 18 muccletonjoe ... Hunt would of been a better option imo . I was not at the game either but my understanding was that Tunnicliffe started on the left and moved into the middle when Hyam went off . Why bring on Tabb to play on the left ?? He is completely ineffective there and out of form so my shout would of been Hunt on the left . I get your point though , give a chippie a blunt chisel and you'l get a s**t job . I think Mick has worked us into a great position given what he has to work with . Perhaps we have over achieved a little recently and the expectation has risen . Its proven that anybody can beat anybody in the championship so the key is consistency , and our squad is just not good enough or big enough to build any consistency . We don't have enough effective players , ones who can really change a game or influence a game (except Mr Mgoldrick) and until we add a few of these i think it will be much of the same , win one , lose 2 , win 2 , lose 1 . But anyway , we must keep backing the manager and the team on the pitch and hope for the best as what we have is what we have . Perhaps instead of slating Mick we should start asking serious questions to our owner . COYB !!!!

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ArnieM added 21:22 - Jan 18 A change in our tactical emphasis could make all the difference. How about lining up with the intention of attacking and winning a game instead of lining up with the intention of not losing. Also as soon as Murphy gets back in the team all we bloody do hooof it ffs.
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Guthrum added 21:37 - Jan 18 "... give a chippie a blunt chisel ..." and he'll go and sharpen it. Which is what needs to happen to some members of the squad. Chisels go blunt with use and need frequent sharpening for the best results. You don't just chuck away a decent tool and buy an expensive replacement when a little work would solve the problem.
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blueboy1981 added 21:40 - Jan 18 ArnieM - ...... and Shittu heads them away all day long - and they still kept coming. He will never have had an easier, more effective game than today.
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Hiltzkooler added 21:42 - Jan 18 Mick, yet again your tactics are being shown up for what they are....we can talk about the quality of the players, we can berate the owner all we like about investment....but the tactics are one dimensional...when are you going to wise up....it has a smack of Wolves in your last season where you simply ran out of ideas....I really hope you can get a grip of this, but alas I'm loosing belief that you are the solution....

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Cakeman added 21:43 - Jan 18 Millwall completely dominated our ineffective midfield. Defenders then resorted to launching hopeful long balls that Shittu and Lowry swallowed up all afternoon. Sadly our very small squad has some players nursing knocks and some players that quite frankly are way out of form. Mick has worked very well with a small squad of limited talent. I dread to think where we would be though if Keane and Jewell had to work with what Mick has. We really need an injection of 3 or 4 new faces and very soon. Being unbeaten was a good habit but losing can quickly become an unwanted habit too!

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oddball added 21:47 - Jan 18 Exciting awesome season, keep up the good work mick and the players. Good job with club moving forward :-). I speak for the silent majority.
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StowTractorBoy added 21:55 - Jan 18 Just back from the game and I too am surprised about Micks comments re Tabb. He was neat and tidy but offered us very little. Having said that not many of our entire team offered too much. When Martin easily rounded Chambers with one of their first attacks that set the tone for the afternoon. Millwall were quicker all over the pitch were more enthusiastic than us and wanted to win it. We again relied on far too many long balls up to the more often than not, lone striker McGoldrick. Gerken I'm sorry to say has today given me serious doubts as to whether he is really the answer to the number one spot as not only did he completely misjudge the cross cum goal his kicking was awful. He was also unconvincing at Preston but unfortunately the number two is not good enough either so hopefully we will go and sign a new keeper before the window closes. Not blaming the officials for our defeat but they were awful today and the word 'homers' quickly springs to mind. The home support at the New Den today was fantastic and they contributed to a much needed win for their side. What also disappoints me today is the total lack of football on the ground played by us. I now call for Taylor, Anderson and Hunt to be recalled so we can at least play some football on the ground like we did v. QPR. A crap day a terrible performance a waste of good money and the Budgies won as well such is football.

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ArnieM added 22:25 - Jan 18 Opponents targeting Chambers? ....surely not! I here Hewitt was Outstanding today. Hope Mick takes note and gets him back here, where he belongs.
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blues1 added 22:48 - Jan 18 bluefeast. have to say that I agree with the vast majority of ur points today. we were absolutely rubbish today, and some of that was, I have to say, down to the team selection and the tactics. am really beginning to wonder if mm has any tactical nous whatsoever, and why he seems to be scared of almost every team we play. we were playing a struggling team, and should have been going for it, putting them under pressure not just trying to keep things tight, the only point I disagree with you on(and mark too). is ur point about funds for players. the mds stated that there would be funds available in jan, which there are. at no point did they say that money would be available to pay transfer fees, but ne player signed(a point ive made many times on here), costs money, with agents fees, signing on fees, loan fees, wages. and to say you've had it with the club, if ur a true supporter(and im not suggesting ypoure not btw) then youll be there to support them whatever the situation. but yes, today was dire. the only debate is who was worse. us or the referee who was appalling

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blues1 added 22:58 - Jan 18 arniem. youre right. its not the players we have that's the biggest problem, but the awful tactics set by the manager. once again hes picked a team with no width whatsoever and has approached the game negatively rather than taking the game to the opposition. im afraid that while he is the manager we are going to have to put up with this brand of football. im not saying I want him to go but its gonna take a change of attitude by him to change that

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purplealien added 23:59 - Jan 18 I've noticed Mick always protects players that he thinks are getting (or will get) stick from the fans. In this case Tabb. He's experienced enough to know what happens to a player's form when we get on their back (many so called fans aren't bright enough to make the connection). In return he receives loyalty - its called leadership.
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Lennyboy added 01:01 - Jan 19 I hate to admit that this team isn't good enough, although I shall support them until the cows come home. I have been harping on for months now that ME cannot afford or does not want to put any more money than he has to in to the club. I would not be surprised if he tried to offload us. His refusal to give MM money to buy decent players is a clear indicater that things are far from right at the club, something will happen sooner or later. ME please sell us to a really rich bloke that wants to waste his money on a football team.

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WickedBlue added 03:15 - Jan 19 To those idiots going over board about his comments that Tabby did great. It's called man management and not kicking players when they are down. You idiots all show the lack of man management skills Keane showed yet you blasted him for it. You really are idiots.
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blues1 added 07:01 - Jan 19 lenny boy. "me doesmt wamt to put any more money than he has to into the club"? utter rubbish. under the ffp owners can only put £6m into their club this season. with the n umber of players we have signed preseason plus the ones since the season started, plus the money he puts in every season just to support the debt, I think youll find that limit has almost, if not totally been met. but still there are funds available to bring in players, albeit on frees or on loan, so I think me is doing ok by mm in that matter. of course id love him to give mm more money to spend but I also think its reasonable for him to want to abide by the ffp rules, unlike other clubs, who are going out spending money, and basically gambling on their clubs future. and lets remember everyone, that this guy who many are slating for not putting money into the club, has given millions of pounds to 3 previous managers with no reward, plus put millions in every season to support the debt. so you should all think before you say that. and to those who want him to go, be careful what you wish for. you only have to look to Cardiff and hull to find the type of owner you could end up with. plus if he were to sell, does ne1 think another owner will pout more money into the team when hell be buying the existing debt and will therefore be in the same position as me regarding investment each season?

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bluefeast added 07:47 - Jan 19 Few points , the loan window opened in January ,Micks last loan was an exciting talent from Villa. We payed his wages for 6 weeks or so and he got a couple of very late outings from the bench. Mick has taken a recent gamble of Eubanks-Blake ,no doubt before his wages were agreed questions would be asked about his overall fitness. He then makes his debut on a very heavy pitch having played no competitive football for 9 months. Lo and behold he does his hamstring. Hunt is not getting game time .Over roughly the same period our form shows one wine from 9 games. I wonder if our owner has simply thought im uncertain about MMs judgement. Oh and despite our run up to 6th spot our crowds are dropping. Today i looked at championship clubs gates , very worryingly comparing last season to the same stage and this one there are 2 clubs whos gates are lower this season than last , Bolton and ourselves. So are the paying public being entertained by the policy of trying not to lose as opposed to trying to win matches. I suspect what ive mentioned here as well as numerous other matters are considerations for the owner. Id be scared spending my money too.

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Keaneish added 08:50 - Jan 19 Urgh…defeat becomes a breeding ground for the idiotic, right Bluefeast? Muppets aside, why on earth bring on Tabb when you have the option of bringing on Hunt and putting Tunnicliffe in the centre? This to me reeks of the 'lest not get beat' mentality but the only problem is, all the back 4 and Gerken aren;t playing solidly enough any more to guarantee at least a point so we have to attack and thane the game to teams. Gerken's mistake was shambolic but the whole team performance was poor. The next game will be a really good indicator as to whether MM can turn this around. Leeds are on a bad run but playing well and will come at us looking for the win. If we try and take a draw on an increasingly shakey defence are we still resilient enough to fight back given our form and how thin a squad we have? I'm starting to think not… Why not play Taylor on the right and Hunt on the left of a 4 man midfield if we're behind? Why switch the system to a 4-3-3 if we want to match the opposition? This is what happened yesterday and it didn't work.

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Fatcatevans added 10:15 - Jan 19 Stowtractorboy. Have to agree about gherkin but I think you'll find Loach was between the sticks at Preston! Not that he's any good either
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bluefeast added 10:30 - Jan 19 Keanish ,we dont have the players to attack ,8 of our starting 11 every week are totally defensive minded ,we dont look after the football ie the basics. Take Nouble as an example ,he has failed everywhere and now he is with us ,yes hes a young guy but he offers nothing but pace and power , yet cant pick a pass , can't hit the target ,does not read the game and at 6 foot 3 can't win a header. This is Micks idea of a footballer. We played very well 1st half vs QPR but when was the last time Keanish we played well hey >? come on you tell this board the last time. Ive been to all but 3 of our matches home and away this season and to me its obvious that we set out not to lose as opposed to win simply as we dont have the player type within the squad to be an offensive team. As for idiotic and Muppet related comment i assume your communicating about aspects of your personality as opposed to mine. By the way Reading are our next opponents. But hey if you think its Leeds then enjoy the game at Elland Rd .I rest my case.

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