Town boss Mick McCarthy was frustrated at conceding “two really poor goals” in injury time to allow Brentford to claim an unlikely 2-2, but prior to that he felt his side were “outstanding”.

“It’s an annoying one that,” the Blues manager said. “We should have won the game. We’ve conceded two really poor goals.

“There were chances at both ends, I think we had the majority of them, we scored two and should have put it beyond doubt. If you don’t do that, you don’t concede two goals like that.

“If you don’t score again and you don’t put it beyond all reasonable doubt, then make sure you lock the back door and we hadn’t done.

“The difficulty is that I’m really delighted with the way we played, I thought we were terrific and it’s a shame that three minutes just annoys you and pisses you off so much it can blight [that].

“It can do, but it won’t because I thought we were outstanding, as an away performance I thought that was excellent. We just can’t let that happen again. But I thought it was a really good performance.”

The Town boss had no complaints about the five minutes-plus of added on time: “There was a lot of time stopped for Kevin, there were enough substitutions, we had a goal.

“The stoppage time was fine. Nothing to do with that, we’ve just allowed them to score when we shouldn’t have done.”

Does he put the goals down to a lack of concentration? “I think it’s a bit simplistic just to say it’s one thing. When they get one goal, a team gets momentum.”

He continued: “Bart says he was impeded, I’m not so sure, not that much. I just think when you’ve got that you can almost smell it coming with that last corner kick but we should have defended it better. It was poor on our part.

“But it was good on theirs. They put it in and they had Johnny on the spot running in to score, so it takes two teams to create a game, doesn’t it?”

He added: “Forty-five [matches] to go and I’m sure I’ll be sitting here feeling the same again some time. I’m sure their coach has come in and they’re ecstatic, it’s like a win for them. But they’ll all know they’ve had a bit of a doing, except for the last three minutes.”

McCarthy says the disappointment of the result won’t be allowed to linger: “I’ve said to the players what I’ve said to you - for 90 minutes we’ve had an outstanding performance, I’m delighted with them. For three minutes we haven’t, so I’m not going to let that [dominate]. I don’t do that.

“I’ll be in tomorrow morning to watch the game and when the lads are in I’ll be fine. We’ve got to go and play on Tuesday and then on Saturday again. Roll on May!”

Kevin Bru went off injured after the break and McCarthy isn’t yet sure of the extent of his injury: “It looks like he’s damaged his hamstring, how severely I don’t know.

“I’ll find out tomorrow. I won’t know until it settles down. We’ll get him looked at and whether he goes and has a scan I don’t know.”

Teddy Bishop missed the trip with a similar problem: “He’s got a bit of a tight hamstring as well.”

Brentford head coach Marinus Dijkhuizen admitted his side were fortunate but felt they were knocking on the door towards the end of the match.

“We put a lot of pressure on and took a lot of risks, but I think we got better and better in the game, the chances were big, but we couldn’t get a goal,” the Dutchman said.

“And finally Andre Gray scored and then you think it’s too late, but there are three of four minutes because they added five minutes, which is normal.

“We were a little bit lucky of course, but finally we deserved the draw, but it was a good last few minutes.”

He felt his team tried to play too much like the Blues in the first half: “I was disappointed about our game. We created good chances but we were a bit restless on the ball, not enough patience on the ball.

"A little bit the same game as Ipswich, kick and rush and they are better at kick and rush because that’s the way they want to play and they’re physically stronger.

“I mentioned in the break that they should be more patient on the ball. But after the break it was 2-0 and it was difficult to play and you have to switch to Plan B and C and finally we’re very happy with the draw.”

Photo: Action Images

brittaniaman added 20:04 - Aug 8 I said before what was discussed by a local journalist and two staff members (no names mentioned) that we need a GOOD goalkeeper as we have two AVERAGE ones at the moment !!!!! Those 2pts. lost today could be very important at the end of the season ??. I know it is only the first game of the season ..
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bedsitfc added 20:04 - Aug 8 I just feel that when our wide players went off we tried holding on as we lost our goal threat. We are not good enough to simply hold out we are better going forward with intent. We became too narrow and allowed them to push us back.
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hinchers1066 added 20:10 - Aug 8 It takes time to gel a side when we have a team that is so much more balanced than we have had for many a season, Yes, Mick maybe lost us the game by his substitutions. but hey ho we did compete for most of the match and are a real threat with two out and wide players who can provide the forwards with real opportunities to score goals. Yes I will agree that we threw it all away by using negative substitutions, but it is a side in the making and that is a damn sight better than hoofball and I really do believe that we are a 100% better side than we were last season, Have patience people. When this current squad settle in and gel together we could be and will be a force to be reckoned with. Mick may well know that he may have made a mistake today. I for one believe that he will not make the same mistake again. Gutted as I am at the draw today lets look at the positives that came out of todays game, we are a good side and we will get better.

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karls_dad added 20:12 - Aug 8 To switch off at the end of the game again is Sunday morning schoolboy stuff, how many times did we do it last season? it cost us dearly for those mistakes, i just hope that the lads have learnt a valuable lesson today? it ain,t over until the peep!
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BlueMachines added 20:24 - Aug 8 Those that were there know that there were positives today. Mainly we didn't play hoof ball. Lucky as Murph was marked out of the game today. We have our weak areas but it isn't too late to strengthen yet. Ps. Ignore the trolls and they'll soon get bored.
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dagenhamtown added 20:28 - Aug 8 Oh well usual last min goals no shock there.On a more brilliant note we won the ashes so lets be happy but god when will town learn.ps where was tabby he is diff class lol.
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alfromcol added 20:37 - Aug 8 MM set up the team well, a much more attacking line up and if he sticks with it, it bodes well for plenty of goals this season, pity he went a little bit too defensive near the end. Don't forget folks there is another team on the pitch and 2-0 down they can throw people forward and it always looks like we have become defensive, when it is really the pressure of the opposition. The new additions had good games and promises well for the future. Fraser looks a real handful. The young lad at RB did well after a shaky first 15 minutes. It looked like Brentford were targeting our right-hand side. Disappointed about the late goals but an encouraging start. First visit to Brentford's ground, what a s--t hole!!!

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BlueNomad added 20:47 - Aug 8 Pip. You are so perceptive!! Please share with us your footballing experience, qualifications, realised ambitions and business success. After all you are so critical of everyone running the club!!!
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truckerblue added 20:57 - Aug 8 All you lot going on about a proper right back please wind your necks in. Who's to say young Josh won't make that spot his own. It's his first game and he's 17. He'll of an achievement for someone his age. Give him a bit if a run and accept he'll make a few mistakes yes it may cost us but better to do it this end of the season and he may well grow into it and be immense.

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topguy added 21:05 - Aug 8 I think if you look at the positives, not the result but performance, we were better, more controlled and confident, but as happens they got a goal in the dying mins, they were always going to throw everything at us, then we got nervous as pros they shouldn't but they are human. and for him to say oh they played hoofball, that's the way they scored both their goals, will our best CH out after 1 game plenty to look forward too still.

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BriggEnd added 21:30 - Aug 8 Goals win you games defences win you titles FACT. Already these 2 points THROWN away might just come back to haunt us next May.
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coolcat added 21:31 - Aug 8 My second time there today. Agree with MM about playing really well until the injury time. Summed up well here by alfromcol. Impressed with the new additions to the squad. Really good performances from Fraser and Naitland-Miles. Hope Bru's injury isn't too serious.
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essex57 added 22:35 - Aug 8 Pip 50 whilst I accept everyone has an opinion to be able to find so many negatives I ask the question why do you bother going if indeed you did!!!
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afrodids added 22:37 - Aug 8 Us concede from a corner in the last minute, sounds familiar! Berra coming back can't come any sooner. Onwards and upwards
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BaronBaron added 22:51 - Aug 8 I think the perspective is lacking here. I have just spent the evening with Brentford supporters who thought we outplayed them for the majority fort the match and they were very lucky to get a result. First game of the season and more positives than negative to take. Only another 40 odd to go.
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BtreeBlueBlood added 23:58 - Aug 8 Last 2 games we have let in late goals. At col u our defence parted like the seas - in the last 5 mins . Same today. Play to the whistle boys
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pablo123 added 00:42 - Aug 9 Ive had time to calm down and put today in perspective ! of the two teams out there today we have easily the most promise , but our inability to see out games is scary !! We will rip teams apart this season with our attacking prowess , but our defence (without berra) will cost us dear when under the pump !!! Mick got the subs badly wrong today and it cost us yet again !! Ffs get a good keeper and bring berra back asap in place of tommy !! And pls pls pls mick dont go so negative when we have games under control !! This is the year we are all desperate to go up , and this league will be tight as hell , so we need to be strong in every department !! Bitterly dissapointed not getting 3 points from that position today and even this early that might cost us !!! It happened lots last season and it cost us then , so sort it out NOW

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blue24 added 00:45 - Aug 9 I'm all for constructive criticism but will the people who just to moan please just go away. Club doesn't need you and I find reading your posts so very boring!!
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RRanger added 01:25 - Aug 9 Too many posters making negative comments obviously weren't at the game today,just coming out with well rehearsed comments about the need for a right back and new goalkeeper - as if we can just pluck a Petr Cech or Begovitch off the shelf. Yes, Bart was one of many defenders at fault for their 2nd goal but its a team game and it was the team that conceded that corner. As for this constant bleating about the need for a new right back, I hope Emanuel gets a run in the side - after a nervous first ten minutes I thought he got better and better and could be an absolute gem. As for the substitutions, two of them were for cramp/injuries and couldn't be avoided. For those listening on the radio, it was seriously hot at Griffin Park today and I will predict that not many teams will go there this season and get a result. For 80 of the 90 minutes we were by far the better side and not playing hoof ball. I only wish I had put a decent bet on us to go up on Betfair (at good odds ) because the punters will soon realise that we are going to be one of the main challengers for promotion this season and thos eodds are going to shorten.

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phantom added 01:52 - Aug 9 Pathetic id say smith uet again at fault for at least one of those. Not good wnough for sunday league let alone for ipswich.
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topguy added 07:47 - Aug 9 For people to say an away draw against one of last seasons top6 teams is a bad result is nonsense, and to say with 135pts to play for that dropping 2pts could cost us is arrogant and makes it out we have a god given right to win we don't. We are playing a new system and it for 85mins worked and could easily have been 3 or 4 up with no way back for them, and after that performance and looking at the so called favs, derby not winning away, wolves just winnng with a handball, qpr getting battered, how has it bit us on the ass.

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Hegansheroes added 08:11 - Aug 9 All the negatives regarding the Brentford manager's comments are utter bxlls, we play kick & rush, this is a MM team for god's sake, that's his style. The midfield did look far better than last season & both goals came from there, did that ever happen last year. Hoping that we are going to play more cultured football & at times it looked that way, Bru exceptional & Sears such a livewire. Poor tactics & substitutions at the end by MM

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karls_dad added 09:07 - Aug 9 Sorry Mick for probably the first time ever i think you were watching a different game, Outstanding?? how on gods earth can you say that? we were ok ish! nothing special, nothing today to say we have cracked it! and to throw it away yet again is pure stupidity!! One thing the Nodge did last year was to keep playing until that final whistle, i will give them that much!! we just can,t seem to do it!! is it a fitness issue? mindset? whatever it needs sorting asap!!

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Moisha added 09:08 - Aug 9 This may surprise a few, and yes you do have to defend the corner but for me McGoldrick was more culpable than most for that equaliser. He had the ball near their corner and should have held it better trying to win throw ins or corners to see the time out, but instead he tried to take the defender on and head for goal, the defender got the ball and cleared it, and the rest is history. Apart from that, enjoyed the game. Lots of positives especially AMN and Fraser, thought Skuse and Bru were excellent in the middle and Sears a constant threat with his pace.

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parhamblue added 10:06 - Aug 9 Relieved to hear we played with wingers and on the ground, but then what happens? Substitutions and the message "defend" gets translated into "panic". Same old, same old! People can argue about individual players, the ones we've got that they don't want on the field and the ones we haven't signed, but the change of tactics, and preparation (especially mental) is all down to the coaching. We cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of last season again and again.

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