Boss Mick McCarthy admitted that Portsmouth probably deserved to beat the Blues in this afternoon’s FA Cup third round tie, which ended 2-2, Ryan Fraser having grabbed Town’s 88th minute equaliser.

McCarthy admitted that a draw was a result which neither manager would have been after at the start of the game.

“I don’t think either me or [Pompey boss] Paul Cook wanted it but we’ve got it and after 88 minutes I would have taken it because I didn’t want to lose,” he said.

“I didn’t want to get beaten in the game, although we probably deserved to get beaten, I thought they were excellent.”

He added: “I was relieved it was still 0-0 at half-time, I thought they were excellent. I thought we were better in the second half.

“I was disappointed to concede almost immediately after scoring but then delighted that we kept going as always and ended up with a draw, which we didn’t deserve really, they deserved to win.

“But, you know what, it’s testament to the players that they kept going and didn’t get beaten.”

McCarthy admitted that it rarely looked like there are two divisions between the teams: “They’re one of the better League Two sides with a lot of quality and some players with experience, who have played a fair bit.

“It didn’t [look like there were two divisions between the sides], absolutely not, it probably looked the other way around, to be honest.

“I don’t know what I can add to that, other than we were lucky to get a draw, I think they deserved to win, I thought they were excellent, I thought we were below par.

“Maybe having Peter [Malarczyk] playing, Diggers [Paul Digby] playing, Tommy Oar playing and Reg [Varney] playing who haven’t been playing had an effect on it, who knows?

“I’ve gone through them, I’m not making them as an excuse, I thought [Portsmouth] were excellent, they deserved to win, they didn’t and we’ve got a bloody replay a week on Tuesday.

“But, like I say, after 88 minutes, I wanted that, I didn’t want to be beaten. We’ve got Leeds and Preston coming here now, so we remain unbeaten.”

Having conceded that the changes he made contributed to the disappointing display, he says that he might otherwise have been forced into switches of personnel for the two important Championship games.

“That then could have been Leeds United on Tuesday night or Preston on Saturday, had I got somebody injured, the [players coming in] haven’t played and they have to go in and play and they’re below par because they’ve not been playing. So, if anything it’s worthwhile for them.

“They’re the positives that have come out of it, that Tommy Oar has now had 90 minutes, Luke Varney’s had them, Peter’s had them, Diggers has played.

“He did all right, I thought, it was a tough game for him, coming in, he’s not been playing to then be playing at that level.”

Having started Digby, who joined on loan from Barnsley last week, at the centre of the defence, McCarthy quickly switched the debutant to right-back.

“I just wanted Chambo to more vocal being in the centre of the pitch,” he explained. “I’ve got Peter who hasn’t been playing and Diggers, who hasn’t played. It just looked a little bit disjointed, it was better with Chambo in there.”

The draw for the fourth round takes place from 7pm live on BBC1's The One Show on Monday.

Portsmouth assistant manager Leam Richardson was pleased with his team’s performance and not too disappointed that the game ended in a draw.

“I think first and foremost the manager and myself just want to come and play football and give a good account of ourselves and apply ourselves the best we can and I thought we did that today,” he said.

“There’ll always be a tinge of disappointment when you’re in the 80-plus minutes and you don’t end up winning the game and you don’t end up going through, but it’s still a positive result.

“If you spin it round, certainly in a cup competitions, if we were 2-1 down and we got the same result, 2-2, you’d have a different elation and I think the lads know individually and collectively that they performed to a certain level and when they digest it I think they’ll realise that.

“We know Ipswich through the manager and the players they’ve got and the club itself, it’s a very well established, good quality club with a quality manager and quality players.

“As a chance for us as a young management team to pit our wits up against such a team and manager it’s good for us.”

Photo: Action Images

TractorCam added 18:27 - Jan 9 Yes they did Mick, 30% possession is nothing short of embarrassing
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Mark added 18:29 - Jan 9 What a disappointing performance, so many of our players were poor and Portsmouth embarrassed us with their passing and movement. Yes the defence was all over the place due to the changes, but what about the midfield, how poor were they first half!? I was relieved we got the equaliser but with Parr leaving it goes to show how little cover we have at the back and how we struggle without a big man up front.

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SickParrot added 18:43 - Jan 9 Because of all the team changes I expected a tough game today, but I did not expect to be outplayed by a league 2 side. The 10 outfield players who started for Town looked more like pub team players and the performance today was worthy of a comedy award. as was MM's team selection. Although Mick has been honest enough to admit that Portsmouth deserved to win he goes on to give his team credit for not giving up against a quality side! Is he serious? I know we are still in a play off position (for now) and our recent away record is excellent but we have had to put up with some bloody awful home displays.

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DurhamTownFan added 18:43 - Jan 9 Let's face, it: MM doesn't care about the cup competitions or at least he's been told not to bother with them from above. I can't remember a single MM team doing well in a cup, whether at Sunderland, Wolves or Town. I'd not be surprised if we 'rested' players again for the replay and lost with a whimper. What of the bigger picture? I'd not complain if we won promotion but lost in the replay. However, winning breeds confidence in players, and I really don't think a couple of extra games makes that much of a difference in a 46-game league season. If we'd won convincingly today, the fans would all have gone home happy, and some who don't go that often might come back more in future. We might then get drawn against a huge team at home in R4 (although obviously this is still possible if we win the replay). It's just so annoying when you see how exciting the cup can be for teams who give it a go and do well.

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Garv added 18:44 - Jan 9 Lesson. In. Football.
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RonFearonsHair added 18:45 - Jan 9 When did "The manager and I" become "The manager and myself"?
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dannyrr added 18:47 - Jan 9 It was obvious Portsmouth wanted to win more than we did. We were awful even when we had the ball we couldn't keep it and kept giving it away to the opposition. We were lucky to get a draw out of that. It was like so many of the players didn't want to play. We hardl had any shots on goal and didn't trouble their keeper till we scored our first. I hope we are ready to go on Tuesday in the league.

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bluefeast added 19:01 - Jan 9 Comfortable on the ball we are not ,its coached out of them ,safety first means get rid of it and then go and scrap fight bite kick punch ,be dogged and muscular. Thats the MM way. Bored out of my skin.
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ottovonbismark added 19:35 - Jan 9 It's a refusal or total inability to coach football in a way that allows players to actually want the ball, to understand that being in possession of the ball is a good thing, to want to pass and move, to think about what to do instead of never thinking at all. This route one stuff is brutal, and instinctively not what football is about. We are totally at odds with how modern football is coached and played.

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StochesStotasBlewe added 19:37 - Jan 9 Yes Mick, they did deserve to win, they were excellent, however, in your words after our previous home game "we were shoite".
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VulpineBlue added 19:55 - Jan 9 In the first half it looked as though the ball was burning us whenever we came into contact with it. Only Tommy Oar and Bart were actually playing. Piotr was OK but it was a serious mistake when Mick changed the system to playing young Digby at full back with the under performing Niles in front of him. This should have never happened and led directly to Pompeys first goal.

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WhoisJimmyJuan added 19:58 - Jan 9 Bottom line is that MM can claim we have strength in depth all he likes but if he never wavers from his favourites and starting XI then the rest don't get match time. You cannot then expect them to suddenly come in and do a job. MM will only ever take us so far. I suspect that as time goes on fewer and fewer fans will be satisfied with grinding our way to the play offs with no cup interest to add colour to the slate grey fayre on offer.

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bohslegend added 19:59 - Jan 9 And despite all the vitriol on here, and how bad we are under MM, we're 6th in the league. Go figure.
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Norwichbeater added 20:00 - Jan 9 My 6 year old boy turned around to me and said just before half time why do Portsmouth play loads of short passes. I need say no more.
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EssexTractor added 20:01 - Jan 9 As always there will be fors and against regarding opinions of management and coaching at ITFC. For anyone at PR at this match today ,even those who onlyknow a thimbleful of football will have one only agreement with MMs comments tonight , ie that Portsmouth deserved to win. Aside from that many of his words defy belief but now does that surprise us! Our recent away results, although in the main against lower Leaguers, have somewhat jolted us into a mood of maybe surprised delight, but at home we have in all honesty been modest! And so along comes a possible dream , oposition, despite fabulous support, are only League Two, against whom prices are reduced and so lots and lots of " casual supporters" , many in area I watch from...so let's show what we have , show these maybe regulars what we have at Portman Rd..and what did we get...well, is there a word for it!, Entertainment is now a forlorn and almost forgotten part of the Portman Road diet. How terribly disappointing.

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jas0999 added 20:04 - Jan 9 Yes Mick, a division two side were indeed excellent compared to us. A team you claim to be the best squad you have had. Time to think again. You and Evans need to urgently reevaluate the transfer strategy as we are clearly lacking and not as strong as you make out. Quality lacking. At home, we can NOT under any circumstances continue to play two defence minded central midfielders. It does not work. January may well dictate Evans future at the club. Surely has to be time to twist. Supported by Mick.

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Bluetone added 20:17 - Jan 9 I begin to wonder if McCarthy gets an end of season bonus based on position and performance in the league but nothing for cup performances. That would at least explain the inexplicable.
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phillo added 20:22 - Jan 9 No sh** Mick ! Of course they deserved to win ...... they played football, wherease we continued to play hoof ball to Murphy up front ........only we forgot he wasn't playing !!!!! As a result our "passes" went to their central defenders who must have been a foot taller than Varney & Pitman! Our wide players got bored on the wings as nothing came to them so drifted inside thus completely cutting out any width at all. The new guy ( who unfortunately already has the nickname Diggers from Mick usually indicating an extended run in the team - remember "Tabby"- & who apparantly is better than Parr & any of our young defenders as Mick said earlier in the week that he would only bring in players better than his current squad ) started at CB ; a position he apparantly has not played before but we are told Mick "thinks he is". Well that lasted 15mins - shortest CB career ever ? - as he clearly didn't have a clue what was happening. He then moved to RB - where I am afraid the game passed him by .... eventually being taken off. Tbh iF I was Parr & I saw that I would be getting the first plane I could back home as well !! Absolute shambles .......

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muccletonjoe added 20:56 - Jan 9 So at least we now know why mick likes to keep with the same team. But as soon as I say that, I have to remember that mm has been regularly quoted as saying he very happy with his current. Sensible managers would change their minds after this debacle. I really don't expect any change of heart from mm.
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Tufty added 21:20 - Jan 9 Poor today digby out of his depth malarcyc rusty strikers too alike niles not interested lucky to get a draw.
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bluefeast added 22:01 - Jan 9 This is the exact reason i do not go to home games anymore. Im sorry but i am never going to spend another pound whilst MM is manager. Yes we are 6th but at what cost , the cost of entertainment. Most of the top 10 sides in the championship mix it up , we have plan A and plan A alone. These are professional footballers ,probably with far more technical ability than we all realise. Sad fact is , its coached out of them. Dogged determined bully , out muscle and out fight. Thats the MM way. Our home form is not great , our home supporters want us to at least play some kind of passing game. Away from home we just have a fight and beat a few opposition players up. Funny thing is Mick will be delighted as he knows no different although he must be really annoyed that we are the lowest scorers from set pieces in the league. Its a funny old game ,unless you've paid 30 or 40 quid to watch us at home ,bought a pie and few drinks ,petrol money , maybe taken the kids to watch ,then its damn depressing. Sure there are a few thousand that think like me. Will be interesting to see our season ticket renewals next season if we are still in this league. Well done Portsmouth for the football you play. Can we have your manager and coaching staff please.

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cartman1972 added 22:10 - Jan 9 Truly woeful. I hate the transfer window as it's the same s*it different day knowing we are hardly likely to spend anything and less likely to gain on the club's that surround us who seem totally at ease with the concept that to speculate allows the club to accumulate. Our club is boring run by a boring chairman and a boring manager the days of passing stylish football are long over until the hierarchy sees a change. It's total folly to passover the fact that if we spent £2-4m on a couple of decent players we'd be in with a shout of the £100m + prize the premiership brings......rant over I'm going to do something more interesting than watch our boring replay

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manualthetisfanclub added 22:12 - Jan 9 Best squad he has had at town, well if that's the best hate to think what was the worst! Only Bart, Skuse and Oar can come away with a bit of credit and not forgetting Ryan Fraser who is our best player by a mile and he ain't even ours! Really poor performance, chasing Pompey shadows. Can't help that this month is make or break for town as all the leading teams chasing top 6 will strengthen, sadly can't see MM and ME doing so.

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ArnieM added 22:18 - Jan 9 Really can't disagree with comments /posts above. Today was a new low in my eyes. As soon as we hoof the ball it becomes a 50:50 free ball to be won. We rarely win it! I could pull many players apart. AMN , I'm sick and tired of him losing possession so cheaply. Knudsen similarly and our back four today looked woeful. Bart ? No great shakes frankly and I've often said there's really not a lot to choose between either keeper. Midfield once again the pairing of two defensive minded MF'ers is soul destroying for "home entertainment " and starves our strikers of service. A front line without Murphy looks gutless and why bother with skillful wingers when the ball is constantly in.thr fluckin g air?? I give up.

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afrodids added 23:12 - Jan 9 I know the majority of people on here love MM I can't stand him. He won't take us anywhere it may not be his fault however are there funds available or does mick seriously believe our squad is strong enough,who knows I'd like to know the truth either way and we all deserve the truth. Let's be honest micky mouse would have kept us up after Jewel left so no more saviour Mick please it's boring. the question for me is does ME and MM want to take us to the next level or just consolidate our status as a championship club. Our squad IS NOT good enough to go up let alone stay in the PL. I urge you all to take off your MM shaped glasses and get real. For me Marcus evans needs to put some money up or sell to someone who will. To all of those who say without him we'd be in trouble, the fact is the £80 million debt still exists it's just payable to him instead of the banks!! The only club not in debt in this league are PNE as their chairman wiped out their £32 million debt. after 40 years of supporting town for me 13 years in the second tier (without any realistic chance of changing this) is unacceptable. Minus me all you like,i know what I see and what I see I don't like. Yours a very disillusioned Ipswich fan

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