Town boss Mick McCarthy admitted that the Blues were beaten by a better side after losing 1-0 to Hull City at Portman Road.

“I thought the first half was pretty even,” he said. “The second half, although it wasn’t long into it, I thought we started well and put a decent cross into the box but unfortunately for us the keeper caught it and they showed their quality because the left-back Andrew Robertson is off and running and [they scored].

“It’s always disappointing however you concede but had we scored that we’d be waxing lyrical about it because it was a fantastic goal, everything about it, the pass, the finish. They showed their quality then for 10 minutes, it could have got worse.

“What I would say is that I always credit our lads for sticking with it and as bonkers as this league is we could have nicked something in the last minutes.”

Town claimed penalties in the first half when Brett Pitman appeared to be pushed by Robertson and in the second when Jonathan Douglas went to ground as he broke into the area.

“I’d like to see the penalties again,” McCarthy added. “I thought they were good shouts for penalties.

“I think they had a couple as well that they were shouting for, but I don’t think he was ever going to give one tonight whatever happened.

“In the first half we could have nicked the lead, I thought, for our performance before half-time.

“But that’s the fine margins of the Championship, of any league really, but of the Championship certainly, but we blinked first.

“I think they’ve only conceded 19 goals so they’re not an easy team to break down. And I might add that they’re a bloody good team full of bloody good players and, to be honest, they were the better team on the night.”

McCarthy was disappointed to concede so soon after the break: “The talk in the dressing room was about making a good start, don’t concede because it’ll be hard if you do because they don’t give goals away. But we did.

“I can’t say, having looked at it, that we did a lot wrong. It was a fantastic goal really. I hate saying that but that’s just the way it is because it was a bit of quality.”

The Blues boss admits that his side’s play-off push is starting to slip: “If you lose five out of six in all competitions, that is just the case. We’ve lost three on the bounce now but we’ve got to try and remain positive and get back at it.

“We have lost players, we’ve lost really important players. That wasn’t such a bad performance against the league leaders, who are really good team.

“But we’ll need to play better than that and have a bit more quality, I think, which is really important.”

McCarthy felt Hull did to the Blues what his Championship-winning sides did to other clubs by keeping Town to few chances, particularly in the second half.

“I remember being at Wolves and winning the competition and being at Sunderland and we had games where nobody had shots against us because we were a really good team and we won it by eight points on two occasions.

“They are a good side. Perhaps we should give them a bit of credit for being a good side. We didn’t have that many shots but we had our chances in the first half and if you score those it’s a different game.”

Reflecting on the difference between the two squads, Hull having benefited from parachute payments after being relegated from the Premier League last season, he said: “I look at the two players up front who cost collectively £15 million, Abel Hernández and Mohamed Diamé. Not bad, is it?

“In terms of that we’re comparing apples and pears, it’s two different things. What we’ve done is compete against a really good side and actually could have nicked something.

“They were the better side, they are the better side, they’re top of the league, they’re a better side than us, I’ll just hold my hand up. But that doesn’t mean we can’t beat them just because they’re a better side and for a period in the game I thought we might.”

McCarthy said he was pleased with Ben Pringle’s home debut: “I thought his contribution was good in a tough game and certainly his freekicks and corners have good quality.”

He confirmed that Luke Hyam suffered an injury when he went off in the second half: “Hyamsy had a fitness test before the game today. He came in this morning with a tight hamstring, he had treatment, went home and had a kip and it felt all right.

“He was fine in his pre-match test and he worked his nuts off and just had it tighten up, so hopefully he’ll be OK.”

The Town boss said Ainsley Maitland-Niles was fit despite being omitted from the 18: “No, he was just left out.”

Hull manager Steve Bruce felt his team’s superiority showed after the break: “It was difficult for us in the first half, I have to say, against a really committed Ipswich team who mirror their manager in terms of their effort and endeavour. They made it difficult in the first half.

“But in the second half we showed that bit of extra class and really we could have put it to bed. We had two or three opportunities after we scored and didn’t take the second one.

“But overall, again we’ve come away from home and showed that resilience that hopefully will stand us in good stead.”

Photo: Action Images

GeoffSentence added 08:35 - Feb 24 We are weaker this year than last. Limited goal threat, no guile, flair nor creativity. We have never properly replaced Paul Anderson.
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Colchester_blue added 08:45 - Feb 24 So just to confirm, were they a better side?
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essexboy added 08:54 - Feb 24 Time for a change of management.
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atty added 09:00 - Feb 24 Beaten by better side certainly, but why are they better? Money - supportive owner, parachute payments sure, but you still need to bring on or buy good players, and have a decent manager. Let's face it the Keane and Jewell eras' were a joke and clearly Evans and bureaucrat Clegg didn't have a clue, and were taken for a ride by the so called football men. McCarthy was always going to get us to safety, such was the mess he inherited, players who didn't care posers etc and no discipline. We have to be grateful to him for that, but hard work, discipline, and team spirit will only take you so far. If you add a little class to that it can make all the difference. Many on here have, and continue to highlight to weaknesses, and there is definitely a condensus on what's gone wrong. Yes we gave been unlucky with injuries, and with a fit Didz, Teddy, Fraser and Skuse things would be better. However for all MMs comments about brining players in to sit in the bench etc., what about a quality creative attacking midfielder? Whose name is first on the team sheet now for that position, or for right back? All I would ask is for ME to write an open letter to the fans explaining what his plan us, and how he intends execute it. If he doesn't want to spend to improve the squad then would he please say so, and by doing also admit that only plan at the Monet is Championship survival. His has put a lot of money into the club in the past, so I for one wouldn't blame him if he has had enough. Where we go from there however is not simple. The club (87percent ME) owes ME ( personally or another one of his companies?) how many millions? If he calls in the debt (if he can under the terms) then the Club can't pay, goes bankrupt, and he gets a few pence on the pound for the debt. A new buyer would have to pick up the debt and be committed to spend to improve the squad to try and get to the Premiership promised land, otherwise what would be the point? All of that would cost an awful lot of money, and be one hell of a risk. Free of debt our club would have real fighting chance of promotion and regular premiership football. Surely we have the potential to be just as big as Palace, West Brom, Swansea, Norwich, Bournemouth, Stoke et al.? Mr.Evans please come clean so at least we fans know what the true position is. Surely you appreciate how important the club we love is to us, from those of us who gave been supporting the club for decades, to the young kids in the family enclosure.

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Bluetone added 09:00 - Feb 24 ME bought the club expected to chuck a few million in gain promotion back to the Prem cash in making a quick few million and leave and when it didn't happen he was stuck and left with a football club he didn't really want and no plan B 'cos this wasn't meant to happen he expected to have moved on long ago. We will be stuck in this rut for a few years yet I fear.
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GiveusaWave added 09:08 - Feb 24 Love to know what the actual philosophy of the club is these days. I often leave games having an existential crisis myself after seeing football which looks more like Rugby than the game I live and love. What is our long term plan? Are we intending to bring in hoofball tactics at all levels of the club? Why are we not making an attempt to sign players in the January transfer window when we are in shooting distance of the play-offs? What is the meaning of football at ITFC?

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karls_dad added 09:16 - Feb 24 It would seem that the vast majority have seen the light! not wishing to blow my trumpet but i have been saying this all season, we are not going anywhere, a tenth to mid table finish beckons, a few new cheap faces come summer, a couple of players that are released by parent clubs but can do a job here, a grassroots change is needed but it ain,t gonna happen with ME as the owner, we are purely an accountants toy at the moment, something to play with, write off some losses or whatever they do to benefit ME, as for MM respect to the guy but not the answer in the modern game!

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BriggEnd added 09:22 - Feb 24 Men against boys we are in free fall. Last 2 seasons we were in good positions just after Xmas no frigging investment to give us a shout of getting over the finishing line. Shambles but what do you expect with a 2pence millionare chairman
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essexboy added 09:25 - Feb 24 What a waste of a season.Expectations were so high in August,but once again the management have let us all down with boring football.Just how much longer can we all put up with this.
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PortmanTerrorist added 09:26 - Feb 24 Am genuinely not attempting to be sarcastic but we must be contravening some act or other by charging for something we don't get. We played so little football over 90 minutes last night. How do I convince an 11 year old that was worth watching in sub zero temperatures. To those doubters please understand this is serious. Our Club has not played anything like entertaining football for years now. We are in danger of losing a generation of supporters. I do still want to trust the Club but we need answers re direction and goals before the atmosphere gets poisonous.

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Gforce added 09:36 - Feb 24 After watching terrible championship football for the last 100 years ,with zero entertainment I am seriously considering spending my £30 odd quid elsewhere.Let me think two trips to the pub, a couple of trips to the cinema,four extra bags of groceries (including beer) a day out in southwold ,the list is endless !
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battyblue added 09:41 - Feb 24 I would imagine they include all season ticket holders in the attendance figures wether they go or not so on this showing they will have quite a few less next season unless there are drastic changes made very soon......and how MM expects us to get points when we can't muster a shot on goal is beyond me ..turn the light off when you leave Mick.
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jonbull88 added 09:58 - Feb 24 Blub blub blub........the moaners on here are same old same old, change the record please. Murphy hit the post first half, last year that would have gone in. This seasons still better to watch than anything under Keane and possibly Jewell.
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cats_whiskers added 10:04 - Feb 24 McCarthy would have trouble Beating an EGG to make a Omlette
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cats_whiskers added 10:04 - Feb 24 McCarthy would have trouble Beating an EGG to make a Omlette
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cats_whiskers added 10:04 - Feb 24 McCarthy would have trouble Beating an EGG to make a Omlette
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cats_whiskers added 10:06 - Feb 24 Apologies for the subsequent repeats
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ITFC92 added 10:20 - Feb 24 Quality of football is down, money still isnt being spent things do seem grim. I know its taking its toll on everyone but all the fans that turn up really need to start giving it all for town whether you don't like Mick or not whether you're happy with his team choice or not, sometimes the atmosphere in Portman Road last year changed the game, it wasnt often but if we're going to go to the match we may as well sing and may as well support right to the end. Last ten minutes of the hull match showed the difference tonight we got behind the boys and we nearly nicked it! COYB On a side not "Hyamsy?" that needs to stop!

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roytheboy added 10:22 - Feb 24 I agree with 95% or more of the above posts, I have little more to add other than to say that I am totally fed up with our current unattractive style of so called Football ? and also that we are not investing in talented players, I honestly believe that there will be a serious drop in attendance next season if we continue with no apparent strategy on or off the field, even the players are starting to appear disillusioned, I could see it in their expressions, I would imagine that Maitland Niles probably hates our terrible hoofball and head tennis, as indeed Tommy Ore apparently did, we deserve far better than this horrible style every game, please take note Mick, Terry and Mr Evans before you find yourselves regretting it.

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Kesgraveblue57 added 10:43 - Feb 24 The reality check, for once McCarthy is totally right of course we were beaten by the better side,under the present situation consider yourselves very lucky to be in the championship, for the dreamers,the premiership is far out of reach it just won't happen.I hate the McCarthy type of football nothing can be done on that front. It seems we are 100 million in debt reality check you can't buy players fact. Ipswich town is in total disarray to stay in the championship will be in the achievement for the foreseeable future

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ITFC1985 added 10:50 - Feb 24 I just find us boring to watch, very 1 dimensional very predictable it was plain to see after 15 minutes that the long ball up to Murphy wasnt going to work. Michael Dawson is a too good of a defender to lose aerial battles and you would think we would change the play we play to effect the game however unfortunately as it showed in the 2nd half of last season we dont have a plan b we dont have good enough players to actually play the ball around (which Hull clearly did) they never looked panicked on the ball they never whacked it long and aimless to no one and it seemed (at times) like they had an extra player as someone was always free and available. I just dont know what has happened this season, lack of investment (yes) but the squad isnt much different to last season and on paper our strongest 11 isnt a bad team, however i just find we lack the commitment and effort of last season, we seem to huff and puff our way through games where as last season as least we gave are all, its tiring to watch. The playoffs are a mighty big ask now.

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rinkydinkpanther added 10:53 - Feb 24 'McCarthy: Beaten By a Better Side' Yes, we usually are. The whole division (and other divisions) seem full of them. And sometimes we even sneak wins and draws against them. But it's no way to live.
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essex57 added 10:55 - Feb 24 What is your line of business Keanish an undertaker?
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essexboy added 11:00 - Feb 24 Essex57,everybody on these pages is entitled to there own opinion.Just why do you have to be so offensive.It really is uncalled for.Grow up,or shut up.
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prebsa added 11:44 - Feb 24 Essexboy, there is no point trying you wont get anything sensible out of him. Comments are full of hitting other people down.
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