"Bitterly disappointed" Town boss Mick McCarthy felt his team were the better side for the majority of their 1-0 East Anglian derby defeat to Norwich City at Portman Road but were unable to take their chances. James Maddison netted the game's only goal in the 59th minute.

“I’m pleased with the performance,” McCarthy said. “When you concede a goal and you’re playing against a team which can become compact and sit in, it’s hard to play through them. They did it well, to be honest, they’re a threat on the break.

“I’m pleased with my team’s performance, I’ve got no qualms about that, I’m just bitterly disappointed with the result.”

Asked whether he felt there was a lack of cohesion to his side’s display after going behind, he added: “I think that they’re a good side and when they can sit in and become organised and leave Cameron Jerome up front they’re very hard to break down and that’s what we’ve seen throughout all their performances.

“I tend not to look at my team and think there’s a lack of cohesion but I’ll take your opinion. And we still had a chance when Waggy shot over the bar.

“They’re a good side, they’ve got good players and for the majority of that game we were the better side and we just haven’t taken our chances and they have.”

Neither side had too many chances with the goal Norwich’s only real opportunity, while Jonas Knudsen hit the post for Town and David McGoldrick headed over in the first half.

“[Finishing] was quite clearly [the difference]. They scored and we didn’t,” McCarthy continued.

“We started the season and we were scoring goals. Today we haven’t. They’ve had the one moment of quality with Maddison when he’s finished it, got himself in a good position and he’s managed to score which we haven’t done today.”

Regarding the McGoldrick header, he added: “It was a great chance, maybe if it was Joe Garner that was heading it it’s in the net.

“But it’s the hardest part of the game, that’s why they pay fortunes to strikers, to score, but it was a good chance.”

Asked whether he was concerned that when his side don’t win they currently lose - the Blues are yet to draw this season - he said: “We’ve had six wins, six defeats, I have to tell you at the end of it I’d take 23 wins and 23 defeats with the tally of points that we’d get.

“If we’re benchmarking in terms of what we’re going to get and it ends up being near the 70 points mark, however we get them.

“However we could manage to get 70 points, to that level, we’d have done really well and we would be borderline play-offs depending on how it all goes.”

Town have lost six of their last eight in the league, is he concerned? “Yes, of course I am. I’m concerned we’re not winning games any more.”

However, he says he’s less worried that the downturn in form will lead to fans returning to expressing their frustrations from the terraces.

“I’ve been fully aware that that would return or materialise if some stage if we didn’t win games, whether it’s the first game or if the run of form doesn’t [improve] that will be evident again,” he admitted.

“But that doesn’t concern me. The concern is that we’re not winning games, not what people might think of me or might say or might shout. That’s of no concern to me at all.”

Despite the lack of victories McCarthy says he’s been happy enough with his team’s displays, but says that ultimately counts for nothing.

“That doesn’t really matter, you’ve got to win,” he said. “A scruffy old win not playing well would suit me fine.

“As has been proven in the past, if you’re playing well then keep playing well and you’re more likely to win games than not. I’d like to play well in the next three games and I’ll take what we get out of them.

“They’re extremely tough games. Burton’s going to be a tough game, we saw that last year when we were there. They’re scrapping away, they’ll be competitive no doubt, then we go to Cardiff, who were the leaders, and then Preston here. Really big games for us.

McCarthy says he’s hurt by the defeat, although he knows it will be even more painful for supporters: “I’m not pleased about it. I’d love to have given them something to shout about, to have be happy about and I think I certainly did my best and the players did their best today, but it just didn’t happen for us.

“It hurts me to lose any game but it’s never, ever going to hurt me as much as it hurts fans who have supported the club for 30 years.

“But as a professional and somebody who is very proud about what I do and how I do it, then, yes, I’m extremely disappointed and I’m always hurt when we lose.”

Midfielder Cole Skuse added: “It’s a tough one to take. I thought we were arguably the better side and created the better chances so that’s frustrating.

“We blinked first so to speak and once they got their goal they sat back and made it very difficult. Now we have to bounce back and put things right next weekend.”

Norwich head coach Daniel Farke, whose team are up to sixth, enjoyed his first experience of the East Anglian derby.

“It was brilliant, I think the crowd was great for both teams, a brilliant atmosphere with lots of support," he said.

"The game was full of passion and full of emotion and that’s what you’re always searching for as a football player and even as a manager, you’re a competitor and you’re looking for such a big game.

“And when you have a win in such a big game it’s always the sweetest feeling, especially when it’s such a close game and complicated game.

“Sometimes you have an easy game wth a 5-0 or something like that but to be honest 1-0 after such a big fight feels even sweeter and it’s great today.”

Farke admitted he had concerns regarding the frequency with which Town created chances in the first half.

“It’s so complicated to play against Ipswich because they always use these long balls and are able to create really a good surrounding for the second ball and they have many offensive players on the pitch who are able to score, even on the wings. It’s so complicated to defend.

“You have to accept this style of football and you have to be prepared for fighting for the second balls and to track the deep runs.

“In the first half I got the feeling that we were a little bit too nervous in possession, we were copying their style using long balls and fighting for the second ball.

“We spoke about it at half-time we had to be braver in possession and play more ground passes and more with ball circulation and good positional play and better structure in our possession. I think we did that in the second half.”

Photo: TWTD

marco007 added 16:25 - Oct 22 Ridiculous comments yet again! We were poor against a poor team. Norwich are not a great side and neither are Fulham Bristol City, QPR etc....yet Mick tries to kid us. Does he think us fans are stupid?? We huffed and puffed and in the second half resorted to route 1...long aimless hit and hope football. We seem to change players and formations all the time. Does Mick really have a clue?? Awful and once again we aee the mugs of East Anglia

28

smithy0981 added 16:28 - Oct 22 I have always been a McCarthy but after today he can do one. Happy with the teams performance, I'm glad you are Mick because I'm not. 2nd half was shocking against poor poor team what are you taking. Embarrassing performance from players that do t give a sh*t. No passion no commitment. And 1-0 down and we bring on a defensive midfielder instead or a forward thinking player like ward. Joke! Can't see we're the next win is going to come from, we won't beat Albion not in a million years! Get out of our club McCarthy now

14

Lathers added 16:28 - Oct 22 If Evans was a football man then that 2nd half performance today should be the end of McCarthy. Unacceptable in a Derby. Clueless, lack of passion and tactics. We have the best squad in years, but he's not getting anywhere near the best out of them, the same old team selection, no pace or positive forward passing. We are a 2nd rate team under this manager. Someone with fresh ideas and tactics is needed to make the most of what we have. And play Celina... Why are you not playing him McCarthy? Because you think he's a defensive liability.... But we have lost 7 out of 9 anyway...?

23

RoyalAscotBlue added 16:34 - Oct 22 That's about as good as it gets. That's the problem. I was so bored watching the second half I decided to take the opportunity to defrag the hard drive on my laptop.
13

christiand added 16:35 - Oct 22 First half was decent and we put them under some pressure. Second half we just didn't even show up. The fact Angus Gunn has had nothing to do of note shows we just weren't good enough. Throughout I felt Norwich always looked a threat, where we created half chances and missed those opportunities. I get annoyed at the excuse mainly by MM that these teams have more financial clout than us, but teams like Burton, Millwall or Barnsley can still get results against these types of teams and we can't! We lose next week at Burton and I'm going to be quite fearful of our position in this league as our run of games afterwards is quite appalling.

7

tractorboybig added 16:40 - Oct 22 verbal crap results speak for them selves. itfc crap of anglia
6

Battyboy added 16:42 - Oct 22 He must have been watching a different game to the one I watched? They run riot in the midfield, did we make a pass from the midfields today?
10

planetblue_2011 added 16:49 - Oct 22 Sack Mick had enough with it all now he's taken the club as far as he can. Thought we did play well up to when they scored & we just went flat after that. Thing is if we had Celina playing from the start & Waghorn playing main striker of two then we would of won today hands down. He doesn't play our best players & plays the best players out of position every time. Norwich we're poor really, wasn't impressed with them at all they just got a lucky break & scored, that was it, but with 25 mins to go where was the urgency from our players to get back at them & equalise. Not good enough after they scored, don't think we will win bragging rights for a very long time. Had enough with it all, this is the final nail in the coffin for me!!!!

11

smithy0981 added 16:50 - Oct 22 MM out right now
15

smithy0981 added 16:51 - Oct 22 Ignorant arrogant manager go now mug
14

Tractorboy1985 added 16:54 - Oct 22 What did you watch????? First half unlucky and poor finishing 2nd half simply not good enough! That's it.. end of! Until our owner wakes up and either spends money on a better calibre of player we are goIng know where!! Evans if you have 550 million.. give ITFC some or simply P1$$ off!!!!!
5

dirtydingusmagee added 16:55 - Oct 22 Agree with most posts , I cant say much that ive not said before, I still think we have some decent players, BUT I don't think McCarthy is getting the best out of them .Its not just losing to the budgies ,its also the fact we are slipping down the league .Mc Carthy should go ,but he wont, Evans should get rid of him ,but he wont. There is no passion for the club in either of them.

13

BlueNomad added 17:02 - Oct 22 Was it really MM's fault that McGoldrick missed an absolute sitter which would probably have influenced the outcome?
-4

phil_itfc_brown added 17:03 - Oct 22 We have the players to be very competitive this season its just the style of football is wrong. The Ipswich of old were well known for playing nice attractive passing football... as a fan i want to see this again its not much to ask??
18

BlueArrow added 17:15 - Oct 22 Never mind voting at the AGM the only way now is to vote with your feet. ME hand will be forced to react then.
9

Rensham added 17:16 - Oct 22 now is not the time to sack anyone
-21

itfchorry added 17:21 - Oct 22 How many chances have you been afforded at this once proud Club - You make me embarrassed to be a Town Fan Please leave
14

Pip50 added 17:27 - Oct 22 Yeah we are all disappointed. I don't like Mick but it's not his fault. Hanley their sub who came on at the back cost more than Mick has spent in his whole time with us. That Portuguese tw@t is right they might not have our history but they are a bigger club and have better players. Same won't be said next week v Burton lol.
5

RegencyBlue added 17:27 - Oct 22 Instead of this predictable rubbish I would like him to explain why he failed to do anything about us being murdered down our right hand side for the whole game! The whole ground could see what was happening after five minutes but did MM react? Did he ****! Just seeing out his contract now as far as I can see and our illustrious owner will let him. This whole regime is rotten to the core.

18

vanmunt added 17:28 - Oct 22 Ah mick, pop into spec savers on Monday and watch that dross again.. a good performance, you really do love trolling the fans. The crazy part is he actually gets paid for turning a team out to play like that.
14

cat added 17:32 - Oct 22 Rensham - why not?... I'd say it's the perfect time. There are plenty of positives with some of the squad and the quality of the youth which is coming through. We just need a forward thinking manager who plays the game in a style which fits with ITFC's traditions and entertains FFS.
15

Notts_tractor added 17:43 - Oct 22 The visiting coach has tactical ability and a plan; his comments reflect that. But he didn't need to be a genius to cope with our one dimensional garbage. He was expecting hoof ball and set his team up to deal with it, and they did, very comfortably. Doesn't Evans look around and realise that other clubs have modern, intelligent coaches, whilst his is stuck playing the sort of dross that he learned under Jack Charlton playing for Ireland? No need to answer that. He probably wasn't even there. And therein lies the biggest issue by far: the invisibility, apathy and disinterest of the owner. It's a fact that we have made zero progress in ten years of his ownership. At least Sheepshanks was a fan and cared.

15

itfc94 added 17:45 - Oct 22 Under Mick we are neither going to get relegated or promoted, but thrown in with some pretty dire football. I'd much rather watch some free-flowing, attacking minded play and give it a go, rather than half-hearted hit and hope and occasionally rob the other team. We lacked any form of creativity going forward and the only player that actually showed some genuine quality was Garner. I'm sick to death of watching us aimlessly boot the ball forward and giving the other team the ball back. Did anyone count an Ipswich phase of play with 10 passes to a blue shirt!?! Because I didn't. There is no disputing that Mick has done a good job on a shoe string budget etc. but today Norwich looked the weakest they have in 5-6 years, and I'd like to think we've got some better quality players than previous seasons so it's very disappointing.

8

dirtydingusmagee added 17:48 - Oct 22 Rensham ...........you're fired
6

Kingfisher49 added 17:55 - Oct 22 Watching today's game was a massive disappointment for the home fans and myself included. Questions do need answering and the major one is when will there be a change of manager. If a change is made now which I think should happen, it then gives a new manager 8 or 9 weeks to look at what the players have to offer before the transfer window opens and in January ship out the surplus deadwood and bring in new and then a top six place is very realistic. The alternative is stay as it is now and the team will stay in the lower area of the league. Also most importantly MM has not got the fans support and a new man would have. If no change is made the crowd numbers will drop even further. So ME be brave and do what you should have done in the early part of this year. To MM thanks for your efforts but it is time for a new approach and freshening up at our proud club.

10

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls