Town boss Mick McCarthy admitted that defensive frailties once again cost his side as they were beaten 2-0 by Aston Villa at Villa Park. McCarthy was particularly scathing about the “appalling defending” which led to the first of Albert Adomah’s two goals, which he felt was the game’s key moment.

The Blues manager admitted that lapses at the back had again proved Town's achilles' heel, but felt Bartosz Bialkowski was fouled on the corner which led to the 36th minute opening goal, Joe Garner having had an earlier goal disallowed for a foul on Villa keeper Sam Johnstone, also at a flag-kick.

“Yes, they have again,” McCarthy said. “Prior to the goal I thought it was a foul on our goalkeeper equally as much as it was, if it was, on theirs when we scored. But sadly both incidents were treated differently.

“But it was appalling defending after that. We ran out under the ball and didn’t defend it properly and playing against good players, you get punished. And they don’t need any help.

“I thought we were the best team up until the first goal. And then the game changes. If my auntie had you know what, you’d know what she’d be, she’d be my uncle.

“If we had scored the first goal the place would have been very quiet, it was actually up until that goal.

“But they are if anything efficient and certainly when they got in front, they made it very difficult to play against them.”

McCarthy brought on Emyr Huws and Bersant Celina just after the hour mark but the pair hadn’t been able to make an impression before Adomah’s second of the afternoon in the 66th minute.

“Sad that when subs go on, they like to make an impact but they didn’t even get a chance so we’ll never know whether they would have, had it stayed at 1-0,” he said.

One positive for the Blues was Teddy Bishop making his first appearance of the season from the bench in the second half: “The bog standard sub would have been to put Jordan Spence on for my right-back [Dominic Iorfa] but I really wanted Bish on the pitch and Callum, of course, can play right-back, that’s what he is.

“I wanted Bish to sample 15 minutes of football at this level, which he hasn’t done for a long, long time. If he’s come through it, fine, which he has, it’ll do him good, me good, the team good, the squad good, the fans good and the club good if he’s back playing. Let’s hope we can get him fit.

“Emyr’s another one. They’re both good players, but they’re not good when they’re in the treatment room.”

Dominic Iorfa went off injured in the second half and McCarthy says he isn’t yet sure how serious the problem might be.

“I don’t know yet, I think it’s his hamstring,” he added. “I didn’t really check on that, I’ve just come out to do the media.”

What can Town do to reduce the number of soft goals which are currently being conceded? “We can defend better as individuals and not be naive like we were on Wednesday night, that should never have happened. Be ruthless, that’s something we need to be.

“Maybe had we come away and we’d got three points in our pockets from Wednesday night we’d have all felt better today and when they get their disappointments on the pitch. It’s hard to contend with them, I have to be honest, even as a player myself, it’s tough. We’ve just got to defend better. We’ll keep working at it.”

Looking ahead to Tuesday, the Blues have their game in hand, the rescheduled match at Derby County.

“That’s the way it’s fallen, unfortunately,” he reflected. “It would be nice to have a free week, like other teams are going to have, but we’ve got Derby and we’ll have to go up there and give our best.”

Villa boss Steve Bruce is delighted with his side's form, they've won nine of their last 12 in the Championship, three in the last eight days.

“Since the start of the season, from the first two weeks, we’ve had a couple of losses, of course, which happens, but all in all I’ve been very, very pleased with the way that we’ve performed," he said.

“Today’s never easy, as I said it wouldn’t be yesterday. Mick’s teams are always highly competitive, compete for every ball.

“They’re a credit to him really. There are people out there who probably don’t give him the respect he deserves because it’s not been easy for him.

"But, by God, they’re difficult to play against, they’re up and at you and they’re a threat to any team in this division. They’re a good side, they are.”

Regarding goalscorer Adomah, he added: “He’s had a wonderful return. At the start of the season he wasn’t in the team, so it just shows you, but he’s worked hard and he’s got his reward.

"Playing on the left he looks so comfortable coming in on his left foot and running across the line. He’s a threat, I think that’s 11 goals he’s got which his a wonderful return.

“Long may that continue. There’s no reason he can’t set his sights on getting another 10 at this point of the season. Great, because we’ve got a bit of a threat from somewhere else. Certainly Albert in the last few weeks has done terrifically well.”

Photo: TWTD

TimmyH added 20:10 - Nov 25 A good holding midfielder who can spray the ball around and also a decent central defender to make way for the departing Chambers :) That will do for January.
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Rensham added 20:12 - Nov 25 How could you start the game with Sears and Ward and leave Celina and Huws on the bench? I can't understand the team selection today.
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Pilgrimblue added 21:08 - Nov 25 Pathetic Mick. You're supposed to know all about defences but haven't a clue. Iofa was shocking, he can't pass, has no ball control and lacks any awareness. Don't understand why we would loan such a poor player. Spence is much better option or give youth a try. As for Chambers, after his mistakes at Hull I thought enough but no Mick can't see that he's past his best. Today he was dreadful. Poor control awful kicking so why is he in the team is beyond me. When Sears was on teamsheet I thought joke!! He's looked poor this season and I wasn't surprised he continued at same level. When will Mick learn that against top teams he can't concede possession so easily and rely on long punts from Bart (even from the kickoff!). It's food and drink to Villa who look like real promotion material. Now that Huws and Bish are on the mend, Connolly needs to be RB as he's played well so would easily be our best option. Skuse again was exposed by his lack of pace and too often tries first time passes that just don't work. Thought Connolly was better but if he returns to his best position at RB then I'd try Huws Bish Ward and Celina as midfielders with Downes on bench. Adeyemi and McG to return when fit. Then only have two forwards but have Folami on bench and Moore after Christmas .

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Taricco_Fan added 21:42 - Nov 25 Sort it out then, Mick. I expect an ex-defender and very pragmatic manager to have the backline in good shape. We need Smith back quick because Chambers is looking increasingly less reliable.
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alfromcol added 22:08 - Nov 25 The young lad we sent out on loan to Rotherham would have done a better job at RB than than Awful and Spence.
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SheptonMalletBlue added 23:07 - Nov 25 Well sort it out then!!!!!!! Same problem, week in week out, try dropping Chambers!!
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BlueandTruesince82 added 23:26 - Nov 25 Well sort it Mick. Thats the bit you are supposed to ve goid at. At times we look lethal going forward when we have the right balance but cmon..... you were a defender.... a good one.... impart, teach.
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BlueFLeece added 00:08 - Nov 26 As much as I love chambers he has looked poor and him and Webster doesn't work! So going forward it has to be Webster and maybe smith or a left side cb. I still think letting berr go was bad management. Looked more solid with him there.
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BlueFLeece added 00:09 - Nov 26 Berra
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runningout added 00:24 - Nov 26 Berra wasn't any better, and that's history anyhow
4

Bildestoned added 00:38 - Nov 26 Come on guys, there are Blue skies just around the corner. Honestly!
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shakytown added 01:01 - Nov 26 Why do you insist on having first on the sheet Chambo in you side when he clearly off the pace and out of form and confidence? Our defence has been at best below par for 4 years and what has been done about it???? Nothing. Awful manager who just picks his favourite carthorses week in and out and hopes for the best. Iorfa is just as woeful as Chambo and sears adds no quality at all but the moron in charge likes headless chooks who run around a lot.

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BrettenhamBlue added 03:17 - Nov 26 Last year, similar report. https://www.itfc.co.uk/news/2016/november/boss-fumes-at-shocking-goals-/
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Sam added 06:29 - Nov 26 I did say in my comment on the team sad about Iorfa. The team on Tuesday should be Biakowlski Spence Webster Chambers Knudsen Skuse Connoly Waghorn Sears Celina Garner
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Sam added 06:29 - Nov 26 OOps, my team is a bit to one side.
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blue75 added 06:58 - Nov 26 We can all blame either side of the McCarthy in/out argument this needs to be settled if he's going in may pay him off and get someone new in. If Evans thinks he's going a grand old job then extend his contract then every fan would know where the clubs going in their eyes and can act accordingly.
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Swn98 added 08:31 - Nov 26 BLUE75 I think the fans know the plan for now until May
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Cakeman added 08:34 - Nov 26 Sorry Bildestoned but the only Blue Sky around the corner will be at O2 next November with ELO 😀
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bobble added 08:35 - Nov 26 we need whatsisname back in defence quick...
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blue75 added 09:00 - Nov 26 Yes Swn98 we sadly do but as season ticket renewals are done in April wouldn't be a better idea to sort the situation officially before then?
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ChrisFelix added 09:09 - Nov 26 Still can't understand why he dropped Spence. His replacement was at fault for both goals. Drop Chambers but at present who do you replace hI'm with Smith I'm afraid other than being injured also has a mistake in him
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cantona11 added 10:08 - Nov 26 You all know my opinion on the skipper absolutely dreadful him up and under for the first goal was no better than a really bad Sunday league u10 player (No disrespect to all you u10 footie players which are still learning the game) in front of goal don't just kick it up in the air tut tut tut has to be dropped he's not putting any confidence in the rest of the players !!!imo Iorfa just not good enough Chambo can do one put Knudsen in the middle bring back Kenlock as he didn't do anything wrong weds bring back Emmanuel and Moore put them in the team Moore will make the ball stick up top and Josh can only get better as a RB as he can't do any worst than the bods MM has played there so far , Huws can do a defensive job but can offer so much more going fwd I like Skuse but I think needs freshening up any of a midfielder can come in imo

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howdonblue added 12:03 - Nov 26 Bruce is another dinosaur! Prick EVANS OUT MCARTHY OUT THE WHOLE SORRY LOT OF THEM OUT EXCEPT BRYAN KLUG
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howdonblue added 12:05 - Nov 26 One plus iorfa has done his hamstring! #sendhimback
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Pilgrimblue added 12:40 - Nov 26 There's no one coming in before January so with the squad I don't see why MM shouldn't revert to formation he tried earlier. Spence and Jonas worked out well in centre so with Connolly and Kenlock (or maybe one of youngsters) you have a much more mobile unit. Webster for me is a proper holding mid or central if playing 532. That gets rid of two problems, Skuse and Chambers. As for midfield Huws is main man so with Bishop Celina Downes we'd have a quartet that would deliver better to front two and collect from defence ie box to box! Add Morris or Folami to the bench would give better options. Maybe then Joey and Waggy would get better service with less hoofing and quicker movement. We've got the players but not the manager!!

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