Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy has admitted that his side have taken "one step forwards, one step back" in the wake of their 2-0 loss at Bristol City this afternoon.
The Tractor Boys picked up a 3-0 win over Queens Park Rangers last weekend following a run of just two wins in 10 league games, but were forced to taste defeat again today as Lee Johnson's side ended their own five-game winless run.
Lee Tomlin put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot on the half-hour mark after keeper Bartosz Bialkowski dove at the feet of Tammy Abraham, before Luke Freeman made certain of the three points with an impressive second-half volley.
"The difference between the two teams was a penalty and a worldy – that's the difference," McCarthy told reporters after the game. "I thought they started well, then I thought we got to grips with it. Was it a penalty? Yeah it was, yeah. That's surprised you, hasn't it?!
"It's one step forwards, one step back. I'm not going to grumble about how we played or the performance though. Bristol City had a good side out, play 4-4-2, they needed a good performance, they were the home team, so let's give them a bit of credit. I thought we got to grips with that though. I've no complaints with the performance.
"How do we change it? Just keep playing the way we are. Maybe it was just their day today. It looked like it."
Town, who are now 16th in the table, next face a trip to relegation-threatened Cardiff City.
Neil Wilkes
