Mick McCarthy has admitted his disappointment at his side's 'worst display of the season' in their 3-1 loss at Cardiff City tonight.

Despite going into the break level, the Tractor Boys conceded two second-half goals as they suffered their first defeat in nine games, and McCarthy was particularly upset with the "ridiculous" defending by his side.

"It's disappointing," McCarthy told the East Anglian Daily Times. "I thought first half we played very well. Where the second half came from I don't know.

"If you make as many mistakes as we did in contriving to give them a goal then it's going to be tough. We did it for their second and their third. We gave two awful goals away. They should have been playing the circus music. It was just ridiculous.

"That's as bad as we've played this season. No doubt."

The loss means that Ipswich are now without a win in their last four league matches.