Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy felt his side were on the end of two harsh refereeing decisions in tonight’s 1-0 home defeat to Cardiff City.

Kenneth Zohore netted the only goal of the game in the 65th minute, finding the net with a scruffy finish after initially appearing to handle the ball when mis-timing an acrobatic attempt in the box.

The Blues – who played some slick football without carving open too many chances – then had penalty appeals waved away by referee Andy Davies in stoppage-time after Greg Halford grappled with Cameron Carter-Vickers at a corner.

“They were bad decisions,” said McCarthy. “I thought it was a really soft free-kick (which led to the goal). It was just Chambo (Luke Chambers) and Gary Madine fighting for the ball. Then apart from him handling the ball with two hands to make sure it stays in the centre of the box for him to toe-poke in, I didn’t see anything else wrong with the goal.

“I just been to see the ref and he says it wasn’t intentional. It hit both his hands and it wouldn’t have stayed where it stayed had it not hit his hands. The referee has seen it and not given it and I think that’s a bit harsh. You’ve got to rely on people to give the decision.

“I’ve asked him about our (penalty appeal) at the end too. He gave a foul to them when Greg Halford was only looking at Cameron (Carter-Vickers) and had both arms around him.

“I don’t think Bart (Bialkowski)’s had too many saves to make and if it had finished nil-nil I think that would have been a fair result.

“Hey-ho. At least I’m happy with the way the lads played. I was delighted. They gave everything.”

After making five changes to his team following Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Norwich, McCarthy revealed: “Joe (Garner)’s knee has been bothering him and Sunday-Wednesday-Saturday is not going to do him any good. Waggy (Martyn Waghorn) had run his race on Sunday.

“Didzy (David McGoldrick) was due to play, I have to be honest, but he has damaged a tendon in his groin and will probably be out for the season – it was so innocuous too. Muzzy Carayol was diarrhoea and sickness today.

“It was going to be Didzy, Muzzy and (Bersant) Celina, but it turned out two of them weren’t fit. Freddie (Sears) got the late heads-up yesterday and Wardy (Grant Ward) got the nod tonight. I thought they were very good.”

With the Blues down to 14th after winning just two of their last 11 games, McCarthy added: “It’s not been a good run of form although we’re not playing any differently. There are probably one or two that are just feeling it because we’ve had a hell of a lot of injuries and I’ve probably used the fewest number of players in the league.”