Birmingham v Ipswich: Frustrated Blues boss Mick McCarthy says his side ‘did enough to win three games’ in their 1-1 draw at Birmingham City.

The Blues took the lead through Christophe Berra’s close-range header on the half hour and only some super saves from keeper Darren Randolph prevented the visitors being further in front at the break.

Birmingham created little going forwards and their 77th minute leveller from Chris Burke took a huge deflection off of Ryan Tunnicliffe to loop over keeper Dean Gerken.

“We’ve done enough to win three games today,” said McCarthy, whose side have taken four points from their opening five league games. “We were excellent and put in a very good performance.”

Town have suffered more than their fair share of bad luck at the start of the new campaign, with Reading’s win on the opening day of the season secured by Danny Guthrie’s heavily deflected goal, QPR’s late winner coming after a miscue by Charlie Austin and Leeds’ equaliser at Portman Road seeing a deflection divert the ball perfectly into Luke Varney’s path.

“It’s not been bad luck we’ve lost previous games,” said McCarthy. “In those games it was down to four or five little headers being lost in the build-up to goals – but today, that was bad luck.

“They had a goalkeeper who was in outstanding form and their goal was a get out of jail free card. I hope we get a slice of luck like that at some stage.

“I feel like we’ve been beaten at the moment.”

Meanwhile, the Blues boss says he doesn’t expect left-back Aaron Cresswell – who had another excellent game – to leave before the transfer window shuts at 11pm on Monday.

“I’m not going to say he’s definitely not going because I might end up looking like a chump,” said McCarthy. “If somebody offers a shed load of money and he wants to go, then you never know.

“Of course we don’t want him to go, we want him to stay. And I don’t think anything is going to happen between now and Monday night.”

He added: “I keep saying it, I think he’s the best left-back in the league. That’s for everybody else to argue, but that’s what I think and I think he can play in the Premier League.”

– See Monday’s EADT and Ipswich Star for match analysis and more comment.