Ipswich v Charlton: Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy called for some perspective following Charlton’s stoppage-time equaliser in this afternoon’s 1-1 draw at Portman Road.

The Blues led through Richard Wood’s 23rd minute own goal and then saw a David McGoldrick penalty saved by keeper Ben Alnwick in the 78th minute before Johnnie Jackson’s deflected effort wrong-footed keeper Dean Gerken at the death.

It took the number of points dropped from winning positions up to 23 for the season (seven draws and three defeats) – six worse than anyone else in the division.

McCarthy, however, was quick to point out that the Blues are unbeaten in eight, are still sixth in the table and remain one of the highest goalscorers in the Championship.

“I think the conditions had a big part to play in it – whether it was blowing for you or against you,” said the Blues boss. “Overall they deserved a point.

“We could have killed it if we’d scored the penalty, but Didz (McGoldrick) has been brilliant and there’s no recriminations for him because the goalkeeper’s made a good save – which he’s there for.

“It (Jackson’s leveller) took a deflection in the end, a real bad deflection. Ours was an own goal. Maybe that tells you the type of game it was. I thought it was a great game considering the conditions actually.”

He continued: “I don’t live in la la world where everything is nice and shiny. You have to look at the bigger picture and think ‘top six, January the first’. Somebody will say ‘you could have two more points’, but we haven’t. If my auntie had them she’s be my uncle.

“We are there, we’re in a good position and it’s testament to the lads who have been just great.

“I wish I was coming in here with three points, but they deserved it.

“There were some decisions which could have gone either way. There was a couple that could have been penalties (in the first half). I think they are rightly screaming that they should have been given one, we weren’t given on in the third minute and if we’d have scored then it might have been a different game. Look, he didn’t give either though.

“It was a good game in poor conditions and a fair result.”

He continued: “Eight undefeated is a good run, but suddenly everybody wants more. They want eight wins on the bounce. Well it doesn’t work like that. If we can keep being unbeaten and keep picking up points we’ll be fine.

“People will point to the 23 points dropped stat, but we’ve got more from losing positions as well I believe (13, joint with Leicester).

“The stat that counts to me is that we’re in the top six on January the first. I don’t deal with ifs, buts and maybes; I tend to deal with what really has happened.

“It’s taken a deflection to deny us today.”

Meanwhile, the Blues boss said he no regrets about making three changes to his starting line-up with Paul Taylor, Paul Anderson and Jay Tabb replacing David McGoldrick, Luke Hyam and Frank Nouble.

“I needed to change it,” he said. “If I’d started with Frank (Nouble) and Murph and Didz then I wouldn’t have had any options. I thought Tayls did well, it was good to get him back.

“I knew they’d go 4-4-2 and I thought that if we didn’t do the same then their two full-backs – (Chris) Solly and Rhoys Wiggins – would have rampaged forwards.”