Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy admitted his side were ‘beaten by the better team’ following this afternoon’s 1-0 home defeat to Championship table-toppers Wolves.

Town started the game lively enough, but some suspect defending led to Matt Doherty heading Wolves in front in the 15th minute. The runaway leaders then masterfully shut the game down and continually posed a threat on the counter, forcing Bartosz Bialkowski into several smart saves.

“I’m always disappointed when we lose, but I can’t really argue with the result,” said McCarthy, the mid-table Blues now eight points adrift of the play-off places with champions-in-waiting Wolves extending their lead at the summit to 12.

“I was disappointed with how we conceded because we gave possession away twice and it ends up in our net, which it shouldn’t have done.

“But Bart’s made some good saves and they are a very good side. We were beaten by a better team, but I can’t argue with my lads or complain at them for the effort and application that they give.

“Could we be better at times regarding quality with the ball? Yeah, but they give me and they give this club everything every week. I’ll settle for that.”

He continued: “The goal knocks the stuffing out of you and then it enables them to play. It’s very hard to get around them. They’ve got five at the back when they need to because the two wide players drop in and it becomes very hard to play through them.

“It’s a bit of parasite football then. They can prey and feed on our mistakes then. I don’t blame them for that and they are very good at it. On the break they have quality.

“I’ve got no complaints with my lads and they way they performed though.”

Having waited until the 83rd minute before making a triple substitution – Grant Ward, Freddie Sears and Luke Hyam replacing David McGoldrick, Stephen Gleeson and Joe Garner – McCarthy explained: “Well, I’ve got my top-scorer on, Garns who scored late last week, Didzy (McGoldrick) who produced a bit of magic in the last knockings last week.

“Wardy’s not played for three weeks (groin injury) and I’d got my goalscorers on the pitch to be fair. My goalscorers were on the pitch.”

On the performance of Bialkowski, who agreed a new two-year deal yesterday, McCarthy said: “That’s just a snap-shot of him today because he’s been excellent every week for us. That was a bit of good news for the club this week at a time when we need a bit of good news.”

Midfielder Gleeson, a recent free transfer addition from Birmingham, followed up his impressive debut at Bolton with another decent display. McCarthy said: “He’s good Glees, I was pleased with him. I think he’s done very, very well considering his lack of game-time.”

And when asked about the booking Gleeson received for a full-bloodied but fair 50/50 challenge on Ruben Neves, he said: “That’s a b******ks booking. We might as well all pack in and stop doing it. There, you’ve got me animated when I was trying to be calm! What a great tackle it was, what a fabulous tackle.

“I just don’t see it, I really don’t. Anyway, I’m not going to say anything else about it because I might get in trouble.”

Asked if there definitely wasn’t going to be anymore transfer business before the transfer window shuts at 11pm on Wednesday, he Blues boss said: “No, I don’t think so. We’re getting some players back from injury. Grant Ward came on and did well, Webbo (Adam Webster) is coming back. Luke Hyam came on. That’s going to help us.”

Quizzed whether there might be any outgoing business, he added: “It’s unlikely. I don’t know. You never know do you? Something might pop up at the last minute. We’ll wait and see. I can’t really afford to lose anybody.”