Terry Hunt looks back at Ipswich Town’s FA Cup third round defeat to Sheffield United

“I’m not unhappy with the performance.”

That utterly bewildering post-match assessment from Mick McCarthy summed up the vast gulf which has developed between our manager and the majority of supporters.

Can there possibly be any Ipswich fans who agree with McCarthy after Saturday’s utterly dire FA Cup exit at the hands of a seriously weakened Sheffield United side?

His view is, quite simply, wrong.

Ipswich were absolutely awful.

We mustered not a single shot on target. So for McCarthy to say the performance was decent is utter nonsense.

Why could he not admit it was simply dreadful?

McCarthy reflects on Town’s defeat to Sheffield United

Why could he not apologise to the supporters, and thank them for turning out on a cold January afternoon and paying good money to watch rubbish? Is that really too much to ask?

Hopes were high that a run in the cup could bring some excitement to a season which is in serious danger of petering out.

Many fans felt it would be especially fitting as we mark 40 years since Ipswich won the cup.

We should have realised such hopes would be dashed.

Yet again, we were given a cup performance devoid of passion, and utterly lacking any real entertainment.

For me, McCarthy has serious questions to answer. With our league season going nowhere, why didn’t he start with the strongest available line-up? Why were proven goalscorers Garner and Waghorn on the bench? Why did he only bring on one sub? Why were Garner and our new striker from Ireland not used?

Eight observations on Town’s cup exit

I know we have a lengthy injury list.

But why protect players if it means the season effectively being over in early January?

Forty years ago, I was one of the thousands of Town fans at Wembley, cheering the team on as they memorably won the FA Cup.

Back then, we had pride, passion, a great team, and a club with a fantastic, close relationship with the supporters.

How different things are today.

The club is drifting. Yet again, we are heading for a mid-table finish in the Championship. The relationship between manager and fans is strained, to say the least. We never see the owner. What a mess.

I’ve supported Town for 50 years. I have never felt so alienated by my club.