"We were disappointed to come away without a result at the weekend because I thought we deserved it; they didn't really cause us too many problems," he insists.
"There wasn't a lot of goal mouth action, but that's what happens I suppose - you can't be at your best every week but I just thought we deserved something out of the game, even if the performance could have been a little bit better."
Michael had a good battle with, amongst others, Jim Magilton on Saturday, and he adds:
"He is a good player; they have some good players in midfield and they get it down and pass it which caused us a few problems - but it is something we have to deal with."
So how will Ipswich treat the second leg?
"It is hard to say; we obviously have to come out a bit more and try and score; it is about how you start the game, as that sets you up.
"It will be a tough game because they are a good side; but it is a home game and we have been on form at home lately so we have to capitalise on that.
"When it gets to this stage it is not like a normal league game so we just have to go for it like a cup game.
"You try to treat it as a normal game as much as you can but obviously in the back of your mind you know it is something different."
Does he agree with the principle of the play-offs?
"It is a bit crazy but that is the laws of the game; it is something new for me and a lot of the lads and you have to get on with it.
"You have to try and put that at the back of your mind, get on with the job - and think positive.
"It is hard for them because they know they have a goal lead but wouldn't want to sit back and defend, because if we scored their game plan would be out of the window."
The supporters will play a part, he says.
"The fans get behind us like the 12th man and the lads appreciate that - so if they do the same on Tuesday it will be great, and hopefully we can repay them by getting to the final.
"We have got some experienced players who have seen it and done it before but it is a test for all of us to see how we cope and come back from defeat."