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McCarthy Delighted With First Town Win Saturday, 3rd Nov 2012 18:05
New Blues boss Mick McCarthy was delighted to pick up a victory in his first game as Town manager. DJ Campbell’s first-half goal was enough to see McCarthy’s Blues to a 1-0 win over Birmingham at St Andrew’s.
McCarthy said: “You couldn’t have asked for much better — first game, getting a win, ending a losing streak for the club, ending a losing streak for me.
“I couldn’t really have asked for much more from the players, I felt they gave everything. We had some blocks, a great save.
“It was getting pumped into our box, they’ve got 6ft 7in [tall Zigic] on, he’s difficult to deal with. I thought their keeper made a great save from Danny Higginbotham.
“All in all, it was a fairly even game and I think we deserved to win it. I think the block and the save at the end earned it for us.
“It’s equally as good as somebody beating somebody and sticking it in the top corner. It’s part of the game when you’re 1-0 up.”
Although he says he gave his team words of praise in the dressing room, the former Ireland boss says there were also a few home truths: “I went in and gave them a pat on the back and gave them a bit of my usual caustic soda. I said they should be embarrassed that they’re bottom of the league.
“If they played like that, blocked things like that, I wouldn’t even be doing the job. It’s great to start with a win but they’ve got to do it again for the next 32 occasions. Enjoy that, but it’s a repeat process in terms of the hard work.
“You might not get the result, but at least the levels they showed and the attitude they showed were great.”
One or two players seemed to tire as the game wore on, which was little surprise given that several players, particularly the key men in midfield, were lacking match fitness.
“There’s a few of them not been playing games,” McCarthy said. “Big Guirane N’Daw, who I felt epitomised us, to be fair.
“There are loan players coming to get fit from other clubs. I thought Richie Wellens was terrific. I know his loan is up [after Tuesday], so I’ll have to speak to Nigel Pearson about that.
“I think there were difficult circumstances for Paul, the fact that he’d got so many loans and they weren’t fully fit. Let’s hope we can get them fully fit.”
Another loanee, DJ Campbell, netted the winner against his old club and McCarthy says he’s another he’ll be looking to keep at the club beyond his current three-month spell: “He’s a goalscorer, there’s no question about that.
“He’s another one I’ll having to be talking to the powers that be about to try and keep him. He’s bit of a character, he’s good around the place and I thought he played well.”
Birmingham boss Lee Clark felt his side lost the game in the first period: “We’re disappointed with the first half.
“We’ve come off the back of a good week. We know they’re going to be buoyed by the appointment of the new manager.
“They didn’t do all the things I’d ask of them; to play in Ipswich’s half of the pitch in the first 15 or 20 minutes and get the ball up to the strikers. Play off them, take gambles in terms of the widemen.
“But we didn’t, we played into their hands and the goal’s absolutely dreadful. And it’s not the first time. We’ve told young Nathan Redmond about square and back passes across the pitch — go forward, be positive.
“We should have won the game 3-1 in reality. We’ve had three great chances, two from Nikola, who I thought was excellent when he came on. He usually sticks those chances away.
“We’ve had other opportunities through people like Curtis Davies, so in all honestly we should have won the game.”
Photo: Action Images
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Great to be at the game, you would have thought we had got to the cup final at the end. Big McC made sure that all the players came over to acknowledge the supporters at the end. We truly did make a noise. Gritty performance. N'Daw a tower of strength in midfield, hope he is fit for Tuesday. Martin put in a v good shift and defended well when needed. Deserved victory, despite what Clark said. We could have had a 2 more but for fine saves from their keeper.
Think N'Daw in centre mid is a real asset- good positioning, height and wins the second ball- Could never understand why Jewell dropped him after Brighton and did not play him again.
The starting 11 today when fit is good, not too many goals but will win more than it loses.
Great start mick well done "" nice to say I can't wait for the next game to come it gives us fans a buzz ' something that's been missing for so long COYB !!!!
pip50. how ridiculous a statement is that. youve go ne from suggesting getiing relegated would allow us to get a young manager in, to wanting burley(you must be joking). to then saying that mccarthy could do a good job but not with our budget. how do you know what our budget is? answer is, you dont, anymore than anyone else other than the owner, clegg & mccarthy. so instead of making daft posts just get behind mccarthy & the team and lets see where we get to.
@pip50 - dropping a division is a nonsense comment on every level.
Good result today. Interesting that none of the young uns who impressed were in the side unless he was referring to cresswell? Big, big game Tuesday. Here's hoping we can put in a solid performance and start to build.
Refreshing to hear another managers post match comments now too.
Excellent post match comment- praise, but also a reminder how in recent past they let PJ down. Great start; there are several teams above us who are weaker on paper and/ or who are on poor runs and who have noticed our result! Only 4 pts behind 4th from bottom, ok it won't be easy but if we kep right attitude as today I can see us in a secure position well before end of season....and ready for a bug push next season! To anyone at game, how was Wellens today?
Pip50.... Tut Tut, first win in ages and you come out with that rubbish, you are making yourself sound very silly and ignorant. a very welcome 3 points .... well done MM....COYB
Don't get carried away chaps, on another day the two sitters that Birmingham missed late on would have gone in new Manager or not. Still a win is a win and if we can avoid defeat at Palace the scene will be set for an exciting day next Saturday when it will be tim to do our bit and get behind the team for a change.
Every saturday i watch sky sports news and this week i as normal saw the town take the lead like they do every week and i did not get to excited because the team we are playing always score and go on and win. To my amasement they did not score and i could not beleive it. What ever you have done to them mr McMarthy please keep it up. Thank you keep up the good work WELL DONE BOYS
Great result, Birmingham were pretty bad and the game was ugly at best, the banter with the w***** in the white made it a good day out. A win is a win though so onwards and upwards, palace will be a tough one as people have said a point would do me fine.
Wow a clean sheet with Edwards at right back. You Muppets calling for ainsley tut tut. Great result. Just goes to prove that jewells time was up along while ago.
from that it seems 442 is the way to go with the players we have, it looked hard to break down and we never seemed to keep hold of the ball enough when defending deep when ahead using a 451.
Positive signs, not very comfortable at the end though, thats either fitness levels, a mental thing or just when we changed formation i suspect
3pts I wasn't expecting on our current form but then again the players should've had us well clear of the bottom under Paul if they put in a proper shift sooner.
Palace will be a real test, not expecting much from that at all.
Much to early to suggest we have turned a corner but nice to have something to cheer about for once.
Still not comfortable with so many loanees playing, even if Mick's hand is partially forced into it, or dropping Hyam who was best player in previous game, to me doesn't sound out the right signals. It's a results business though and if it's working on the pitch I wont make a big deal about it.
If the players show heart playing against palace that'll be good enough for me. Should be a real good test of certain players character. Anything else is a bonus.
Good win and goes to show that we are not a bad side at all. But all those loan players on the pitch for us, just shows that our own players are not up to much at the mo, we should move up the table in the short term and then hopefully bring in the youngsters back when we are in a better position and there is more confidence in the team.
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