McCarthy: Subs Inspired Victory
Saturday, 1st Dec 2012 18:12

A delighted Mick McCarthy hailed his three subs - Daryl Murphy, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Michael Chopra - as the Blues came from behind to beat Bolton Wanderers 2-1 at the Reebok Stadium.

McCarthy was pleased to grab the fourth win of his seven games in charge: “I’m delighted with it, of course.

“The first half was pretty bang ordinary, to be honest with you, from both teams, except an exceptional strike from Mark Davies. I don’t think there was a lot in it, they were probably better than us in the first half.

“But we stuck at it and we managed to come in at 1-0 and we had a good response to what we said in the second half.”

Despite Town going behind in the sixth minute, the Blues boss felt his side never looked like repeating the thrashings at Leicester and Crystal Palace: “We didn’t [look like capitulating].

“I don’t know what happened at Palace or at Leicester, it’s not like the group of lads, not like the team, they’re good lads, they work hard and maybe they’re just getting a bit more belief in what we’re doing and being organised.

“It wasn’t a good game, the first half was pretty awful, I thought. I was just happy we didn’t come in any more down and we could do something then.”

He says he brought on Daryl Murphy, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Michael Chopra with the intention of winning the game: “I wanted to win it. I wasn’t going to put somebody on to try and shore it up, I don’t think I’ve got anybody anyway!

“I thought we were doing all right, we were playing OK. I thought DJ had had a game on Tuesday, he’d put another shift in and it was fairly even. I thought ‘Let’s try and win it’. I said to Terry ‘We can win this’ and as it turned out, we did.

“It’s nice when subs come on and they haven’t got a big lip on as they’ve been on the bench. I tell them beforehand that they’re there to change the game, win the game, save the game and I think the three subs won the game for us today.”

Murphy impressed from the bench for the second game running, winning both the penalty and the corner from which the winning goal eventually came: “When he’s bang at it and he’s motivated like that, he’s a handful.”

The Town manager said midfielder Luke Hyam had no chance of being fit after suffering a calf injury in the Nottingham Forest game: “Miles away, we left him in Ipswich! He had no chance. He’ll be fit for Saturday, I hope.”

Bolton boss Dougie Freedman thought his team ought had had enough chances to win it before the Blues’ goals: “I felt that for 70 minutes we played very well, we created a lot of opportunities and we just couldn’t quite take them.

“And if you don’t take your opportunities you’re going to give the other side a bit of confidence from that, and I thought that was the case today.

“I was obviously disappointed to lose the match, but I think we created enough to win the match. In the last 15 minutes we were a bit edgy, conceded two goals, no complaints, lost the match.”

Photo: Action Images

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BlueFinn added 20:00 - Dec 1 The subs inspired us and McCarthy inspired the subs. Nice work Mick! Funny how people start dreaming as soon as we get a few victories. That's football for you in this league.
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dairec1 added 20:02 - Dec 1 Irishtim. Considering our general state when Mick came to us, keeping up up is top priority. Early signs are promising though and hopefully it'll be a Dawn of better times for us!!!!
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BlueFinn added 20:16 - Dec 1

And at the right time too! Just recently I read that that statistics show you should make your first substitution by 58th minute and you should leave them later than the 78th minute just to make them work. It's common sense also from the team spirit point of view.

Town: Henderson, Orr, Chambers, Smith, Cresswell, Edwards, N'Daw, Drury (Emmanuel-Thomas 55), Martin, Campbell (Chopra 76), Barnett (Murphy 55). Subs: Loach, Hewitt, Higginbotham, Carson.

splack100 added 20:23 - Dec 1 I'm genuinely pleased.
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BigAlwasmyhero added 20:25 - Dec 1 Draw + win + win = 1 x happy dinosaur!
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TimmyH added 20:26 - Dec 1 Great result...thought we might get a draw but happily has busted my coupon! 4 in 7 pretty good, let's overhaul Birmingham next. Well done MM, TC and the lads and hopefully a fit Luke for next week's battle with Millwall.
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brian_a_mul added 20:37 - Dec 1

I diddnt get to see the game, caught SSN at 3.10 and we were 1 down. At the time I though if we kept the score line at 1-0 and put in a good performance I would have been reasonably happy,. To get one point would have been a very good result.
I was shocked and delighted (for a change) when I checked the final score, 3 pts!!!

Well done Mick and the lads.
How did Tommy Smith play today???

Lennyboy added 20:43 - Dec 1

Had to work today and when working during a town game both my supervisor and I (Both Town Fans), listen to the game on Radio Suffolk. Pleased to get the first and draw level, but when the second went in I shouted so loudly I scared half the people in the office half to death. It was worth it, probably get told off come Monday; but who cares town won. Mighty Mick is brilliant. If he keeps this up during his tenure there'll be a third statue need erecting outside PR. COYB!!!!!

michaeldownunder added 21:02 - Dec 1 What a great day to be a town fan It's already 28 deg over here in sunny Brisbane A BIG 3 points ,bodes well for the next run of dificult games. so what if we did not play that well for 70 min it's points on the board that count. Win's breed confidence and more penalties (I hope).
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Vic added 21:05 - Dec 1 Palace boss? Damn, I thought we were at Bolton.
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Seasider added 21:23 - Dec 1

First back to back wins since last March.Shows what a difference a good manager and coaching staff makes.Just to think club rock bottom a month ago 5 points adrift of 23rd club,and now just starting to pull away from bottom three.
All targets reached so far next its mid table to aim for,though its good to see Mick is not putting unneccessary pressure on team;simply saying that 4th from bottom on May 4th will do him!
Have yet to beat a club who are currently in top 6 when we play them.How about doing that next week.COYB

jollyroger added 21:23 - Dec 1 WELL DONE LADS GREAT RESULT WELL DONE MM GREAT PIECE OF MANAGEMENT BUT LETS ALSO THANK MR E FOR APPOINTING MM
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algarvefan added 21:27 - Dec 1 Fecking Brilliant!!!!!
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bluelady added 22:08 - Dec 1

From a manager that made tactical changes so we didn't concede a hatful of goals to one that makes a bid not to draw but to win games! If he can do this with the players he has who knows what will happen when he brings in one or two of his own! Orr from orrful to man of the match ! That's the sign of a very good manager brining out the best in everyone ! I have a feeling mm is going to be a town legend :-) happy days

kev_b20 added 22:08 - Dec 1 Palace boss Dougie Freedman??? woops lol Great result today guys!
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BuckieBlue added 22:12 - Dec 1 Checked the form table for last 8 games, adjusting it to last 7 (for obvious reason) we are equal fifth; and the clusd below us are on pretty rubbish runs- a win/win situation for us! Don't see any reason we can't finish mid table.
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BuckieBlue added 22:12 - Dec 1 Checked the form table for last 8 games, adjusting it to last 7 (for obvious reason) we are equal fifth; and the clusd below us are on pretty rubbish runs- a win/win situation for us! Don't see any reason we can't finish mid table.
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PhilTWTD added 23:08 - Dec 1 Oops, Bolton boss, obviously! Amended.
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Cakeman added 00:13 - Dec 2

Just back from Bolton and obviously very pleased with the result. I thought we were in for a hiding after 15 minutes when Bolton were deservedly ahead and playing with some confidence. Slowly got back in and were on top for most of the rest.
MM deserves much praise for his tactical switch by bringing Orr into midfield in the second half. From that point on Town controlled the park.
It was my first visit to The Reebok and thought it was a fine place. The result made it even better!

R_LAMB3 added 01:14 - Dec 2

Its good to see Mick is not afraid to use the subs to change things a bit if its not going right and it certainly worked today
This is why Mick has a great football brain and he can read the game so well.
We are very lucky to have you as our Manager Mick and we all know you should be a Manager in the premier league and not the championship but i am sure you will take us up there one day.

cookie77 added 08:39 - Dec 2 all i have to say is "IN MICK WE TRUST"
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dalianwasexciting added 08:44 - Dec 2

So refreshing on so many levels, not just the win (which of course is superb) but the way MM explains things, explains his thought process. It seems we have a manager and first team coach who have total tactical nous, who can read a game and are not afraid to make the changes. It surely must also be a win so that more players become involved in the "team mentality" as well. All too often both previous managers have made the wrong subs for the wrong reasons and we have even gone from winning positions to losing ones - PJ's subs versus Reading at home last season spring to mind.

We are going to lose some games, but the progress made under MM and TC thus far is nothing short of remarkable and it must be down to the coaching, and indeed man-management and motivational skills.

Onwards and upwards.

shiminywho added 09:18 - Dec 2

I live in the north and toyed with the idea of going yesterday but, like many other long-time Town fans who have become disillusioned, decided against it, opting to help my wife sell jewellery at a Xmas Fair. EPIC FAIL!!
The last two results are beyond good and MM is working a miracle at Portman Road, of that I'm sure. Just puts into perspective, for me, how poor PJ was in many areas. I've been an admirer of MM since I witnessed him remonstrating with a 'Jobsworth' car park attendant at Rotherham who wouldn't let him park in the reserved area.
Needless to say, I'll be at Elland Road in a fortnight and just can't wait!

neillrumsey added 10:09 - Dec 2

This is what has been missing for the last 7-8 years a manager with the tactical nouse to firstly play players in positions where thay are most effective and secondly to respond positively in an attempt to not get a point but to try and win the game.
Exciting times ahead once MM gets in who he wants.
Excellent substitutions, hopefully the goal will give Chopra some confidence. Think MM will also get the best out of JET who has loads of ability.