Boss Mick McCarthy praised Paul Taylor for showing application as well as his ability during Saturday’s 1-0 home victory over Birmingham. The 26-year-old was widely viewed as Town’s man of the match having been added to the side at the last minute when new loan signing Jonny Williams suffered a minor hamstring injury.

“He did the other side of the game, which is not always his best,” McCarthy said. “He worked very hard, he was unlucky not to score actually.

“I thought he grew and got better in the game. I don’t think he started particularly well, I don’t think it was a game in which any of us did, it was just a scrap. But I thought he got better and I’m delighted with him.”

He added: “I thought he was considered in his play today. I know he can do the maverick bit and boom one in from 40 yards, but how often does that happen? Very rare, maybe once, maybe twice a season.

“You have to track back with the full-back every single game. You have to hold it up, you have to find a pass and you have to do all the stuff that sometimes is a little bit boring. But I thought he did all that really well, I was pleased with him.”

McCarthy also had praise for Frank Nouble, who, along with Taylor, created Daryl Murphy’s winning goal, and was Town’s biggest threat in the first half before making way with a hamstring injury just after the break.

“I thought he got better further into the game as well,” the Town boss said. “It suits him playing 4-3-3. It suits him playing in that right-hand channel, he’s a handful there.

“He’s still learning the game, Big Frank. He’s just a very young lad, who has been farmed out on loan everywhere and he did great for the goal.

“He was unlucky with a left-foot cross from a similar position on the other side. He did all right, I thought the three of them up front did.”

McCarthy felt midfielder Jay Tabb deserved the ovation he received when he was replaced in the second half: “He was terrific, he just ran out of gas, Tabby.

“Whether he plays wide left or plays tucked in, I guess he epitomises what I want from any player that’s playing. He’s good.”

The Town boss, who spent yesterday covering the Capital One Cup final for Five Live having beaten the Wembley crowds by arriving on the back of a motorcycle, was also impressed with Christophe Berra’s display at centre-half and believes the Scotland international isn’t always given the credit he deserves.

“I don’t think he’s appreciated as much outside the club as he should be,” he said. “I’ve heard one or two disparaging ones when I’ve been on the bench saying ‘Get at him’. Get at him? He’s as quick as anybody.

“He’s a fantastic defender and he’s playing on the right-hand side which is not his favoured slot but he’s had a great season, he’s been terrific.”

Berra will be with Scotland this week for their friendly with Poland in Warsaw on Wednesday, while Daryl Murphy and Paul Green will be with Ireland for their friendly against Serbia in Dublin on the same night.

Jonny Williams is due to meet up with the Wales squad for their friendly against Iceland in Cardiff, also on Wednesday.

Photo: Action Images

wkj added 07:07 - Mar 3 Birmingham was mostly a very bland and boring game to watch for large intervals; except for Taylor. He played in such a way that made others seem to play better around him. The poor lad was sadly missing goals but he could not have been closer to scoring 2 times, taking some very cleverly worked and placed shots that luck itself decided wasn't to be.
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alexsmith111 added 07:25 - Mar 3 Sounds like you've earnt your place in the squad next week Paul. More of the same please
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Surco72 added 07:55 - Mar 3 Without Taylor this would have been another bore draw , MM is just trying to make excuses for why Taylor hasn't been playing so far . And why so many excuses for Nouble and "he is still young " , he hasn't given any other youngsters the same luxury (Hewitt one bad game and out you go ) And if Tabb had another terrific game I am dreading him having a bad one !!
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StochesStotasBlewe added 07:58 - Mar 3 Paul Taylor was terrific on Saturday & deserves to start at "Boro. Unfortunately, sounds like "terrific" Tabby will too.
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DanLyles added 08:00 - Mar 3 Taylor's sublime first touch, pace and willingness to run at people made Saturday's game far more entertaining than it otherwise would have been. Taylor popped up everywhere along the front line and was a constant thorn in Birmingham's side. As Mick says he also worked really hard. I hope that MM will play him and Williams in the same team, the latter coming in for Tabb. We would be so much more creative and entertaining and I'm not sure including both of them would detract from Mick's work ethos either.

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LiamCP123 added 08:18 - Mar 3 I'm assuming that Tayls will get a run next Saturday for sure.
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muhrensleftfoot added 08:19 - Mar 3 The fear is that MM will bring in Williams for Taylor against Middlesborough. Can only hope that Mick decides to be a bit more adventurous and drops Tabb to the bench instead
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SouperJim added 08:31 - Mar 3 He plays, gets man of the match, yet still some of you aren't happy. Whinge whinge whinge. At least let Mick deliver the corpse before you start your autopsy.
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DanLyles added 08:54 - Mar 3 Another thing I've noticed is that Taylor has managed to be voted man of the match based on TWTD's player ratings 5 times, yet in all competitions he has started only 4 games and made 12 cameo appearances. I don't know how many minutes that amounts to but I doubt it is more than 6 or 7 full games!
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righty added 09:20 - Mar 3 After another very poor performance I suppose we are going to get into the playoffs again Taylor apart very poor ,no entertainment still we won . McCarthy will not entertain us even when there is nothing to play for . How he keeps picking Nouble I don't know he just runs around a lot typical McCarthy man. McCarthy OUT NOW
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SouperJim added 09:32 - Mar 3 Righty did you go to the game? The first half hour was pretty dull it has to be said, but after that it was a good entertaining game, we played well and Nouble had his best game in a Town shirt. People really do keep jumping on the bandwagon with this "no entertainment" stuff. We don't always play slick football, but I've only seen perhaps 2 games this season where I thought the entertainment was seriously lacking. How you people coped with the Keane years god only knows. Develop an opinion of your own rather than just bleeting away repeating what all the other sheep said.

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Hegansheroes added 09:57 - Mar 3 righty=couldn't agree more, souperjim, who's on the bandwagon, there those for & against MM & I suppose if you are anti then you're on the bandwagon, aren't you also. I suggest byou watch the Utube interview with Brian Clough about MM when he was a player & that just about sums him up as a manager. MM's teams are the least entertaining since Duncan (ignoring Keane &PJ, they weren't managers but assasins)

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hogster1970 added 10:00 - Mar 3 all i can say is then MM you couldnt of been paying attention much in the QPR as he was every were tracking back as well as devoloping play for others, he was great on sat, and we desperatly need his foot skills, but like others MM praises players then drops then for the next match, lets hope MM doesnt run on form and picks him for borough game, aswell as williams for tabb

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SammyB added 10:10 - Mar 3 FINALLY, we get to see Taylor from the start - and what a surprise, he's the stand-out man and Nouble improves as a result of his presence. I reckon Mick must've have taken the advice from my article... :) http://www.shoot.co.uk/town-fans-want-taylor/
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SouperJim added 10:15 - Mar 3 Hegan, all things considered, anyone who is "against" Mick needs their head tested. However, I don't prescribe to the idea you present, that there should only be two polar opposite opinions. Yes, we don't play the most exciting brand of football in the world. But does that mean people should say "no entertainment" after every game, when it blatantly isn't the case? Yes, Mick has shown more faith in Nouble than his performances have deserved. However, does that mean he should be slated every game regardless of how he actually performed? A little balance would be nice. In my opinion, first 30 minutes aside it was a good entertaining game. Of the strikers who played on Saturday Murphy actually contributed the least, despite putting the ball in the net. Yet I don't see anyone rabidly criticising his performance. I don't give a flying stuff what Brian Clough said about Mick as a player and I don't see that it has any real relevance either.

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brazilblue added 10:32 - Mar 3 If Williams replaces him against Middlesbrough I am going to throw a pukka pie at micks balding head
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BillBlue added 10:32 - Mar 3 SammyB. If MM read your article it had no effect. He only played Taylor as an afterthought because the loanee was injured and, if Williams is fit next match, I wonder what he will do. Only two people are genuinely nailed on - Gerken and Nouble!
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GerkensBeard added 10:45 - Mar 3 Taylor was fantastic and I don't know where Mick is coming from because every game I've watched him he has worked his arse off. And tbh I thought the ovation for tabb was because everyone in the crowd was delighted he eas going off and not Taylor
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Miles added 10:58 - Mar 3 We could do a lot worse than MM and if he left I doubt we would find a better manager so be careful what you wish for! Give the Nouble criticism a rest guys. Mick obviously sees potential there and wants to give him a run of games to improve. He's a young lad and will get better. I trust MM and TC and am 100% behind them and the boys. This season has been a lot more enjoyable. We haven't once looked like were in a relegation scrap and have been in an around the playoffs for almost the whole season which for me is thoroughly enjoyable! Keep it going lads! Another win at boro will do nicely! COYB

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ArnieM added 12:06 - Mar 3 Id hope MM plays Williams AND Taylor.
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bohslegend added 12:20 - Mar 3 Tabb deserved credit for his performance on Saturday. Skuse, Tabb and Green were outstanding all day, they each worked their socks off. This created space for Tayls to cause problems. Tactically it was called correctly. As usual, the noisy minority shout loudest and think if they keep saying something, no matter how ridiculous, they will be proved right. There is a theory of course that a critic will always be correct in the end. It's the easiest thing to do, rather than intelligently absorbing the real facts and basing your opinion on that.

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MathieandMarshall added 12:25 - Mar 3 I must have miss-read the situation regarding Tabbs substitution. I honestly thought the cheer that went up was because it was Tabbs number that was held up to be replaced by Hunt? Taylor was a real bright spark for me all game. Always positive with the ball and able to bring others into play with his creativity. Hopefully Mick now sees what we have all been going on about. he can be as much of a handful off the pitch as he likes, doesn't bother me if he does the business on it!

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righty added 12:28 - Mar 3 If you take Taylor out of the match it was awful Saturday and yes I was at the game as I am for all ITFC games home and away and I support the club NOT the Idiots running it.AS for Nouble people who think he was good no nothing about football he would be ok with Woking and get Marriott back here that would be his level
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alfromcol added 13:12 - Mar 3 Don't remember Tabbs getting an ovation!!! I know I am going deaf but.
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WickedBlue added 13:23 - Mar 3 I not for MM I am not against him I will admit he has done a good job steadying the ship on limited funds. But is he the man to take us up to the next level? The jury is out on that and I won't have an opinion to next season. One thing I don't like about MM is he does play favourites and he says one thing like players taking their their chances when giving the oppertunity then dropping someone who won MOM for one of his favourites. He has that right it is his team to choose I just wish he'd keep his mouth shut when all he is spouting is reteric. By that token I expect Taylor to be dropped for the next game.

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