Boss Mick McCarthy was delighted with his side’s response to going a goal down to Derby in the opening minute, but most of all with their second three-point haul against a fellow play-off contender in four days. The Blues are now eighth, two points from sixth.

“The result pleased me most, of course,” he said. “But other than that the response we gave to conceding a goal after less than a minute.

“The way we responded in the second half was more like us. I didn’t think we’d laid a finger on them in the first half. I think they were able to play and little Jonny was getting kicked from pillar to post and it was us picking ourselves up off the floor. I think we’ve deserved it in the second half.”

After he was booked for shoving winning goalscorer Christophe Berra early on, the Town crowd called for former Norwich man Chris Martin to be shown a second yellow card for what they felt was a later first-half foul on the Scottish international, but McCarthy felt otherwise.

“I don’t think Martin had sinned on Christophe Berra too much, there was nothing in that at all,” he said. “They were all baying for blood. He actually pulled out of it, Martin.

“He’s a good player, I thought he was excellent in the first half. Not so in the second because I thought Christophe and Tommy sorted that out.

“And if you’re going to get kicked from pillar to post, the best way to get your own back is to put the ball in the net, like little Jonny did. He was fab.”

The Town boss wasn’t sure whether Craig Bryson should have been sent off for his high challenge on Williams just before the break: “There were quite a few, I don’t know which one you mean. I don’t know. But it’s a sign of a good player when people kick him and he is a good player.”

After picking up six points from back-to-back games against other teams in the play-off mix McCarthy says he’s pleased with the way the Blues continue to accumulate points as they close in on the top six with eight games to go: “I keep saying you just keep ticking away trying to pick up points. We’ve just had two really tough games.

“I’m also pleased with Anthony Wordsworth, who I thought was different class, I’m pleased with him.

“Frank Nouble was excellent as well coming on, but Woody’s had two really good games from being out of the wilderness. To come back and play as well as he’s done, I’m delighted for him and delighted with him.

“Big Frank, that’s the way to respond when he came on and Sylv was unlucky with his header. It’s nice when you get a positive contribution from substitutes when they come on.”

The Town boss had further praise for Berra: “He’s been awesome this season, he’s been outstanding. It was quite fitting that he got the winner.

“We’ve had some good candidates [for Player of the Year] in the back four but even more so Christophe because he plays on the right-hand side and he’s not as comfortable there as he would be on the left, but he’s been outstanding.”

Regarding skipper Luke Chambers’s early exit, he explained: “He had blurred vision when he first came across [to the bench] and he was just starting not to be able to see properly.”

Derby boss Steve McClaren felt his side ought to have won: “We didn’t deserve to lose. We controlled the game, we played great football, created chances, but there wasn’t enough care in the final third.

“We kind of caused our own problems in the end. I don’t think Lee Grant had a shot to save apart from picking the ball out of the net from two set plays.

“I said at half-time that we made a great start, we controlled the game and we’ve got to be ruthless and get the second goal. We had opportunities and in the end we’ve paid the price for that.”

Elsewhere, Elliott Hewitt played the full 90 minutes as Gillingham won 1-0 at the MK Dons in League One, while Freddie Veseli also played the full game as Bury drew 0-0 at Newport in League Two.

Photo: Action Images

Paulc added 08:40 - Mar 26 I'd like pick up on a couple of Steve McClaren points: We controlled the game, we played great football - Kicked lumps out of 'Little Johnny' you mean I don't think Lee Grant had a shot to save apart from picking the ball out of the net from two set plays. - What about the tip over from Murphy? I don't think Gerken exactly left the pitch with his hands stinging. You can hardly call Johnny's 30 yarder a set piece. Your team have now won once in 6 (and that was against a Forest side that failed to turn up). 5 pioints from a possible 18? will you make the play offs? not on that form pal! If he had said the game could have gone either way I'd probably agree and have a bit of respect for his opinion. Instead I just think he's a bit of a tit. It was a close game where Derby were better in the first half and Town were on top in the second. Very impressed with Williams and great attitute from SEB and Nouble. COYB

8

ArnieMsBigToe added 09:03 - Mar 26 PaulC: Yep! The wally with the brolly is a total tit. Couldn't agree more. I didn't bother watching the national team when he was in charge. The bloke is an absolute idiot!! In the prediction league, I said we would loose the last two games. How glad am I that I was wrong!!
4

50yearsablue added 09:10 - Mar 26 I think because we had some rare excitement, especially second half, we are going a bit over the top. I believe Derby were architects of their own downfall because they were a goal up and in control when Martin, Bryson and one or two others made very poor challenges which got the crowd going, especially as the appalling referee was myopic. No, in that first half we were poor. It was different after the break, we set about them and one or two of our challenges also showed the referee hadn't improved. The substitutions were key and the last 30 minutes were exciting and the crowd responded. A screamer from Jonny and an injury time winner were bound to make us go over the top with our posts. And why not? We've had enough dross so we might as well milk it. I can't help feel that if we become Jonnyless next week, 75% of our creativity will go with him. I hope not though as, if we can beat Forest, we'll have real momentum and, if nothing else, we have a great work ethic in the squad.

2

Popeye added 09:18 - Mar 26 Palace can recall Williams after 28 days. Not sure if that is before or after the Forest game but i wouldn't bet against him returning to Palace and not staying until the end of the season. Okay the deal was if he plays then he can stay until the end of the season but with him playing well and Palace only one place and three points off the bottom three, then Pulis might feel he might just be the player who could help them avoid relegation!

1

Fat_Boy_Tim added 09:29 - Mar 26 Great team performance. Gerks was solid in goal, Smith and Berra were awsome, Cresswell usual high standard another assist too, Chambers is still improving at right back, lost count of how many times Hyam stole the ball and broke up attacks, Wordy got stuck in and linked up well with the forwards, Williams is a supestar, Hunt was quiet, Anderson was dominated a bit and Murphy put in a shift. Nouble was really fired up, loved his run to win the corner for Berra's goal, SEB was unlucky not to score too and Richardson had some good charges down the right in his 10 minutes.

2

Fat_Boy_Tim added 09:35 - Mar 26 McCarthy hinted that he was hopeful Williams would stay till the end of the season. He's not often that optomistic! Of course things might change now that Puliss watched the game but it wasn't exactly a Premiership style match!
1

rachelsdad added 09:36 - Mar 26 Williams was outstanding, we need him to stay if we have any chance of slipping into the bottom six.He also brings the best out of Hyam and Wordsworth as he is always available.Another good shift from Murphy and Berra with Tommy solid as ever.Great second half lets have more on saturday.
2

BillBlue added 10:42 - Mar 26 After several dour seasons I get the impression there is a feeling of belief being engendered. If we beat Forest on Saturday how will we survive the excitement? How great it is when people talk of PR rocking and how much we have needed it. Please, anybody, let it continue!
2

oldelsworthyfan added 10:47 - Mar 26 Great second half again! What a difference the two Ws have made! It would be great to keep Williams and, as you say rachelsdad, he brings the best out of Wordsworth and Hyam. We have two players worth passing the ball to and, yes, it does panic the opposition. Williams was a 'marked man' and how well he stood up to it. His goal reminded me of what ITFC used to be able to do.

1

BillBlue added 11:03 - Mar 26 To all people who thought Martin should have been sent off see the comment I have just copied from a guy who calls himself Wilko1 in the Derby Telegraph: "Ref didn't give us anything and the Ipswich players got away with conning the ref. at least the ref did not target Martin as the ref at Burnley." Perhaps McClaren is not the only sour loser at Derby!
1

brittaniaman added 11:06 - Mar 26 I hear that Pulis was a guest of Marcus Evans at the game last night , perhaps it was a little sweetener to persuade him to let us to keep Jonny boy for the season Hey????
1

Keaneish added 12:03 - Mar 26 Yeah on that note muhren'sleftfoot there were many problems in the first half... :: No width in the midfield meaning no outlets for the central midfield two. :: Countless times playing it across the back 4 to the full backs who were only ever going to get closed down with Derby playing a 4-5-1 / 4-3-3. What was that about??? :: Murphy isolated with no midfielders ever looking like getting beyond him. :: Over use of the Long ball to Murphy (Tommy!) and no one gambling off the flicks. :: Limited forays forward from the full backs. :: All of the above points contributing to limited movement meaning all attacks ended up going sideways 30 yards from goal. We were set-up to contain and had no invention going forward. Only when we had to change it and matched their formation did we look threatening. Last night was great but there are still big problems in the way we approach games. For me, you have to look at the way we finished the game vs the way we started and take that into Saturday. Nouble and Ebanks-Blake are worthy of starts on the back of those performances. Williams is far more effective playing a bit deeper and being protected by the work of Hyam and what will be Skuse on Saturday. Also, i thought Richardson looked good at right back when he came on. As much as i like Chambers, he's not a right back. Adomah, Lingard and Russell have all found susceptibilities there in the last 3 weeks. A lot of food for thought in order to get 3 points on Saturday.

0

GerkensBeard added 13:46 - Mar 26 Still can't get over last night! If that game doesn't spur us on now I don't know what will, thought the back 4 were very solid and Berra especially outstanding! And how refreshing it was to see a midfield player collect the ball from the back 4 last night and looking to spread the ball and start attacks, of course I'm talking about Wordy. Thought he was brilliant and also his work rate was second to none. I thought Hyam was his usual self working hard but giving the ball away a lot. I'd love to see a midfield of Skuse and Wordy, Skuse being the holding mid allowing Wordsworth to venture forward. Hunt was poor again, Anderson did ok but MM made the perfect substitutions last night replacing them with Frank and SEB. I am usually Franks biggest critic but he proved the difference last night. He is an impact player and is much better as a sub coming on than a starter. And as for Williams. My word! Say no more. Can't wait for Saturday and hoping they don't get a manager in before then so the curse doesn't have it's effect haha

5

smithy91 added 17:56 - Mar 26 Keanish for me Nouble hasnt done well when starting a game, however as a sub he has been very effective in some games this season. Lets hope Mick starts to take a more attacking approach for larger portions of the game- tbf Derby are a good side so going gung ho against them may of been a bad idea after they just had thrashed Forest. But yes i agree we are sometimes too cautious against lesser teams especially. But if we keep up how we are playing then all good imo, every team needs a bit of luck too

1

smithy91 added 18:00 - Mar 26 Also part of the problem of Murphy being isolated is Hunt and Ando being ineffective of late, were they making many runs? wasnt at the game but have seen extended highlights
0

muccletonjoe added 21:50 - Mar 26 Jimmy86 , you really are a joker
-1

Jimmy86 added 11:27 - Mar 27 Why am I a joker then muccletonjoe??? Whilst hyam provides energy and puts himself about he is limited as a midfielder. He is not confident when on the ball and his first thought when he recieves it is to pass the ball sideways or backwards, which slows down attacks and allows the oppostion to regroup, how can you argue against that??
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls