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McCarthy: Hitting the Bar Was the Turning Point
Saturday, 19th Apr 2014 18:31

Boss Mick McCarthy felt Manuel Almunia’s save from Luke Hyam’s second-half header changed the course of Town’s 3-1 defeat at Watford. The former Arsenal man tipped the midfielder’s header onto the bar two minutes before Gabriele Angella netted the Hornets’ second goal to put them back in front.

“It was a game-changing event,” McCarthy said. “I think that saved the game for them and our piss-poor marking from a freekick, and that’s as a team, let Angella run in.

“It was a great delivery from them, it was good movement from them and it ended up being a good header, but he should have got nowhere near getting on the end of it because he should have been stopped.”

The Town boss was pleased with his team’s overall performance: “I thought our boys were fabulous in the first half. I thought we started the first half well, I think they scored with their first attempt.

“That was poor, but whenever you score one it’s a great goal. They’ll think it is, but it was awful that we allowed him on the inside to shoot. That’s not like us.

“I thought we were excellent in the first half, I thought we started really well. In the second half, I think we let them off the hook, I think we’ve let all the other teams off the hook as well by conceding the second goal we did. Three minutes after we hit the crossbar we’re 3-1 down.”

Yesterday’s scorelines elsewhere benefited the Blues but McCarthy says they only matter if you win your own games: “You have to look after your own result, that’s my mantra. Everybody else can do whatever they want. If we win there’s nothing anybody can do about it.

“It makes it harder for Monday. But who knows we could have won today and got slapped on Monday. I’ve no idea, if you ask me how it’s going to pan out, I haven’t got a clue — Monday.

“I can’t do anything about this game. Our performance today, up until the second goal, I thought we were outstanding.”

The Town manager felt his front three of Daryl Murphy and Frank Nouble either side of Jonny Williams worked well: “I thought it was great, I thought we played really, really well.”

McCarthy expects Williams to be fit for Monday’s home game against Bournemouth, having substituted the Wales international as a precaution late on.

“He gets battered, he kicks from pillar to post in every game it seems but he’s a tough little bugger,” he added.

“He’s got his ankle iced up but he’ll be all right I’m sure. I really wanted him fit for Monday and I think he will be.”

Watford manager Beppe Sannino, speaking through an interpreter, was pleased with his team’s win: “We played a good game against a very good team today. This gives more value to our victory.”

Like McCarthy he thought Hyam hitting the bar was the pivotal moment: “I think the turning point was when they hit the crossbar.

“From that moment we were able to play good football, we were looking to score and we did well and we scored two very good goals.”

Elsewhere, on-loan Blues skipper Carlos Edwards played the full 90 minutes as Millwall won 2-1 at Middlesbrough to climb out of the relegation zone and up to 20th.


Photo: Action Images



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Markthehorn added 18:40 - Apr 19
Cannot argue with that really.

Fair comments - seem to always agree with what your man says and he speaks his mind!
14

BoredWithThisNow added 18:43 - Apr 19
"......haven't got a clue...."

Just about sums you up McCarthy
-47

roytheboy added 18:57 - Apr 19
Very disappointed and disillusioned by Mick's tactics (or lack of them) today, at 3-1 down with around 30 minutes of football to play he should (in my opinion) have made instant alterations and attacked the game heavily for the last half hour, what was there to lose by doing that ? we just might have managed to get a point which could be crucial at the end of the season, I congratulate Mick for the way he has turned our fortunes round of course however i find it difficult to understand why he left the substitutions so late and indeed why Paul Green was one of them, anyway roll on Monday, let's keep positive and really get behind the team (and the Manager too).
14

Sindre94 added 19:01 - Apr 19
I dont think we were, but we werent poor either. Hyam impressed me today, while I was left disappointed by the performances of Skuse, Murphy, Nouble and Chambo. Dont really understand why we left it so late regarding the subs of Tayls and Hunt. Couldnt see the sense in bringing Green on for Woody either.
No reason to moan, we are still in it!
On to the next one... COYB
6

Sindre94 added 19:03 - Apr 19
I dont think we were fabolous **
0

Hatman added 19:05 - Apr 19
Brighton's run-in is so straight forward, can't see them dropping points. Today was the big chance. It's very fine margins that have cost us..., but I suspect that's it for us now.

All credit to MM for the massive improvement this season on a shoestring - we can all be optimistic of a genuine promotion push next season, not been able to have that sort of hope going into a season for 10 years...
4

ian_marshall added 19:28 - Apr 19
Harman we are a point behind with 3 games to go! It's about this season not next, Brighton will mess up and we will take 6th. Trust me
2

ian_marshall added 19:29 - Apr 19
*hatman, sorry it's directed as you because you talk as if your throwing the Towell in.
1

Bluetone added 19:34 - Apr 19
Ask yourselves the question does McCarthy really want promotion to the Premiership?
Town stays in the Championship and regularly performs top half round and about the play offs and he has a job for however long he wants life if that is what he wants.
Get promotion and ME recovers his book debts and the club is relegated back to the Championship McCarthy loses his job.
That is one of the most likely scenarios; what incentive is that for McCarthy to go for promotion?
-24

Edinburgh_Blue added 19:56 - Apr 19
@Bluetone. No offence but that's a ridiculous argument imo. McCarthy will have ambition and professional pride like all managers. He's not after a job for life, he's after success.
7

bluefeast added 19:57 - Apr 19
Bluetone absolute madness ,its the 11 players on the pitch that are fighting for every ball ,to say that MM doesnt want promotion and therefore suggesting he is trying not to get the side promoted is plain madness im afraid. Take a bow son ,your post wins nutter of the season.
7

AbujaBlue added 20:00 - Apr 19
Is there no way for the ignore feature to work with these comments on top of the forum so such drivel doesn't have to be read? Holding off on promotion so he has the job for longer? Help us now....
5

Edinburgh_Blue added 20:01 - Apr 19
@AbujaBlue. The scary thing is three people agree with him!
5

bohslegend added 20:05 - Apr 19
Bluetone same could be said for you. You don't want promotion because it would prove you wrong all season. why do you even bother coming on here ?
1

blueherts added 20:08 - Apr 19
Just back , great atmosphere , not sure I agree we were that great ,

I thought Wordy was average today

Great save from Almunia and having just seen their goals again on TV I cannot believe the third - so afraid to put a tackle in we just let him walk in the box
Listen - we are still in it and a win on Monday and game on
Goota believe

0

oscarwhiting added 20:14 - Apr 19
I agree with Hatman. for me this season was just a gap season between last seasons relegation dog fight and next seasons real push for promotion. If we make the play offs this season, then hay thats great. But i think that its too early for promotion as i could only see us go up and come straight back down. We want to get in the prem and stay there. For me next years the year, play offs this years a bonas. ( hope that doesnt sound negative, isnt intended to be)
5

bluelodgeblue added 20:16 - Apr 19
too much to soon!
0

blueboy1981 added 20:20 - Apr 19
Edinburgh Blue & Co - ........... all I would say is : 'if the Club told some of you that 'Black was White' you would have no hesitation in believing it. Enough said.
-5

HALLSJ added 20:24 - Apr 19
Brighton run in may be easier but who would have forecast Sunderland drawing at Man City and beating Chelsea...You just never know COYB
7

Letchworth_Blue added 20:29 - Apr 19
Really disappointed. Great atmosphere, great support and expectations high. However a very lackluster performance. Second to the ball each time, no urgency and giving Watford a really easy ride. Only saving grace is the other results went our way. Midfield was poor and Chambo was really exposed at right back. Murphy played too wide and they man-marked Williams out of the match (although he was our best player). Onwards and upwards to Bournemouth.
2

Bluetone added 20:31 - Apr 19
@bohslegend I see you claim to have have supported the Town since the mid 70's I saw my first games when Scott Duncan was our manager in the late 40's and the changing rooms then were a wooden structure at the side by Churchman's stand. Yes I deplore how the club is being run today and compared with the past I am very worried about the motives of the present custodians of our Club. So questioning my loyalty to the club is just a little wide of the mark. It's just more difficult to see through the blue tinted glasses.
3

EatonBlue added 20:31 - Apr 19
Hitting the BAR has been a turning point for me on a number of occasions !
8

bohslegend added 20:35 - Apr 19
So you're old and bitter. If I choose to support the team I love since I was 5 by showing encouragement and a positive attitude despite the reality that the club is not and never will be loaded, don't you go looking down your nose at me.
You and Blueboy (a totally different era than either of us) and Noel the Dub go missing from here with your negativity when we start winning and then show up again when we lose, I have to ask what exactly makes you happy about following Ipswich?
-1

ian_marshall added 20:37 - Apr 19
I'm sure hyam hit the bat against watford at home too!
1

ian_marshall added 20:37 - Apr 19
Bar
0


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