Boss Mick McCarthy was delighted with his players as they drew 2-2 at home with Bournemouth believing that they had been at a disadvantage with the Cherries having had a day longer to prepare for the match.

“It was a hard-fought game, I think it was a really good advert for the Championship. It was a fairly open game.

“We certainly had a disadvantage in terms of playing Saturday and Monday. Normally it’s Saturday-Tuesday, they had Friday-Monday and I can’t express the pride I have for the lads, the way they go about it.

“They do their job every single week and put an effort in for me, for themselves, for the crowd, for the club, they stick together. I think they honour the shirt, really. I think they’re fantastic.

“I think they’ve done it again today. At the end of that game they were running on empty some of them. Normally on a Monday we do nothing, today we had 95 minutes of football to play.”

The Blues manager was pleased with his side’s opening goal and wasn’t overly critical with the manner in which they conceded Bournemouth’s two equalisers.

“I thought ours was a great goal, as I always do,” he said. “We took a quick throw-in and caught them with their pants down a bit.

“Skusey got there with great effort and Ando, who was being sick prior to that gets in at the far stick and scores.

“I don’t think we could have done a great deal about their two goals, an unbelievable overhead kick and a deflection.

“It happens. They had other chances and we’ve had days when we’ve had it and probably got away with it because we’ve had a deflection or a penalty, and it happens during a season.

“I thought our lads were terrific, they’re a good side, Bournemouth, and having that day extra they moved us around but we stuck with it and we’ve come away with a well-deserved point.”

McCarthy said midfielder Luke Hyam was never in with a shout of playing having picked up a knock at Watford, while centre-half Christophe Berra was closer to being involved after suffering a knee injury at Vicarage Road.

“They couldn’t play, I don’t think they’re greatly serious injuries. Christophe’s knee had swollen up. It went down considerably yesterday, it was really swollen after the game at Watford.

“Luke was never in with a chance, Christophe did come in and have a jog, he couldn’t play, so I’m hoping they’ll be OK for next week.

“Ando I think has got a hamstring and he was also being sick on the pitch, I don’t know what it was, he scored after that as well. Woody’s got a dead leg.”

Sub Tyrone Mings came close to a winning goal and McCarthy says he and assistant Terry Connor have been encouraging the left-back to get forward at set pieces.

“Me and TC have told him to go up, he’s 6ft 4in or 6ft 5in tall and he got his head on it and he was unfortunate,” he added.

“It would have been nice but it wasn’t to be and they had chances as well, so I think overall it was a fair result.

“I think it’s a good point for us they way we’ve had to play the two games in two days and I’m really delighted with the lads. Overall, at the end of that game, it’s a good point for us.”

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe believed his side did enough to win the match: “I thought we were the better team today, I thought we created the better chances and played the better football and we’re disappointed not to win.

“Very interesting tactically to see both teams going for the result at the end. We tried to throw the kitchen sink at it and tried to score, but ultimately we just couldn’t get that golden chance we needed.”

Elsewhere, Carlos Edwards helped loan side Millwall to a 0-0 home draw with Doncaster, while in League One Elliott Hewitt and Gillingham drew 1-1 at Walsall.

Photo: Action Images

ian_marshall added 20:28 - Apr 21 Bournemouth are a very good side, a point each was fair, shame but still could happen 1 point off with 2 2go, I knew Blackpool would get something at Brighton aswell
1

Count_Arthur added 20:45 - Apr 21 Blue041273. As much as I take your point that different sports require different fitness levels, I know that I could play 90 minutes of football if push came to shove but if anyone asked me to cycle up Mont Ventoux I wouldn't be able to get past the first mile. The point I made was a general, if rather sweeping, comment about blaming our performance on fitness. It wasn't a knock at our team, I watched the game and don't question their commitment but fatigue should not be the reason any team at this level loses, or draws a match when a win would have taken us into the playoffs.

1

northernblues added 21:05 - Apr 21 I got mark down for stating Burnley lost at home to boro, you sad gimp whoever you are!
-2

TimmyH added 21:16 - Apr 21 @northernblues - that bloke marks everybody down.
0

Hatman added 21:23 - Apr 21 Fair enough Ian Marshall, I did not think Brighton would slip up. Maybe there's twists and turns yet. Best thing about today was Burnley clinching promotion, Saturday will be congas, Mexican waves, and hangovers while we go about our business.
1

Blue041273 added 22:26 - Apr 21 Count Arthur Of course you are right, but it is still not fair to compare the physical demands of professional footballers who have endured a long 10 month season (in their 2nd game in 3 days) with professional cyclists who would normally be asked to climb Mont Ventoux once in a season. The professional cyclists also suffer fatigue and if there is nothing left in the tank they become exposed on the mountains as much as our players did today. As much as I admire the efforts of the cyclists their physicality is largely individually focused whereas football demands a teamwork intensity that few other sports can match. We have been handicapped all season though having a small elite squad but despite this we have done fantastically well. We have punched above our weight and we should all be proud of what has been achieved this season. But we should also be conscious of the need to improve, to enhance the quality of the squad and add to MM's options. This will of course need investment which on the face of it will not necessarily be forthcoming.

1

unknown100 added 22:46 - Apr 21 Yeah buzzing, 1 point out of 4 and 2 massive opportunities missed to get in the play offs, Bournemouth went for it and we didn't, don't think we will win the next 2 games, we have done really well but we are not ready for the premiership
2

rfretwell added 22:46 - Apr 21 Quick summary - Wordsworth picked up a leg injury early on struggled to run it off for a while, then seemed to be ok but the whole time he had no influence in the hugely important central midfield area. Mick should have not waited till half time to replace him with Paul Green - who had a superb second half, really got stuck in and never wasted a pass, also scored got forward well and a well taken goal. Also great to see his experience shining as he directed team mates to close down opponents. Similar to Magilton in his pomp in that and something Woody and Hyam need to add to their game. Green richly deserves to play at Burley surely. Disapointing town performance mostly tho apart from a short period after each goal. Around 20 long balls pumped forward by Cresswell, Smith, Cole, Chambers far too long giving our forwards no chance of mounting an attack. And high balls forwad yo Hunt and Williams that they were never going to win against big defenders. Hunt all action commitment but doesn't have the pace now to go past full backs. Last time a full back scored with an overhead kick anywhere in the league? That wasnt bad! Hope Burnleyscteam are all partying hard now.

2

rfretwell added 23:13 - Apr 21 Have to agree with RomfordBlues blog, Town looked well below par today.. Around 20 overhit long balls from Cresswell, Smith, Chambers, Skuse provided no kind of service to the hardworking Murphy and Joniesta. Wordsworth picked up a leg injury early in the first half, wondered around trying to run it off, eventually seemed ok again but was awful. Why Mick waited till half time to replace him with Green heaven only knows. Central midfield is too crucial an area to carry any player. Paul Green was excellent throughout the second half and deserves to play at Burnley imo. His passing was very good, even his carefully weighted forward balls! He defended well, got forward well, scored and directed team mates to close down etc. Its not over yet but will be at Burnley if we don't improve.

1

itfc_nik added 01:34 - Apr 22 this has definitely been a surprise season, we seem to be 12 months ahead of schedule, next season is a big year for the club.
2

NoelTheDub added 02:27 - Apr 22 Same bull talk MICK has no tactic brain his team selection and formation are awful but having said he has done a great job protecting our club.We are going nowhere with this man he has thrown more points this season v poor sides because of his tactics full stop,and the bull talk lads.Weve done well and same next season good night..
0

ArnieM added 08:01 - Apr 22 ...A hiostory of getting his ALL teams promoted usually by the second full seaopsn in charge would suggest otherwise , mate ! btw THis is the higherst Town have been in this diviison in over 7 years. Crap tactics? You're taliing out of your backside.
2

charsfield added 09:00 - Apr 22 think its clear we've run out of steam this season - small squad running more miles than anyone else in the division has taken its toll. Not quite had enough in the tank, more of the same next season with a little bit more firepower should see us through. The teams coming down from PL are all garbage too
2

bohslegend added 10:47 - Apr 22 Ah Ha! Noel is back! Where were you when we won those few games leading up to Easter Noel? You are an incredibly negative contributor to this forum. I was waiting to see if you would finally give MM and the boys some credit for getting us to the edge of the playoffs only one year on from saving us from relegation. But no, it must have made you ill to see us winning??? :-)

1

J4ck22 added 14:38 - Apr 22 So... You're all saying that you're delighted that Mick has us challenging for the playoffs, but at the same time think his tactics are crap? If you're going to complain, at least make sense...
-2

NoelTheDub added 15:45 - Apr 22 bohsledgend....You told everyone you are no longer using this forum, I think because of me welcome back BUT im going nowhere.I always say what I think as for this season Micks done the job as the league dosent lie but again not until MR Nouble on the wing or Mr Green on the other Mr Williams been left on the bench was changed as I and many others on here were getting slaughtered when we ask why we only have 1 guy up front v small squad sides, as you say we are.There was so many more points we dropped because of Micks team selection where he plays players and sometimes his subs dont make logic to me.Again Micks done wonders to be were we are and I hold my hands up but when you look at Burnley Derby Brighton or Bournemouth they are not miles ahead of us but some team sheets this season has cost us 12 or 15 more points.

0

bohslegend added 15:54 - Apr 22 I'd say if we won the league Noel, you would still say we should have won by more, or should have conceded less or should have played a different brand of football. You sound a bit like Eamon Dunphy on Irish TV - always a critic. The fact that we are where we are despite all of MM's so-called failings as you see them, totally contradicts everything you have against the man. With one of the smallest, cheapest squads in the league, and having suffered for years at the wrong end of the league, we finally have something to be excited about and all you can do is moan!!??

-2

bohslegend added 16:00 - Apr 22 As for the teams you name ahead of us, there are far bigger clubs or clubs with more money elsewhere in the league - Leeds Utd, Birmingham City, Notts Forest, Watford, Middlesborough - are you selectively ignoring them? Brighton is in your 'A' list above - didn't they just slip up against Blackpool yesterday? Wow! Other teams who dont have MM in charge slip up too! Who'd have thunk it??

0

TractorBeezer added 18:21 - Apr 22 It's great that we are still in the hunt (marginally) with two games to go. Shame though that we set out to defend a 2-1 margin instead of keeping on the front foot. As for “tired”, true we had one day less than Bournemouth to recover, but what about our 1961-62 Championship team which fielded the same players (Bailey, Carberry, Compton, Baxter, Nelson, Elsworthy, Stephenson, Moran, Crawford, Phillips, Leadbetter) without any substitutes during the three Easter games over 4 days. And most of them enjoyed a drink and a fag and the pitches were often like ploughed fields or swamps! 20 Apr 1962 Ipswich Town v Arsenal D 2-2 21 Apr 1962 Chelsea v Ipswich Town D 2-2 23 Apr 1962 Arsenal v Ipswich Town W 0-3 It's Reading v Middlesborough today….Reading only have one point from the last nine available. Crazy!

-1

blueboy1981 added 18:36 - Apr 22 bohslegend ................. Master - of excuses.
-1

NoelTheDub added 18:55 - Apr 22 bohsledgend ....The small squad rubbish is out again when we play poorly v Bournemouth and many other times this season has been used as an excuse by yourself.At times this season we had Green and Williams on the bench 2 Internationals and your no mistake Mick starts Nouble also at times this season Luke Chambers has been roasted as a RB or Murf up top on his own and Hynm and Skuse in the mid all weaknesses more so v other sides like ourselves.I cant praise Mick any more for steadying our club but it annoys me to see Mick clearly setting the team out to draw games we could and should be winning.

-1

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls