Boss Mick McCarthy says Luke Hyam and Tommy Smith handled being dropped to the bench for Saturday’s game against Millwall “remarkably well”. The duo have been regular starters throughout McCarthy’s time as Blues manager.

“They’ve been great, bitterly disappointed, both hurt, both want to play,” he said. “They’ve not come and said that to me, I just know how they feel because that’s how they are.

“I said on Saturday that they were two of the toughest decisions I’ve had to make, certainly since I’ve been here, because neither of them have done anything wrong, neither of them have played badly, but sometimes I want to change it, and that’s what I did.

“And they handled it remarkably well and they both came on and contributed to what was a fantastic win on Saturday.”

He says his changes worked out: “It’s been very hard to disrupt a back four which has been as solid and as capable and as consistent as ours has been.

“But I wanted a right-footed centre-back and a left-footed centre-back to play with our two attacking full-backs and then give them more of the ball.

“And it worked. It’s great when it works, you look a chump if it doesn’t and you make decisions like leaving Tommy and Luke out and then we get overrun and get beaten.

“But that’s what I’m paid to do, to make those decisions and as it turned out it gave us a good balance in the team and certainly the two full-backs gave us something that we haven’t had in terms of an attacking force.”

Does he believe the role of a full-back has changed in recent years? “Not really, my team [growing up] was Leeds and Terry Cooper and Paul Reaney used to rampage forward from what I remember. Then there were people like Roberto Carlos and plenty of others.

“I think either you are an attacking full-back or you’re not, except I think there’s a slight difference in that some of the attacking full-backs can’t defend now, which is a bit of a problem.

“They’ve got them in the team and they rampage forward, they’re great going forward, they put good balls in, but sometimes when they get one-v-ones I think that’s the difference.

“They’re almost like wingers who have been converted in some places. I don’t think ours are, I think they’re genuine full-backs, who have got the legs and the energy to get forward.”

He was impressed with Millwall’s two full-backs with former Blues skipper Carlos Edwards having been at right-back: “I think Millwall’s were particularly good because Carlos Edwards, probably as he’s getting older, although he’s still as fit as a flea, has dropped back. But he’s a better forward-thinking player than he is a defender.

“Scott Malone is fantastic going forward, I had him at Wolves. I thought they were as good exponents of playing as attacking full-backs as I’ve seen in the games that we’ve been watching.

“I don’t think it’s changed, I think there has always been one sitter or people have two sitters now and wingers come and play on the inside. Teams don’t have wingers so they have wide midfield players that tuck in and play inside.

“It hasn’t really changed, they are just variations and we’ll probably go back to something else at some other stage when it becomes in vogue.”

Photo: Action Images

IpswichFan26 added 06:30 - Sep 16 I say this a lot but We're in a very fortunate situation with our cb's right now. A few years ago, this position in particular was by far the weakest and most unreliable in the league. Now we have IMO 3 of the best cb's in the league (and arguably the best one in Christophe Berra) and while many critisiced MM for constantly playing Chambers at right back, it was probably the only way he could fit the 3 of them in our starting 11. I expect that it'll be half and half, some teams we'll play the 3 of them, others we'll use only 2, but both ways have advantages. It's also really unlucky for Hyam too, has been solid this season, and was amazing against Fulham, but on Saturday, I was either going to be him or Bishop playing probably, and I'm delighted that Bishop played. But still, it's good too have this sort of - and after remembering the RK/PJ, it makes me very happy to say this- depth in the team.

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IpswichFan26 added 06:31 - Sep 16 It* era*
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osborne1nil added 07:29 - Sep 16 Disagree IpswichFan26 as imo Hyam could have played in place of Skuse who I thought was a weak link in midfield with many misplaced passes and giving Millwall players too much time on the ball. Agree that the change for Smith did seem to fit well and is a very able player to have on the bench.
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Lightningboy added 15:04 - Sep 16 Yeah,it's been glaringly obvious that we needed to play either Parr or Hewitt as more naturally gifted right backs ahead of Chambers but the only problem is how do you leave out Chambers,Berra or Smith?..brave decision by Mick last saturday and it paid off,Tommy was the unlucky one. As for Hyam i'm guessing Mick went for Skuse's age & experience alongside Bishop...i'd still prefer to see Hyam over Skuse though.

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paulthebluealien added 15:21 - Sep 16 I think this is certainly positive for the club to have two really decent players in Smith and Hyam on the bench. It shows a little bit of depth.
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IpswichFan26 added 17:04 - Sep 16 Osborne - while I also wouldve preferred hyam and bishop playing together again, I can see why MM did it. With Ambrose, Bishop and potentially Collison here at the club, we need to what midfield partnership works best now. I imagine MM played skuse as he has more age and experience and could benefit Bishop, and/or he was seeing wether or not they work together well or not.

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osborne1nil added 17:34 - Sep 16 You may be right IpswichFan26. Perhaps he will try it differently tonight and then see how that works. Several players now fighting for positions in midfield, which can only be a good thing.
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