Town boss Mick McCarthy says the Blues are on track to hit their pre-season target of making the play-offs if they continue performing as they have been recently. Town go into tonight’s game at Cardiff City in sixth place, just four points off the top of the division.

“We want to be in the top six,” McCarthy said. “Do I anticipate that? If we keep playing the way we have done for the last month, then that’ll be the case, if we keep picking up those results.

“All I can do is prepare the lads and if we can get the same performance levels out of them we’ll be around the top six.”

He added: “The consistency has been the most pleasing thing this season, the consistency of the performances, of the players individually and collectively of the team.

“If you look at the marks, TC marks them after every game and I have a look at them, they’ve all been at a consistent level, not been up and down. Rather than getting four to eights they’ve all be consistent across a decent set of marks.

“And then as a team we’ve been consistent. Playing well as a team helps you do well in the league. Having a great one on a Saturday and a rubbish one on a Tuesday, that doesn’t get you anywhere.”

The Town boss says he was pleased with his team’s display as they drew 1-1 with Blackburn on Saturday, despite conceding an injury time equaliser for the second match in succession.

“I was delighted with the performance,” he continued. “I thought the first half was just a really good honest scrap between two decent Championship teams playing in different ways.

“I think Blackburn are good side, they’re a very competent team with good players. We got on top of them in the second half and they got one sent off because we were on top of them.

“We got Conor Sammon rampaging through twice and he was fouled twice. We kept it the same, we had one off the line, their keeper made a great save in a one-v-one with David McGoldrick, we hit the post and it’s one of those where if you don’t put it to bed they get one chance from 30 yards and their freekick’s equally as good as ours.

"Disappointment in the end but I wasn’t disappointed in how we played.

“We could have kept the ball better. There were a couple of decisions with the ball on Saturday, but you never know how it’s going to pan out.

“If it’s a freekick that Christophe gives away for the goal, then it’s a stonewall penalty in their 18-yard box [when McGoldrick was bundled over by Lee Williamson right at the end].

“But they do happen and those decisions are given or are not given and we’ve got to get on with it. It’s Monday morning, we’re back at it, we’re starting again, I can’t do anything about Saturday now.”

Photo: Action Images

prebbs007 added 06:19 - Oct 21 Can't do anything about Saturday now Mick??? Correct!!! But you can learn from your mistakes!!! Don't select liabilities like Hunt (good character he may be, good player he no longer is) and also learn from the extremely poor substitutions you made. Having not beaten a poor (how you describe them as good is a mystery) Blackburn side, we now need something from the Cardiff game. Pick the right team and they are beatable, pick the wrong one and our run will end and we will be back in mid table. COYB!!!

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Swailsey added 07:38 - Oct 21 I like the fact Mick never uses poor refereeing as an excuse. It's refreshing and classy. For everyone doubting him, we're very lucky.
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TR11BLU added 08:18 - Oct 21 So TC rates them after every game... Strictly speaking, its time Hunt was voted off.
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brian_a_mul added 09:06 - Oct 21 Hunt is a decent player, I agree he may not have the legs to last 90min but he is a great impact player from the bench. I would definitley have him on he bench as least. A great man to attack tiring defenders for 20 minutes
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TimmyH added 10:41 - Oct 21 Yes we have been playing fairly well and probably deserve to be in the top 6 but when it comes to the crux and that is from March on wards are we mentally tough enough to see games out? psychology plays a big part in all sports - big question mark in this area but fairly content how we're playing currently.
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bohslegend added 16:58 - Oct 21 Agree with MM's assessment. There were the usual moaners on talking about substitutions and defensive tactics on Saturday when we went 1-0. That approach is selective at best and downright ignorant at worst. Sammon was pulled down by Kilgallon when going through, we did hit the post, we did have one off the line. All fine margins. If they'd gone our way, and without even considering the substitutions or a dodgy free kick decision in the 93rd min, we possibly would have won 3 or 4 nil. Where would the arguments of the moaners be then? The fact is MM did his part, the players tried to do theirs - and did other than not getting that little bit of luck you need. We were missing Murph, Hyan, Bishop an Chambo from a small squad. Reality check for some of you, please.

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