Boss Mick McCarthy hailed the Blues 1-0 win at Watford as a “huge result” as his side go into the final seven games of the Championship season having returned to the play-off places. The victory, courtesy of Richard Chaplow’s goal deep, deep into injury time, saw McCarthy’s team move up to sixth in the table.

“With seven games to go it’s a huge result for us, it’s fabulous,” the Town manager said. “We’re back in the top six, aren’t we?

“I thought it was a really top tactical performance as much as anything, against a team who try and play through you.

“We had to change a couple of times to accommodate them and I thought we did it particularly well and it’s a great victory in the last minute and it was a great finish by Chappers. I thought all the subs contributed well.

“He might have been thinking about Brentford when he had a chance on the edge of the box and he put it in the keeper’s hands. He’s got good quality Chappers, he’s a good player.”

McCarthy’s back four have recently been the subject of criticism in some quarters but prevented the Hornets, top of the table at the start of the day, from managing a single shot on target.

“That’s why I told those who criticised them to ‘foxtrot oscar’!” the Town boss added. “And, by the way, that still applies, if the cap fits, ‘foxtrot oscar’!

“We [started the game at a high tempo]. I trust the players. I’ve had a very small squad of players, I trust them, they’re a really honest bunch of lads, they give everything, they don’t leave anything on the pitch.

“If you want to leave something on the pitch, leave a good impression with everybody and generally they do.”

He says he brought Chaplow on as Kevin Bru had run himself into the ground: “It was a great substitution. It just confirmed it when he limped in front of me. I’m just surprised at how quick Bru ran when we scored!”

The result sees the Blues move to within five points of the Hornets, who are down to second following Bournemouth’s 3-0 victory over Middlesbrough at lunchtime.

Asked whether he feels it’s a weird division with teams looking like they’re going to run away at the top before dropping away again, he said: “I think you’ll find I’ve been calling it bonkers since about August, so if you want to change it to weird I’m cool with that.

“I ruled myself out last week, didn’t I? I keep saying to everybody, it’s how many points we end up with and who knows how many we’ll end up with.

“You’ve seen it today. Brentford scored in the last minute, Wolves will have been cock-a-hoop [after beating Derby], then we’ve won.

“We’ve got Bournemouth next week. I said that with the next two games we could either be really out of it really back in it. At the moment we’re back in it.”

McCarthy hopes that midfielder Teddy Bishop will be back for the Bournemouth game having missed today’s game and having been ruled out of the England U19s squad with sore shins.

“He wasn’t on the bench today, Kundai Benyu was on the bench instead of him,” he continued. “We’ve got two weeks before the next game, he’ll be fine for Bournemouth, I’m sure.”

Left-back Tyrone Mings will miss the Good Friday visit by the Cherries as he now faces a two-match ban having amassed 10 bookings.

Watford boss Slavisa Jokanovic said his team was still looking to win the match in injury time and as a consequence left themselves open to the break which led to Town’s goal.

“You’re always disappointed when you’ve lost a game like we lost today, it’s a normal emotion,” he said.

“In the past few games we’ve won in the last minute, but today we lost the game. I accept first of all that it’s my responsibility because I didn’t want to close the game and we were looking to try and find a way to win the game.

“I made a mistake, my team made a mistake in the last moments and this is how my team today lost [what would have been] one point.”

Photo: Action Images

blueherts added 20:30 - Mar 21 Excellent and mention for Varney who put a good shift in first half .Everybody work bloody hard for each other closed them down Bru was strong with Skuse and Sears caused problems as soon as he came on That is as good as it gets for me at Vicarage Road - my local !! Gotta believe
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alfromcol added 20:44 - Mar 21 One of those moments when the ball seemed to take a lifetime to hit the back of the net. Magic, best few minutes of 2015 (so far).
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tcc4 added 20:45 - Mar 21 I'll admit I have questioned some of mm team selection and tactics of late but today proves he knows best and I wouldn't change him for anyone at this stage. Great result today, keep the tractor rolling!
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tcc4 added 20:46 - Mar 21 I'll admit I have questioned some of mm team selection and tactics of late but today proves he knows best and I wouldn't change him for anyone at this stage. Great result today, keep the tractor rolling!
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tcc4 added 20:46 - Mar 21 I'll admit I have questioned some of mm team selection and tactics of late but today proves he knows best and I wouldn't change him for anyone at this stage. Great result today, keep the tractor rolling!
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tcc4 added 20:47 - Mar 21 I'll admit I have questioned some of mm team selection and tactics of late but today proves he knows best and I wouldn't change him for anyone at this stage. Great result today, keep the tractor rolling!
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WashbrookBlue added 21:04 - Mar 21 As one of the 444 at the Riverside, I feel somewhat jealous of the 2000 at Watford today. There is never ever anything quite like seeing your team win away in the 95th minute!!! This is a site for opinions and there are some well versed and justified criticisms of some aspects of MM's management but I , for one, am delighted that his loyalty has been rewarded today because it is an admirable trait in today's transactional world. And without wishing to get all tribal and contentious, I find it equally astonishing that tonight, on one of the best Saturday nights of the whole season , there is so little comment and celebration. One is left with the feeling that some perennial harpers are left disappointed by the best result of the season. How sad. The best thing about today is the launch pad this gives us for the final 7 game push. Players coming back to form, two clean sheets, everyone up for it. Maybe its a bridge too far but why the hell not. Everyone talks about Bournemouth and M'boro but they have no more points in the last 10 games than us. Yes, really. So , come on. Park all this MM stubbornness blah blah blah and just lets go the hell for it. Starting next Friday COYB!!!!!!!!!!

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dalinghooblue added 21:05 - Mar 21 @Guthrum, I don't know, a few days ago lots of people on here would willingly had his b***s off.
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PJH added 21:46 - Mar 21 I think you are right WashbrookBlue. Certain regular posters on here seem to have temporarily lost the use of their fingers. (Or perhaps they are not home from Watford yet or maybe they are still celebrating).
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B1TFC added 21:47 - Mar 21 PROUD TO BE IPSWICH! That is all!
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bohslegend added 22:18 - Mar 21 This is a great opportunity for the players, the manager, the club and of course the fans. With 7 games to go, I still expect even more twists before the top 6 is settled. It will probably go to the last 5 mins of the last game. But at this late stage surely our best hope is to stick together, behind the team, behind the manager, willing them on and not crucifying them for perceived or even obvious mistakes. We're the 12th man. We need to give it our best from here in. Btw makes me so proud to hear the travelling fans belting out our songs at these games. The players hugely benefit from that.

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bellazzurri79 added 22:25 - Mar 21 I'm shocked and over the moon! Have been waiting for a result like that against a top 6 side since jan.... No one gave us a chance looking at the pundits on sky... All tipping Watford and on form who could blame them ... But what a victory and have to admit I didn't see it coming !
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Talbs77 added 22:42 - Mar 21 Today was the best feeling all season and I wasn't even at the game! Whatever happens now till the end of the season, I will always have the feeling I have today and I thank the whole squad and manager for that. We are in with a shout of doing something really special and just hope we give it our best shot. Feel so proud of my club, today make's me realise why I love football.

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Sospiri added 23:24 - Mar 21 I don't think you should be too hard on 'the moaners'. Most people just want Mick to be more adventurous, because it makes us much more likely to score, and knowing that attack is the best form of defence. Mick is a cautious man by nature, and has many skills. he just needs to go for it in games, setting attacking formations. See what happens when he does? Maybe the moaners are not so wrong.

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WindsorBlue added 00:37 - Mar 22 I think Mick has summed up my thoughts about the moaners that berate this side. "Foxtrot Oscar"! I think it's the minority that just make a lot of noise with little thought. Unfortunately their noise is probably manifested on a keyboard, rather than backing the boys in the terraces on a Saturday! This is the best season in a decade, and I for one am supporting us until the end...COYBs!!

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BigHibbs added 01:17 - Mar 22 Some of you negative posters will give me negatives on this but here goes When Ipswich keep a few clean sheets and defend well early in the season "best back four in the league" "so solid at the back" Lose a few and 20 thousand of you point the finger at Tommy smith ??? Mick knows about defenders !!! Sticks with it and Tommy has been top draw for the past 2 games... Clean sheets and 2 wins ! Where have you all gone ! I'd never slag off an Ipswich player under mm because they all put in 10000 percent and leave it all on the pitch. Glad to see some of you boo boys proved wrong This week

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WindsorBlue added 01:38 - Mar 22 Nice one bighibbs! It's strange that MM knows more than the keyboard bashers, after having managed Sunderland and wolves to promotion and Ireland to the World Cup finals.
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yun added 02:08 - Mar 22 Foxtrotting fantastic!
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Sindre94 added 03:11 - Mar 22 Maddest day for a long long time. Loved it. So proud to be a Town-fan, today we were absolutely outstanding.
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Marcus added 04:30 - Mar 22 @Guthrum - sometimes it's best not to know everything that happens behind the scenes at a football club ;)
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tractorintheloft added 06:58 - Mar 22 Memory flashback to 91/92 season when with a similar amount of games to go we scored a last gasp winner at Watford in front of a large away support..................for those too young to remember we went to win the old second division that season. I'm taking it as a good omen. Similar hang-over as well. COYB.
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battyblue added 07:37 - Mar 22 All you lot saying where is the anti Mick brigade well i and most of the other so called are posting on here tonight delighted with the performance and different tactics buy MM we all celebrate a performance like today which i watched on tv in the country where i live but i wont get to carried away at the moment just enjoy today and look forward to the next one.
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WorcesterBlue added 08:19 - Mar 22 Sad that on a day we get another great result the trolls are out baiting anyone who has expressed reservations about mick's management of late. Takes the edge off it. This is a site for opinions about Ipswich and I am not swayed in my opinion by you or by one result. Mick has done wonders for this club but he also has flaws (notably the style of football he prefers, a generally negative approach and his belligerent attitude to anyone who challenges 'his way'). Doesn't mean I want him out and I have never said that as realistically we are skint and he therefore represents our best chance of promotion. It's just unlikely when his default is to not lose rather than try to win. And I think many if the knockers feel the same way. But this is a great result from the team and MM and hopefully we can take some momentum from this and keep going for it to the end of the season. Who knows?

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warktheline added 09:22 - Mar 22 I put my hands up and admit I've been probably the worst culprit for causing division amongst fans on forum. I've backed McCarthy from day one, and upto recently believe has hadn't got much wrong, considering whole picture, but that said, this excellent win doesn't for many, including myself, paper over, weaknessness with back 4, caused by individuals playing in positions that hinder their performances. Chambers had a cracking game YESTERDAY, but prior to this game, has been exposed for lack of pace at RB, and let's not forget, even against Watford sailed close to wind with discipline, on another day, who knows! Smith played well YESTERDAY, again playing on the unfavourable right side of CB, and along side him, Berra was superb in all areas. We all know CB play in tandem, Berras presence would have helped Smith mentally. Mings grew into game, and played extremely well. For me, Varneys inclusive into whatever formation you may like to suggest, relieved pressure on back 4 unit. He worked tirelessly up and down pitch, aiding defence and forwards alike. Let's remember many of these 'moaners' have been calling for a different approach to games, and YESTERDAY they saw it! YESTERDAY I enjoyed our pressurising of opposition and thus making it extremely hard for them to impose their game upon us, others I would imagine enjoyed our positivity. This COMBINATION should unite us, not divide us.

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warktheline added 09:26 - Mar 22 .....one more thing, regardless of team selection, confidence is key, and IF we can 'do' B'mouth next, the boys will be flying!!!!!
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