Town boss Mick McCarthy tipped Newcastle for the Championship title after the table-topping Magpies had beaten the Blues 3-0 at St James’ Park.

“We were beaten by the better team, beaten by the champions if anything,” McCarthy said. “If I see a better team than that this year I’ll be surprised.

“I’ve just spoken to the players and that was one of those days. Having given the goal away, there wasn’t a lot really we could do about it. We were trying everything to stop them and get a foothold in the game.

“To be fair, the one pleasing thing was that we kept it at 1-0 for 70 minutes. We gave the ball away from a throw-in that we had for their second goal but nevertheless the finish was fabulous.

“All three finishes were fabulous and I wonder if we’d have had those chances or anybody else, would they have scored them, I don’t know. They were better than us, they are better than us, they’ll be champions in my view.”

McCarthy was reminded that he warned against allowing Newcastle, who scored their first goal in the opening minute, make a strong start at his pre-match press conference.

“I was the prophet of doom, wasn’t I?” he reflected. “I said I didn’t want to let them have the ball, we tried to press, we didn’t really do it particularly well, we didn’t get in a tackle.

“Maybe if somebody could have put in a tackle and put somebody on their arse and upset the crowd and got them going, but we didn’t, we didn’t get anywhere near them.

“I don’t know how many passes they had before it ended up in our net. It was difficult to stop.”

McCarthy made changes of system and personnel as the game progressed but to no avail.

“Yes, none of it worked,” the Town boss added ruefully. “And the players, they’re all knackered, they’ve all tried their nuts off, they’ve worked really, really hard and done it like they do every week for me, put a shift in.

“I can’t really say any more, they are a very good team, they played very well, they deserved to win and we got what we deserved, which was nothing.”

Was it any consolation that for a spell in second half Town made it difficult for Newcastle?

“I think we got in their half a couple of times,” McCarthy joked. “It’s not a consolation. I know my lads have worked really hard and having kept it to 1-0 in the first half, the second half at 70 minutes the crowd’s just getting a little bit fractious, they’ve passed a few balls out.

“Everybody knows that if you can keep it at that, you might get a corner and nick one, a freekick, you catch them on the break, there’s a mistake.

“Unfortunately that’s the disappointing thing, that we didn’t keep it at that and take it a bit longer, and that we had the ball [ahead of the goal], we gave it away it was our throw-in.”

Did Town miss Cole Skuse, a regular in central midfield throughout his time at Portman Road, who missed out with a toe injury.

“Whether that would have had such a bearing on it playing against them, I don’t know,” the Blues boss continued.

“He’s been an ever-present Skusey, so you know what I think of him and how important he is to the team.

“It’s never nice to leave a player of his importance to a team, but I’m just hoping he’ll be fit for Saturday.”

Regarding Leon Best’s half-time withdrawal, McCarthy said that it was tactical rather than down to an injury: “He dislocated his finger, he had it put back in. But no, I wanted Didzy on the pitch and I wasn’t going to have the two of them on the pitch.

“I didn’t think I was going lose anything, I was only going to gain something by getting Didzy 45 minutes. I thought he did all right and he’ll be a lot better for playing 45 minutes in the first team.”

Jonas Knudsen was also replaced at the break and that was down to an injury, McCarthy confirmed: “Jonas couldn’t stand up straight, he ricked his back, so he was in real pain because he is a tough lad, he couldn’t carry on.”

McCarthy was pleased with Josh Emmanuel, who took over in the unfamiliar left-back role: “Josh did fine, he was all right. He’s never going to be spraying the ball about from that position, he doesn’t particularly do that from the right-back slot, so difficult on his left. But he defended well, I thought he did really well. Josh is fine.”

Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez was delighted to see his side claim their fifth successive win.

“I would say it was another good win because it’s not easy to win in this competition,” he said.

“I thought we played really well in the first half, we had a lot of chances, we could have scored more goals but we didn’t do it, so we had to work hard in the second half when they were pushing and pressing high and it was not easy to pass the ball in the way we wanted to until we scored the second goal.

“After the second goal we had even more control and it easy at the end because you can see the result, but it was difficult during the game, especially the second half.”

Photo: Action Images

dukey44 added 20:10 - Oct 22 Sorry but come on enough bull from manager every week now. It's rather boring now. Mick face it you just not good enough. What difference will it make to Evans if we win lose or draw? It's falling on deaf ears now. I luv Ipswich and have for over 40 years now!! Mick please do the right thing for once.... leave please!!!
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sgtlargent added 20:11 - Oct 22 Unfortunately will never turn my back on this garabge but what is being served up of late is atrocious, aimless balls into the channel in the hope something comes off? It borders on the pathetic and how on earth it can be coached upon in the week is beyond me. As many have pointed out would much prefer to be battered having attempted to play than lose in this manner and this manner is becoming far to frequent. We're not just setting up away from home to be difficult to beat as expected it's now become an absolute miracle if we even attack. and as for claiming they're the champions, how does that sit for the reverse fixture and boosting the morale in the dressing room that day? Season will more than likely be gone by then anyhow.

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Gilesy added 20:24 - Oct 22 "There's no way I was going to have both of them on the pitch"....ok.
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Taricco_Fan added 20:39 - Oct 22 @sgtlargent Unless Peter Kay from the John Smith's commercial is our defensive coach.
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Lightningboy added 20:47 - Oct 22 Spot on Bobby Petta with your comments^^^
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delias_cheesy_flaps added 20:55 - Oct 22 MM comments are disrespectful & smacks of desperation.
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Pilgrimblue added 20:58 - Oct 22 Bobby P hits it on the head but don't think MM cares. His whole attitude is crap so when he sets up not to lose, there's only one way to go and its not up! If we swapped managers with Newcastle MM still woudn't have a clue but at least we'd have one that could put the right players in their best positions/ MM should be embarrassed and retire
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Michael11 added 21:12 - Oct 22 @tractorboyjim I totally agree with your comment. When going to a place like Newcastle away, why not just go for it? We took 3,000 fans who were given nothing to shout about except chant the name of a man who would've played for a win! (Sir Bobby). I'd rather lose 5-2 and at least have a go. Completely dull and uninspiring from MM as always!
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bobble added 21:22 - Oct 22 Why cant we be champions?
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bobble added 21:29 - Oct 22 Fatcatevans..you were in the presense of gods how did it feel?
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bobble added 21:31 - Oct 22 Newcastle had lost 50% of their home games before we went their why didnt we have a go?
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hancockingoal added 21:38 - Oct 22 I wasn't at the game and I didn't listen to it on the radio so I only have the reports on here to go on? In the above article Big Mick says he took Best off at half time to be replaced my McGoldrick as he didn't want them both on the pitch at the same time. Have I miss read it? Were we 1 0 down at halftime? Surely we would have a better chance of getting something out of the game with them both on? Maybe big Mick considers losing 1 0 was a good result? Never mind the 3000 fans who paid good money to at least see us try and get something!

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Fatcatevans added 21:46 - Oct 22 Bobble, they were great guys , some of whom we used to drink with in The Blooming Fuchsia many decades ago. To counter Micks 'money is everything' theory we could add that Mills Wark Beattie Talbot Burley Dyer all internationals cost zilch plus throw in several others like Woods and Lambert and there's proof that you can compete with the right attitude and tactics. Give Bishop and Dozzell their chance. sKuse and Douglas etc have failed consistently. wHats to lose?

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luggs56 added 21:49 - Oct 22 I know people are not going to like this but he is probably right . I think Newcastle will be champions at the end of the season . Look at the vast amounts of money at there disposal ? Premiership players on there books . I think we have to honest with ourselves unless Marcus Evans injects vast amounts of money into our club I don't think anything will change . I think by tone of his voice it hurts , I think he is frustrated like the rest of us . I think we have a very average squad . It is only in the early stages of the season but to be honest I cant see anything changing to be honest . Money rules football and we have got to accept that . I wish he had been around when earlier managers had been here when some money was spent things might have been different . To be honest what does a million spent mean in present player fees ? Not a lot I think .

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MickMillsTash added 22:08 - Oct 22 Newcastle were better than us in every department except perhaps goalkeeper. I thought McCarthy did well to change our shape in the first half, stop them playing out from the back, it was not his fault that we conceded in the first minute. I thought we were always stretched but had some optimism that we might get a goal in the first half. But we were not good enough and given the resources I think this would be as expected The club is struggling, McCarthy's loyalty to Chambers frustrating, the squads self belief dwindling, but I think I will save criticism for games against clubs without the massive resource of Newcastle.

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Woodbridgian added 22:31 - Oct 22 Beaten by negative team selection and absolutely no plan B would be a better headline
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Woodbridgian added 22:31 - Oct 22 Beaten by negative team selection and absolutely no plan B would be a better headline
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SingBlue added 22:47 - Oct 22 These comments do set the level for our club now - which is lower championship, at best. Previously, say under Burley, when we played a bottom half Premier league team (which realistically Newcastle are) everybody, the manager, the players and the fans were excited about matching ourselves up against them to see how we would do if we were promoted - Our current manager is clearly keen to keep the score down and judging by his comment re McGoldrick sub happy with a 1-0 defeat. Unfortunately the manager does set the tone of a club and he obviously thinks his current squad is average - We like to think footballers are hard of thinking....they are not, deep down they know what MM thinks of them.

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Bert added 22:53 - Oct 22 The problem that MM has is that he doesn't know when to zip it. Too many words for others to pick over. Mind you the same can be said for many who rush to post every week with the same tired fossilised comment s which lack any objectivity. MM may be a touch arrogant at times and defensive in nature but with what he has at his disposal I doubt that anyone else would do much better.

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TimmyH added 23:16 - Oct 22 Benitez: 'Comfortable expected win against mid-table team'... Haven't bothered reading what Mick said in the post match interview, I very rarely agree with him (certainly this season). I remember Mick saying last season when we played Derby at home they were the best team in the league, really!?!
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norfolkbluey added 23:23 - Oct 22 norfolk bluey I think every comment made today is spot on. MM to go asap. Boring football. New players needed especially up front. New midfield needed. Where have the characters gone? We are going nowhere and there is no silver lining to be seen.
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SheptonMalletBlue added 23:33 - Oct 22 McCarthy is a Bull*hitting *anker!!! Please leave Ipswich Town!!
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bluesince76 added 23:57 - Oct 22 Beating burton only delayed the inevitable.
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tractorshark added 00:29 - Oct 23 Just got back. We were outplayed, outskilled and at times outmuscled by the best team in the division. In fact, Newcastle were the best team I've seen in the Championship for a decade, better than Bournemouth two seasons ago. Their movement and pace was excellent and the passing incisive. And I'm pretty sure they weren't at their best, particularly at the start of the second half. But that's what a shedload of Money will get you. Gayle, Shelvey, Gouffran, Ritchie and Colback all Premier League quality. People can moan about Mick but that game highlights the difference between the haves and have bits in the Championshi I'm not sure Guardiola or Mourinho would have changed that result. Newcastle's players were just significantly better. In fairness to McCarthy, his tactical switch midway through the first half probably spared us an absolute caning. Only positives for me were the subs. Emmanuel very good, thank god McGoldrick and Williams are fit.

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tractorshark added 00:31 - Oct 23 Sorry should say haves and have nots
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