Former Blues striker Daryl Murphy says his lack of goal celebration after scoring Newcastle’s equaliser during his current side’s 3-1 defeat to Town yesterday was about showing respect to his old club.

The 34-year-old merely shook hands with his team-mates having turned in Christian Atsu’s left-wing cross to level Freddie Sears’s opener in the 62nd minute.

Blues supporters, who had earlier given their former striker a warm ovation, subsequently applauded as Murphy made his way back to the Newcastle half. Later goals from David McGoldrick and Emyr Huws won the game for Town.

Murphy, who joined the Magpies for a fee of £3 million in August, was making his eighth start for the North-East club, in addition to eight appearances from the bench, with the goal his sixth for Newcastle, who are second and remain the favourites to join now-promoted Brighton in the Premier League next season.

“I knew before the game I was not going to celebrate,” the Irish international said. “I had some good times here at Ipswich and it was about showing respect. The goal meant nothing in the end because we lost.

“We wanted to take the momentum we got from the Leeds game into Ipswich, that didn’t happen, which is disappointing. We will now look at the video and make sure we put it right for the next match.

“It is going to be a bit about the mental side but we need to be better than we were on Monday. We know we are better than that, whether it is a mental thing or not I don’t know.

“We can’t affect what other teams do. It is in own hands and it is about what we do — it is as simple as that.

“I always said if I had to play against Ipswich I knew how difficult it would be. They are a physical side, they work hard and they have good players and they make it hard for you. We were nowhere near where we can be, and know we can do, but no excuses.”

He added: “We need to get our heads right, work hard and put things right. We know we are better than that. We have some very good players in that dressing room who can do an awful lot better.

"We need to win games, getting three points, wherever that may come from is vital."

Photo: TWTD

senduntd added 11:59 - Apr 18 Thankyou Daryl. We still miss you.
24

trncbluearmy added 12:00 - Apr 18 Mouthy Mick could learn a lot from Daryl Murphy
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itfchorry added 12:02 - Apr 18 Has class and respect - Sadly unlike our Manager.
2

hoppy added 12:03 - Apr 18 Six goals in 8 starts and 8 sub appearances is a pretty decent return really. We've missed him for more than just his goals this season though. Was a very respectful acknowledgement after scoring yesterday. Hope he gets a go in the Premier League for them if/when they go up.
31

Michael11 added 12:05 - Apr 18 Nice gesture by not celebrating but I wouldn't have liked him any less if he had. Great servant to the club and badly missed.
27

eMeM added 12:15 - Apr 18 I don't understand how celebrating a goal can be offensive for anyone.
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essextractorboy93 added 12:33 - Apr 18 Huge respect for Murphy. He has done well at Newcastle this season, seems to have got better and better with age. Hope he has a chance in the Premier League next season.
17

Ferguson added 12:51 - Apr 18 I certainly have more respect for Murphy's attitude to the club's supporters than I do for McCarthy's attitude to the supporters after his latest outburst.
8

woohoo added 13:21 - Apr 18 Clearly he had thought, before the game, about how to react if (when!) he scored against us - and I, for one, thank him for how he did. Showed us a bit of class. Good man.
13

BlueInBerks added 13:32 - Apr 18 Surplus to requirements next season, look forward to Murph being loaned back to us
6

greenkingtone added 14:07 - Apr 18 Murphy is a grand lad. I hope he does well in the Prem.
11

thundercat600 added 14:18 - Apr 18 When is this "tit for tat" hurling of abuse between MM and some supporters going to end, it achieves absolutely nothing but does breed contempt. MM is in the driving seat as he is the manager of Ipswich Town like it or not, and winding him up is pointless.
3

truckertractorboy added 14:37 - Apr 18 Maybe buy him back next year . No offense to DM but think he wont play in the premiership if they go up
0

Taricco_Fan added 14:47 - Apr 18 Class act. I hope he gets a bit of game time in the Premier League.
4

woohoo added 16:03 - Apr 18 I'm pretty sure that Murphy will play in the Prem next season. He may not be a first choice for Newcastle by then but he's just the sort of player to come on an make an impact.
4

therein61 added 16:35 - Apr 18 Total respect Murph!! now there is a proper bloke Mick!!!!!!!!!!!
6

FromIpswichToPhoenix added 17:30 - Apr 18 Funny how Murphy treats our fans better than our manager. But hey, what do we know, we're just a bunch of f***ers.
5

itfcgene added 17:44 - Apr 18 £3m seems like nothing considering what he's done although I was happy when he was sold. We could have bought a lot of replacement for that.
1

fergalsharkey added 18:13 - Apr 18 You could never replace a player of murphys class for 3 million. He is a 7-8 million £ player based on his goals and work rate etc.
2

itsonlyme added 18:20 - Apr 18 Good on you Murph! Respect!
3

blackcat added 20:19 - Apr 18 Murphy did it exactly right, good man and sadly missed,I think he will be back one day in some way, MM is definitely gone in my opinion, nobody with an eye to the future would keep on provoking the fans like he is. Can't come soon enough, now we are safe he should just get the heck out
4

Fatboy added 23:13 - Apr 18 I've always been a big fan of Murphy's but I prefer to see players celebrate when they score.
0

Sam added 06:55 - Apr 19 We badly miss you Daryl. Well done for scoring!!!!
1

runningout added 14:07 - Apr 19 agree Fatboy.. We all know one a few decent results don't make a season. Think last game has been over applauded
0

blueboy1981 added 20:49 - Apr 19 Top man Murph'. Has done a great job for Newcastle this season - as much as he did for us - could have done more for us too had he been played more in his best, and rightful position. Not forgetting some decent service, of course.
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