x

McCarthy: We Should Have Six Points! - Ipswich Town News

Town boss Mick McCarthy was delighted that his team came from behind to beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 at Portman Road but felt the Blues ought to be on maximum points after their first two Championship games.

"It should be six!” the Blues boss said when asked whether he thought four points was a good haul from Town’s first two matches, reflecting on Brentford’s two late goals in last week’s 2-2 draw at Griffin Park.

"I think it was a good performance today, and they’re a good team. We’ve had to beat a good team today, we’ve had to come from behind to beat a good team.

"And that shows all the attributes you need to be a success in this league. Not going one behind, that’s not an attribute I want, but if you do to be able to come back and win it.”

He added: "I think it said a lot about my players. It’s not easy, they were a good side. It was a good that we got one back so quickly.

"I thought we started well, I thought we’d had a couple of half-decent chances just before they scored. The keeper caught one, we didn’t get across him and it ended up in our net.

"It’s a nice attribute to have that, to be able to come from behind. It’s not what I want to do every week, I’d prefer to be in front but we were in front last week and we drew, so maybe not. Somebody work that one out for me and tell me the method!”

McCarthy had particular praise for striker Freddie Sears, who scored Town’s first goal: "I thought he was outstanding. What was lovely about him was that he played wide on the right and got into shape, two banks of four, there was never any question, he just went and did it. He is a constant threat, I thought he was fantastic.

"I thought there were a few things that summed it up today. Brett Pitman went and played wide left and didn’t let Jack Hunt get across him, I thought he was terrific.

"Didzy worked the back four, trying to stop them trying to play it forward. It was great and poor old Ryan took one for the team, but hey ho.”

McCarthy admitted that his heart was beating slightly quicker in the closing stages: "It was going a little bit faster than it should be, I would imagine, it’s bound to be.

"You certainly don’t want [what happened at Brentford] to happen again but I thought the players were excellent and didn’t allow it. They got their heads on things, Bart got in punches. It was bound to be a bit nervy, so I thought they held out well.”

The Town boss says loan wingers Ryan Fraser and Ainsley Maitland-Niles have given his team another dimension: "Haven’t they just? It’s just a shame they’re not ours. But they are for a year. And let’s hope we can made the most of them. At the minute we are are.

"I think they’re both outstanding talents and it’s lovely that we’ve got them, so thanks to both clubs for letting us have them.

"If you’ve got that threat it really is difficult to deal with, as we’ve seen when we’ve had to deal with it.

"I thought last week they had two good wide players, I thought they had this week as well and it makes it difficult if you’ve got that threat in behind. But they’re both very good technically as well. They’re good players.”

Regarding his winning goalscorer, Tommy Smith, he added: "He’s prepared to go in where everything’s flying, where the boots are flying, where the elbows are flying and put his head there. He’s a brave fella, Tom.

"He’s as good a header of the ball as I’ve seen, his technique is excellent, just straight forward heading.

"But that was one of those scruffy ones where he sees his chance. Somebody did it to us last week, well he’s done it to them this week.”

McCarthy admitted showing his frustrations when recently signed left-back Jonas Knudsen was somewhat harshly penalised for a foul throw in the second half.

"The only decision I was really confused by was when the guy ran in front of him and blocked him and stopped him taking the throw and he said it was a foul throw.

"I thought it was a foul to us. If you can be slightly incandescent with rage, that’s what I was!”

Regarding the Danish international’s performance overall, he added: "Jonas is great, I’m delighted with him, he’s a really good signing.”

Sheffield Wednesday manager Carlos Carvalhal said: "First of all congratulations to Ipswich for winning the match. We knew before this game that it is one of the hardest matches in the Championship to play away.

"It is probably one of the hardest stadiums to play at and the way Ipswich play is very positive-aggressive, but I think I’m unhappy with the score but I’m proud of the players and what they did.”

Meanwhile, speaking on this lunchtime's Life's a Pitch, Town MD Ian Milne revealed that the Blues are in talks regarding the addition of two players.

What to read next:

U19s Beaten in Second Game at Czech Tournament
Town’s U19s were beaten 3-2 by Slovan Bratislava in their second and final group game at the Zlaty Kahan tournament in Czechia yesterday.
Town Continue Pre-Season at Aberdeen
Town face Scottish Premiership Aberdeen at Pittodrie in their second public friendly of the summer this evening (KO 7.30pm).
Town Women to Start WSL2 Season at Southampton
Ipswich Town Women will open their first ever second-tier season with a WSL2 away game at Southampton on Saturday 6th September (KO 2pm) with Nottingham Forest the first visitors to the JobServe Community Stadium, the Blues’ new home, the following weekend.
Morsy: The Best Spell of My Career and Life
Departing Town captain Sam Morsy has issued a message to fans, teammates, manager Kieran McKenna and his staff following confirmation of his move to Kuwait SC, while the squad and ex-players have paid their own tributes to the Egyptian international.
Town Confirm Morsy Exit For Kuwait SC
Town skipper Sam Morsy’s move to Kuwait SC has been confirmed.
Town Announce Matchday Ticket Prices
Town have confirmed their matchday ticket prices for the Championship season ahead.
Luongo Close to Joining Millwall
Former Blues midfielder Massimo Luongo is closing in on joining Millwall following his trial with the Lions.
Eze Nets Twice as U19s Draw Opener at Czech Tournament
Striker Nelson Eze scored twice as an U19 Town side drew 2-2 with hosts Banik Ostrava in their opening match at the Zlaty Kahan tournament in Czechia yesterday.
Young: Working With McKenna Again Was a Massive Pull
New Blues signing Ashley Young says manager Kieran McKenna played a big part in his decision to join Town having left Everton at the end of last season.
Town Confirm Young Signing
Town have confirmed the signing of veteran former England international Ashley Young on a one-year deal.