x

McCarthy: Red Card Cost Us - Ipswich Town News

Town boss Mick McCarthy had no complaints about Jordan Spence’s red card which he felt changed the game as Fulham came from behind to beat the Blues 4-1 at Craven Cottage.

Responding to a reporter saying the Cottagers are capable of doing that to any team on their day, McCarthy said: "They can against 10 men, that’s for sure. It didn’t look like happening while we had 11 men on the pitch.

"They started well, they had a good first half. But I thought when we settled into the game we frustrated them, got our goal from a freekick and, well, I’ll never know what would have happened because we got reduced to 10 men.”

Regarding Spence’s dismissal, Town’s first of the season, he added: "It’s a sending off. What’s Jordan said? Sorry. A moment of madness has cost us. That result’s not going to happen with 10 outfield players on the pitch, that’s for sure.

"My beef is with the decision before because I thought [Aboubakar Kamara] fouled Freddie [Sears], I thought he barged Freddie.

"Apparently it was a f***ing shoulder charge, shoulder to shoulder. Not while I’ve got a hole in my backside was it a shoulder charge, it was from behind.

"And the other thing wouldn’t have happened either. It was all borne out of frustration. I don’t think that was the case, I think it was a foul.

"I think [Jordan’s] gone to go and put a sturdy tackle on him and he’s got there late and he’s followed through with it, which was stupid. I’ve no argument with the sending off at all.”

McCarthy had no complaints about his 10-men, despite them conceding four goals in a seven-minute spell.

"I’ve no qualms about the lads out there, they were sticking at it,” he said. "Fulham had opened us up with 11 men in the first half a few times.

"The first goal we got done by the one-two on the halfway line and we didn’t stay with the runner.

"But then I’ve got players playing out of position and doing a really sterling job for me. We just got done and they finished it off.”

In addition to the defeat, McCarthy says the Blues lost another player to an injury: "Wardy’s got a sore groin. I’ve got a three-match suspension for my full-back and that’s not going to help either.

"Callum Connolly was getting to the stage where he could have got injured and I wanted to put Luke Hyam on for 10 minutes to get him on the field.

"If there’s a positive from the game, Luke Hyam’s back playing in the first team, which was lovely. So, we’ll be down to a 14-man squad on Saturday.”

The Town boss admits he’s pleased that the Blues have an FA Cup tie at home to Sheffield United at the weekend when he is likely to include a number of fringe players: "Yes, I’m glad it’s not a league game on Saturday.”

However, he is hopeful that, among others, Adam Webster, who missed tonight’s game with the achilles problem he suffered on Saturday, could be back for the Leeds match the following week.

"I hope so,” he said. "Adam Webster, the best case scenario, the anti-inflammatories work and he’ll be back for Leeds. Worst case scenario he could not be back for Leeds, he could be longer. We need a few bodies back.”

McCarthy says he’s not close to making any additions to his squad - "No, I’m not” - and kept tight-lipped regarding developments on Kieffer Moore’s situation: "There’s always going to be talk about him. I can’t tell you anything.”

However, he confirmed that if the striker who has been recalled from his loan spell with Rotherham plays for Town he can’t play for anyone else other than the Millers this season due to FIFA’s three-club rule.

"That’s correct, or stay with us,” he added. "He can’t play in the cup anyway. That gives us a bit of thinking room, I guess.”

Regarding new signing Aaron Drinan, he says he’s not sure whether the Irishman’s international clearance has come through but hopes he is available for the Sheffield United match.

"I don’t know as yet, we should have it for the game on Saturday. I hope so anyway.”

What to read next:

Town Win LMA Performance of the Week Award
Town won the League Managers Association’s Everest Men’s Performance of the Week Award for the 5-0 thrashing of Sheffield United last Friday.
[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
Ismael: A Good Challenge to Test Ourselves Against One of the Championship's Top Sides
Blackburn Rovers boss Valerien Ismael says his team’s next step is to record their first home win of the season when the Blues, who he views as one of the top sides in the Championship, visit Ewood Park on Saturday.
Furlong: The Club's Ambition Was the Main Pull
Town defender Darnell Furlong has outlined his reasons for making the summer switch to the Blues from fellow Championship side West Bromwich Albion.
U21s and U18s Both Face League Leaders
Town’s U21s and U18s are both in Saturday action this weekend, at Chelsea and at Arsenal respectively.
Furlong: Just Having Good Players Isn't Enough
Town full-back Darnell Furlong believes the Blues will need more than just a strong squad of players in order to achieve promotion back to the Premier League this season.
[Podcast] Life's a Pitch TV - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Life's a Pitch TV team is now available.
[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
McKenna: A Different Blackburn Team to the One We Faced Two Years Ago
Town travel to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday aiming to record back-to-back wins for the first time since the end of their 2023/24 Championship promotion season.
McKenna: Matusiwa Making Really Positive Steps
Blues boss Kieran McKenna says summer signing Azor Matusiwa has made positive steps in his first five games in the Championship with Town now very strong in their midfield department.