Mick McCarthy says hard work has been the key to the Blues’ revival since he became Town boss on November 1st. McCarthy took over at Portman Road with the Blues rock bottom of the table on just seven points, five from safety.

While by no means out of the woods, Saturday’s scrappy 1-0 victory over Blackpool took Town up to 18th on 38 points, four from the danger zone, although with Barnsley, Sheffield Wednesday, Huddersfield and Peterborough below them having a game in hand on them, two in Posh’s case.

Since the change of boss the Blues have picked up 31 points, which is bettered only by Tuesday’s opponents Watford (40), leaders Cardiff (39) and second-placed Hull City (37), an average of 1.63 points per game. Replicated over a season that would equate to a fraction under 75 points, a figure usually good enough for a top six finish.

Perhaps most notably, Town’s goal difference in the first 13 games of the season before the new manager’s appointment was -16 compared with -2 in the 19 since.

McCarthy says the turnaround has been down to the effort and endeavour of the players: “I think they’re a great bunch of lads, they’ve really bought into everything that I’ve brought in, the organisation.

“They work hard. Every single week we get the [Prozone] stats back and nobody outworks them, they’re terrific in terms of the effort of the whole team, the distances covered.

“You can say you might run less of a distance and play better football. I know that. But if you do that every week you’ve got a chance and they’re exceptional like that.”

McCarthy felt Frank Nouble’s performance from the bench was typical of the attitude showed by his players against Blackpool: “It was epitomised by Big Frank coming on.

“He hasn’t been in the team but he worked his socks off and stopped them from the front and then he blocked it on the line when somebody [Alex Baptiste] got free. We need everybody scrapping, and they were certainly doing that.”

Photo: Action Images

bluefeast added 08:27 - Feb 18 I would be happy with a point vs watford. We have to stop their free flowing attacking play. The create more chances than any other in this league. COYB
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murraybrunning added 08:55 - Feb 18 I think Nouble could turn out to be a really good signing. Mick seems to be able to get effort and application from the lads which unfortunately PJ couldn't. Think we'll stay up and have no doubt MM and TC given support can build a squad capable of challenging next year.
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Dissblue added 09:13 - Feb 18 I'd settle for 0-0. Another clean sheet would be brilliant.
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SouperJim added 09:20 - Feb 18 We have to continue to play to our strengths, which believe it or not is our defense. It's not pretty and it's not very entertaining to watch, but it is our best chance of picking up the points we need to stay in the division. Merlin knows this and that's why we set up the way we did again Blackpool; to keep a clean sheet first and then hope we might nick one.
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RetroBlue added 09:29 - Feb 18 Need to stop Watford's free flowing style, I agree.: Step forward N'Daw & Hyam!
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Kesgraveblue57 added 10:13 - Feb 18 Watford is a very good test to see how far the club gone has forward with Mick McCarthy. I don't of coarse want a defeat but to lose by two would certainly not be a disaster.
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irishtim added 10:40 - Feb 18 Hopefully we can get another 3 points tomorrow night. Would be a great confidence booster. Any update on Anthony's injury?
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wkj added 10:45 - Feb 18 I would love a point vs Watford; but all credit to them; they have got to be one of the mos in form teams right now- it will be a fantastic duel! if we stay up; the number crunching makes for an exciting season for the RIGHT reasons next year. fingers and toes crossed
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Gonefishing added 11:13 - Feb 18 Hard work is certainly saving our season and very possibly our club. However I am so glad I don't have to waste money paying to watch what is supposedly meant to entertain. Carry on Mick and then give me a reason to pay and watch.
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Cattee11 added 11:14 - Feb 18 Does anyone have a spare ticket for tomorrows game? Will pay
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bobble added 11:45 - Feb 18 should beat watford handy 3-1 to town...
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BrettenhamBlue added 11:49 - Feb 18 Mick MCarthy's win rate since taking over has been excellent. Think its something like 46/47% win rate (compare that with Paul Jewell-34.1, Roy Keane-34.6) . It has been a long while since we have had a manager anywhere near these stats (George Burley- 45.5). Should be a good game against Watford (who are on a terrific run) Really impressed with Nouble. Work rate has been superb. Could prove a very astute signing

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whosroundisitanyway added 11:53 - Feb 18 Cattee11 The ticket office should have about 12, 000 spare tickets!?
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Mark added 12:20 - Feb 18 Hard work has been the key, but also organisation, the introduction of proper right-backs and a return to playing two-up-front. McCarthy and Connor deserve high praise indeed for what they have done at Ipswich, taking a side adrift at the bottom and getting them the 4th best results in the league thereafter. It's not as though Evans got the cheque book out for them to buy their way out of trouble. Existing players such as Chambers, Smith, N'Daw and Hyam have really come good.

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runningout added 12:26 - Feb 18 ropey state of affairs if people are going to be satisfied with a point at home.. Can understand as Watford must be favourites to get promotion, but we are more than able to nick 3 points of any team in this league, and the league above ; )
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marco007 added 12:34 - Feb 18 I for one hate the route Watford have taken and totally agree with Ian Holloway. In a nutshell, by being owned by a foreign club, they have totally abused the loan system and the team that visits Portman Road on Tuesday is made up almost entirely by parent club loanees! I know that we have had far too many loan players but at least we have limited it within the rules....Watford have navigated a loophole by including overseas loans. The spirit of the game stinks and for the sake of football I hope they go home with zero points!

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austractor added 12:34 - Feb 18 the points haul is fantastic, but seeing how precariously close we are to the drop zone with the other teams in such good form of late, I cant help but being very worried. Heres for 3 points against Watford, sounds like we are polar opposites in terms of playstyle and league position, hopefully now we will become their bogey team instead of the other way around :)
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fussysnake added 12:37 - Feb 18 Please please please 3 points tomorrow for bragging rights over my mate!! A draw would be a good result though to be fair
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Surco72 added 13:11 - Feb 18 Massive part of tightening up defence has been having a right back , shows how good Chambers and Smith are at doing their job when not constantly having to cover a right back always out of position . Also we cannot underestimate the importance of DJ Campbell coming in and scoring us important goals ,if he had been playing at the start of the season a number of games we bossed would have been points Boro,Wolves,Charlton to name but a few .

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Seasider added 13:43 - Feb 18 I am one who puts great store by statistics and these show what a great turnaround has been made under the new management team. Would much rather be watching a team who plays the Watford way; but feel they have cheated,and this loophole should be closed if possible. Would be wrong to be completely negative 2moro,as there was a very fine line on Saturday between winning and losing ie the shot that hit the post,and Frank Noubles goal line clearance! This is the strongest team we have faced at home this year and I am mindful of what happened on New Years Day against Brighton,when we were outplayed by a superior team and lost 3.0

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Keaneish added 13:43 - Feb 18 I echo the sentiments of being happy with a point. That said, if that is the result, given the other fixtures (Barnsley vs Wolves and Birmingham vs Huddersfield) we could find ourselves sucked back down again temporarily (cue the moaners!). As long as we're picking up points, all good! Their attack vs our defence, Chopra and McGoldrick on the break...could we win it?
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Keaneish added 13:45 - Feb 18 ...Birmingham vs Sheff Wed rather!
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StochesStotasBlewe added 13:54 - Feb 18 Keanish. Quite agree. Also, this time last year, we walloped an in form West Ham 5-1, Watford could have an off night, we could play a stormer, you never know. Looking foward to the match. 3 points please.
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JWM added 14:21 - Feb 18 Watford do have dangerous attacking players but I don't think they will be used to coming up against 2 DM's and a pretty solid back 4! We should be more than capable of smothering their Midfield and then nick something on the counter. A point tomorrow will be a good point gained but the game to win is up at Huddersfield.
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R_LAMB3 added 01:11 - Feb 19 Looking at the table Watford score a lot of goals but they have also let a lot in. Ithink Mick will try and keep it tight and hit them on the break. I dont think we will lose the game because they will find us hard to break down and i think a draw or Town win. On to saturdays game we will beat Huddersfield. Cant wait to watch the Watford game though
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