Mick McCarthy hailed his side’s 1-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers as a huge result in the context of the Blues’ relegation battle. Carlos Edwards struck his first goal for two years to see Town to the three points.

McCarthy said: “It’s a huge result, a great three points. They don’t come much more in-form than they do. What was it, eight unbeaten, six wins, two draws?

“To be fair, we’ve done all right against the form teams, it’s when Bristol City, Barnsley and Peterborough come and they’re in the bottom three.

“Whatever that is, I don’t know. If someone can tell me what the recipe for that is, I’ll pack it in, write the book and make zillions.

“But we’ve progressed, I think we’ve got better, we’re certainly hard to beat. I thought we had a really good first half, I thought they had a spell in the second half when they got on top and I had to change the shape to stem the tide a bit, but I think we deserved to win overall over the 90-odd minutes.”

He added: “I think they’re a very good team, Bolton. I thought we had good chances in the first half, but without all that hard work and endeavour and sticking with it, they could have got away from us. We had a spell when we really had to stay with it and they saw it out.”

The Blues boss was aware of the results elsewhere but wasn’t surprised that plenty of the other teams at the bottom had also picked up points: “I’ve seen them, but that always happens.

“I remember when we were vying for promotion with Wolves and Sunderland, you come off after a great result and you look at it and [the other clubs] have all won and you’re still in the same place.

“The next time we all lose. As long as games keep going away and we’re four or five points away from that relegation zone, that’s all we can do. But it’s a fabulous result.”

McCarthy was delighted to see his captain get on the scoresheet and net only Town's fifth league goal from midfield this season: “It’s about time, we’ve been banging his head all week about midfield players contributing. They haven’t so far, so it’s an opportune moment for him.

“I decided to leave him out last week because I needed a bit more of a narrow midfield. Whether he benefits [from that] or not, I don’t know. It benefited us last week as we played well.”

The Town players celebrated long and hard after the game and McCarthy said he was just the same: “I come in here and I’m all nice and calm but I’ve just stuck my head in my office, I’ve got some friends in there, and I said ‘You f-----g beauty!’ and walked out and just left them with it!

“My wife said not to swear in front of your granddaughter, but she is only seven weeks old, so she doesn’t know what’s going on.

“We all come in here and we try to be calm and calculated about it, but, of course, everyone involved loves winning, of course I’m elated.”

Guirane N’Daw missed the game for personal reasons, the details of which McCarthy says he is yet to discover: “Guirane isn’t available for personal reasons, apparently, so he’s not here, I couldn’t pick him.

“I don’t know why. I just got a call from the club secretary this morning saying he wasn’t available. I’ll find out, we’ll see.

“I doubt he’s in a bar p----d — he doesn’t drink, so it’s not that! He’s not driving and in a car crash because he doesn’t drive! I don’t know, we’ll find out.

"I did tell him he could go to Senegal, perhaps he left on Friday instead of Monday!” he joked.

In his absence, the Town manager said he saw little point in adding an academy scholar to the 18: “I’ve got two lads who I couldn’t put on the bench because I’ve got five loans, Browny and Aaron Mclean. It was difficult to have to tell them that but they were fine. But I just haven’t got another sub.

“The referee did point it out, he said ‘You know you’ve only got six on the bench?’. I said, ‘Oh really, I hadn’t noticed that!’.

“I wasn’t going to put [an academy player] on the bench, they were all training. I’d got Byron Lawrence on the bench anyway and there wasn’t really anybody that was going to help. If it’s not going to help, there’s no point in doing it.”

Overall, McCarthy is pleased to be going into the international break after a positive result: “My beer when I have one tonight will taste nice.”

Bolton boss Dougie Freedman felt his side were in control when the Town goal came: “Obviously we’re disappointed with the result. It was a very hard-fought game. For 60 minutes it was a very tough, physical Championship game.

“I felt that from 60 minutes onwards we were dominant in possession, created a few opportunities, we probably could have possibly worked the goalkeeper a little bit more.

"But we looked the team more capable, once we got our passing going, granted it had taken 60 minutes, but we looked like winning the game.

“So, to be mugged at the end with a couple of minutes to go is disappointing, but I’m sure a few people in here know that that’s football and you mustn’t look back.”

Photo: Action Images

ScottCandage added 18:49 - Mar 16 I'd give a pound to some charity if Mick's granddaughter's first words were, "You f-----g beauty!"
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I_LOVE_GOLLOB added 18:56 - Mar 16 You f.....g ugly duckling for all I care... Before all the pessimistic grumbles start. 3 points, clean sheet, good all round performances and another game chalked up before season ends. No complaints whatsoever.
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StochesStotasBlewe added 19:05 - Mar 16 Just love MM,s post match interviews.
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hollywoodginge added 19:05 - Mar 16 Love Mick's Interviews, until we were blessed with him, I'd never realised just how funny he actually is!! Crikey what must Wolves be thinking now?? I will always support any new manager we appoint but I was a little sceptical at first but I've been completely won over by him and TC and genuinely feel were getting pride back. The difference in the players attitude, focus, commitment and the confidence is there for all to see, They don't care a jot how well the opposition is doing on the form table, they are all sticking it to them, competing and getting success. We are a match for anyone in this league at the moment and with a solid youthful spine to the team, we are in good health for the future, I'd sign Henderson in a heartbeat, Stearman likewise. We actually have proper strength in depth as well and those coming in off the bench or fresh into the squad look committed and content to play a part. The future I think looks very bright if we can weather this storm which I believe we will.

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manualthetisfanclub added 19:17 - Mar 16 Not a classic by any stretch of the imagination, but a massive win considering the other results! Don't think n'daw will be available much,if the rumour I heard was true! #bad apple
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stu_ward27 added 19:18 - Mar 16 If you love his post-match interviews, they're nothing compared to what he says during the game, if you sit in the area next to the manager dugouts you get treated to stand-up comedy as well as football!!!
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Bluetone added 19:23 - Mar 16 The future's bright - the future's blue
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whosroundisitanyway added 19:45 - Mar 16 Mick's team has become one of the hardest to beat in the division. Don't come to Portman Rd if you want to watch pretty football, sit indoors & watch champions league or premiership dross, but if you are a fan of real football start queing for tickets for the next game. Nothing beats going totally mental just before full time & punching the air leaving the stadium. I wouldn't swap my season ticket with any of the prawn sandwich chompers between Old Trafford & Stamford Bridge. Tonight I am as ever Ipswich till I die, and loving every minute! COME ON YOU BLUES.

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Rjitfc added 19:48 - Mar 16 What game was Dougie Freedman watching?! I dont recall Bolton ever coming close to scoring! Had it not been for Lonergan the result would have been far more embarrasing for them
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Keaneish added 19:54 - Mar 16 YES!!! You F**king beauty!!!!
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HALLSJ added 19:57 - Mar 16 Excellent comments 'whoseroundisitanyway' punched the air while driving through the potteries. Much needed at least Sheff & Bristol lost. Peterboro's win at Blackpool again shows the draw at London Road was a really good point. Ill be at Derby, close to my Staffordshire home all this will go down to the last couple if weeks, mick has done so well though.
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miltonsnephew added 20:08 - Mar 16 Is it true N'Daw arrested due to Domestic Incident??? Hope this doesn't signal the end of the big man!!!
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NoCanariesAllowed added 20:19 - Mar 16 Don't let your wife tell you off, Mick. I love you more than she ever will. :D
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hollywoodginge added 20:33 - Mar 16 Wow, read this for an heartwarming gesture and act of simple kindness. A fan Tweeted to Tyrone Mings wishing him a happy birthday today and said he wished he could be there to see town take 3 points today but was #Skint. Mings asked if the man could get to portman road and the man said yes, Tyrone then replied he had left 2 tickets at reception for the man as he shouldn't miss a game by not being able to afford it. This left me speechless and completely overwhelmed, what an amazing thing to do. Proud to have that kind of player on our books and it's completely in keeping with the ipswich way. Beautiful.

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IvorFeeling added 21:03 - Mar 16 massive result and what a great time to do it. Mick really has got this team playing as a team and for each other. Listened to lifes a pitch today and can't help think of our great international fans and they will be travelling home happyn tonight. For those that didn't listen we have Season Ticket holders from Norway, Sweden and regularly travellers from Bulgaria and Italy - not expats but nationals from these countries. So proud of the team.

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StowTractorBoy added 21:09 - Mar 16 A fantastic win and no matter what some of the so called supporters said on the Radio Suffolk phone in. I'd rather watch us win in whatever circumstances than watch a cracking 5-4 defeat. I really do not know what supporters expect when we in are such a precarious position in the league. In any event many aspects of our game today were superb. The defence was almost faultless and Henderson again commanded his area (Please Mick sign him up if you can). The centre of midfield wobbled a bit but you could not fault the effort and Micks substitutions were spot on. A cracking result against a team top of the form table who hardly had a sniff at goal. Well done Mick Terry and the lads. Looks like 6/7 more points now required so lets bang the drum to get more fans in for the Leeds match.

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CornardBlue added 21:52 - Mar 16 What a great win with everyone giving 110%, but one player i would single out was Tommy Smith since MM has been in charge Tommy has become a new player and must be one off the best defenders in the league. Bolton might have had more of the play but Henderson never had a shot to save. A win for Sunderland over the scum tomorrow would make this a very good week-end.
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h32 added 22:07 - Mar 16 Hollywoodginge - agreed - always good to see this kind of attitude from players. There are still SOME good, considerate people in this world - as this proves - long may it continue, against all the odds.
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BuckieBlue added 22:34 - Mar 16 Ok we're still only 4 points off safety but we can't do more than win our games. And at least some others are being dragged into trouble...so much for early form teams like Blackburn and Blackpool. Also since MM arrived 25 games, 39 points = only 1 point below average number of points usually required for play offs- great achievement. Obviously that would mean nothing if we went down (but I don't think we will) but if he can build such a platform with our present squad, boy, i am positive about next season especially with a summer window to deal in.

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TractorBeezer added 22:57 - Mar 17 Have just realised that I haven't posted. Well done MM, TC and the lads. This was a great result under the circumstances. Obviously , once again, not pretty but hopefully that should come when we are safer and have done a bit more rebuiding. Let's take a breather and then do it again v Leeds.
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ArnieMsBigToe added 09:00 - Mar 18 An absolutely superb result. Win ugly and stay up or play pretty and in all 'likelyhood', face the drop. The way that the championship is going this year, I can see one, two or all three teams taking the drop, and all of them being on 50+ points!!
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