Town defender Tommy Smith has hailed the impact of manager Mick McCarthy in his six months in charge at Portman Road.

Few, if any, fans need reminding that when arrived on the opening day of November he inherited a team bottom of the Championship with just seven points from their first 13 games of the season.

Now, 31 games later, the Blues have amassed a further 50 points to all but banish fears of a drop into the third tier of English football for the first time since 1957.

Smith said: “From the position we were left in when the previous gaffer left it will be a good achievement to finish out of the bottom three and I think the fans can see how positive the place is at the moment.

“If the league had started from when Mick McCarthy joined us we would be in fourth place. That’s testament to the manager and TC and how well they have done with us.

“First and foremost Mick addressed the defensive side of things — not just the back four but the whole team. You’ve seen how hard the strikers have been working recently.

“Frank has got his goals by closing the opposition down. In the past I don’t think we were working too hard as a team defensive-wise and it was maybe leaving the back four a bit exposed.

“But the whole team is grafting together now and that’s massive. It takes some pressure off us at the back and obviously, if we are winning the ball higher up the pitch, it means we will have more chance of scoring goals.”

Smith is approaching the end of what he acknowledges has been his toughest season in the game but revealed that the Portman Road staff, not just his playing colleagues, had played their part in the turnaround.

He added: “It’s been tough for everyone involved with the club. You don’t know where you’re going to be but everyone has clubbed together — even the staff in the offices. They’ve all been right behind us and it’s been great.

“The club is a real family unit at the moment and the team spirit is fantastic. Hopefully that will carry on and we will finish strongly this season then continue in the same way at the start of next season.”

Photo: Action Images

muccletonjoe added 07:24 - Apr 26 Mick has turned in one of the best performances by a town manager since george burley got us promoted , perhaps , given what might have happened , it can go down as an even more important achievement than that . We can at last look forward to a season with a bit more optimism next august
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bluelady added 07:32 - Apr 26 Finally a Manager worthy of leading our mighty club!
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itfctilidie added 07:36 - Apr 26 the cliche saying of a football fan 'optimism for next season' lol
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bluefeast added 07:37 - Apr 26 Sir Alf Ramsey , Sir Bobby Robson , John Lyle , George Burley , Mick McCarthy. Five managers that have done the club proud.
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roytheboy added 08:46 - Apr 26 Mick has done brilliantly and I am one of his greatest admirers and I am really looking forward to the future with him at the helm, however in response to other posts today, I would just like to say on this forum that we should not forget what Joe Royle almost achieved with no real money to strenghthen the team at that time, I'm looking forward to a good win tomorrow and am feeling confident.

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hossblue added 09:03 - Apr 26 I would also like to add Bill McGarry to the list of managers who have done good jobs for the Town.The club was in mess when he took over he turned it around and then got us promoted.May be history will be repeated.
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Marcus added 09:07 - Apr 26 There's still a one in 3861 chance we'll be relegated.
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itsonlyme added 09:23 - Apr 26 Like all the posters, you can't help but admire how MM & TC have turned around our fortunes. With some good signings in the summer, who knows what we can achieve next season - at least we should not be looking downwards. I am very positive for the future of ITFC - onwards and upwards. Agree with roytheboy - Joe Royle deserves a mention as a top manager.
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ArnieMsBigToe added 09:26 - Apr 26 Wow Marcus!!!! How did you work that one out?
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im_marcacus added 09:40 - Apr 26 How many years since we heard a player talk about the bouncing team spirit? So good.
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theobald1985 added 09:53 - Apr 26 agree joe royale did a fantastic job here. hopefully we can keep the team together and have a good season next year. a good start is vital. im sure MM and TC will have them ready
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Marshalls_Mullet added 10:11 - Apr 26 'The previous gaffer'.... doesnt sound like he was too close to PJ. P.S. Theo - Its Joe ROYLE. Sorry to be a pedant, but it amazes me how many people get that wrong.
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Marcus added 10:16 - Apr 26 http://www.sportsclubstats.com/England/Ipswich.html
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JWM added 12:51 - Apr 26 Hossblue Isn't it funny how life has a habit of throwing up funny quirks! McGarry got us promoted in 1967/68 and then decided to leave us for a bigger club ie Wolves! Fast forward 45 years and now Super Mick the manager sacked by Wolves has come in and saved us. What goes around comes around!
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