Manager Mick McCarthy says he’s delighted with his strike partnership David McGoldrick and Daryl Murphy, despite neither of them having netted since the season began a fortnight ago. The duo were prolific in pre-season, Murphy grabbing five and McGoldrick four, but the pair are yet to get off the mark during 2013/14 proper.

“I thought they were excellent last Saturday,” McCarthy said. “They really gave us a platform that we could play off.

“They worked their back four. I know the first goal was an own goal, but I think it was from the pressure that we put on them.

“Cressy did well, we got bodies in the box and they couldn’t deal with it. I do think that the two of them were terrific last week.”

The Town boss is confident that the senior strikers at his disposal, McGoldrick and Murphy plus Frank Nouble and Paul Taylor, are capable of scoring the required goals: “I hope so because we’re not doing a great deal else, are we? We’re not going to go out and sign [anybody]. Where are we going to find goals from?

“We’ve tried to provoke them and cajole them and get them in the box and make sure that we get into positions. And we’ll continue to do that and try and get goals out of the players that we have.

"I was talking to them in training the other day, trying to give them targets to get. Set your sights high. If you set them for 10 and you get six, then that’ll be better than last year.

“They’re working hard at that, at trying to get bodies in the box and good deliveries in the box and we’ll see what happens.”

He says the quality of set pieces is very important: “If you get good freekicks and corners in and make people defend properly, you’ll get one at some stage.

“If you keep hitting the first man, no. If it goes ballooning over the far man, there’s nothing more frustrating, especially as a centre-half.

“You come running up, you’re relying on somebody to put it anywhere near you and they miss you by miles. It’s a long way back shouting abuse at them, I can tell you. Been there, done that!”

McCarthy was also pleased with 19-year-old right-back Elliott Hewitt during the 3-0 victory over Millwall: “I thought he played well at the weekend.

“He had 90 minutes [for the Wales U21s on Wednesday], which isn’t great for him with him having to play again on Saturday.

“He did well. I was quite pleased with him at Reading. He played against some good players there and once or twice he got done, but he stuck at it, that’s what I liked about him. He just kept going and I thought he was better on Saturday.”

Hewitt underwent two hip impingement operations in the summer of 2012 and is yet to play three games in a week since he joined the Blues, but McCarthy expects him to come through without a problem.

“I hope so,” he said. “He’s never done it. You’re never quite sure until you see them.

"At 26-30 you’re at your most battle-hardened, your toughest, your fittest, you know how to manage yourself and manage games.

“Elliott hasn’t got to that yet but I was pleased with him last week. He’s come in and he’s had his massage and his ice baths and his recovery work, he’ll be fine.”

Meanwhile, former Blue Jaime Peters is currently back in Ipswich, having left Portman Road by mutual consent a year ago.

Since departing, the 26-year-old Canadian international has spent time on trial with the likes of Leyton Orient, one-time loan club Yeovil, MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps and more recently clubs in France.

Photo: Action Images

Dissboyitfc added 07:21 - Aug 16 Mcgoldrick, brilliant on the ground, woeful in the air, didnt win a single header, thats not excellent at all, thats a worry in my book...coyb
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Kesgraveblue57 added 08:11 - Aug 16 Nice thing to say but simply not true strikers have to score that's there job
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Len_Brennan added 08:33 - Aug 16 Mick has done a great job over the summer, but even he himself is admitting, what some of us have been saying for a while, that he still need an out & out goalscorer & a battle-hardened right back. That is not a criticism of Hewitt or McGoldrick/Murphy, it is just an acknowledgment that we need a stronger squad. Whether it is Stearman & Sharp or 2 other signings in that ilk, I feel that the outlay would be worthwhile, even from a business perspective, as it would propel us into challengers for a top 6 spot and add to the gates & general spend at the club. There has been no wild spending on risky ill considered strategies sice Mick arrived, surely ME can give him a couple of million to turn us from a solid consolidated Championship side into actual contenders? FFP can't be that tight a reason for us & Mick deserves the trust to spend it right after how he has worked so far.

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tractorintheloft added 08:56 - Aug 16 McGoldrick & Murphy are playing well and the goals will come if they continue. Agree with Dissboyitfc that McGoldrick is not good in the air but most target men lack the his touch and creativity so the partnership is looking good with Murphy able to be the battering ram whilst also showing some good link up play. Taylor also offers something else so a nice blend of options. Hewitt will only become the experienced RB with games. Seem to remember Bale getting a lot of stick at LB for Spurs a few years back. The majority of posters over the last few years wanted more youth and home grown talent, we are now getting that although the academy will take time to rebuild following the Dark Lord's damage. Overall we have a great balanced squad and whilst it may not set the world alight we cannot keep throwing money at it, the quick fix approach hasn't worked. MM has worked magic in the window and needs our support like Saturday when Millwall started to get on top.

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NoCanariesAllowed added 10:39 - Aug 16 Think we have to remember that this isn't a short term project, folks. Mick might say he's targeting the playoffs as a matter of course, but truthfully the current squad is unlikely to meet that standard. The real pursuit this season is just progress - if this squad can get us a top half or top ten finish, which they are capable of, then perhaps next season there'll be some money around to improve a couple of areas and find a more prolific goalscorer etc. From where we've spent the last four years it's easy to want instant success, but perhaps Mick will need a couple of years to build. For the record though, I'm not too worried about RB. Hewitt has shown promise despite some mistakes and could well flourish if we let him become a regular in the starting XI.

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Len_Brennan added 11:06 - Aug 16 Fair point NoCanaries & I do think Hewitt is a real talent. My concern is that we built our success on a strong defence , with 2 holding midfielders to support them last season. This year I believe that we will not be as strong at the back with Hewitt & Loach as we were with Stearman & Henderson (although Hewitt gives more on the counter). Because we will have to provide more assistance to the defence from midfield (in my opinion) it will stop us being as creative as we need to be to get the best from the strikers we have. Therefore I think we need a poacher type, who can feed on scraps when needs be, while Wordsworth (when fit) & Taylor (when fit) can also get their chance to make something out of nothing more often than I fear they will.

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Palestine added 11:11 - Aug 16 "If it goes ballooning over the far man there's nothing more frustrating...." . That reminds me of Lee Martin.
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pazelle added 11:14 - Aug 16 Stick with what we have I say - McGoldrick and Taylor deserve a run of games together! We've bought "proven goalscorers" before and it didn't work! And we've got one here that cost £1.5 million and hasn't even played 10 games yet!
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TimmyH added 12:00 - Aug 16 Have to agree McGoldrick and Taylor appear on paper to be a greater threat, certainly with the ball on the ground anyway. A tad early to start praising players in my book but maybe it's a case of McCarthy boosting players confidence.
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Beattiesballbag added 12:46 - Aug 16 It looks quite obvious that McGoldrick & Taylor would be the best potential (not actual) goal threat but I should imaging that big Mick is reluctant to play them together as they would not have an aerial threat, ........Doesn't poach & weak in the air are not really the attributes of a good all round striker. We need someone better along side him to be able to benefit from Taylors skills.

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Garv added 16:46 - Aug 16 “I hope so because we're not doing a great deal else, are we? We're not going to go out and sign [anybody]. Where are we going to find goals from?" Sounds good.
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