McCarthy: We Just About Deserved Win
Saturday, 7th Dec 2013 18:29 Town boss Mick McCarthy felt the Blues just about deserved their 2-1 home victory over Huddersfield. Daryl Murphy headed in a late winner after David McGoldrick had equalised Danny Ward’s first half goal for the Terriers.
“A great result, a hard-fought game as usual,” McCarthy said. “I think we deserved it, it was one of them which was a bit touch and go either way, I thought.
“They got their goal out of nothing, he nipped past Chambo, which wasn’t great, but there was a great response. They hit the crossbar and if that had gone in it probably would have been a bridge too far. But it didn’t and we responded well again.”
The Town boss was pleased with the spirit shown by his team both today and in previous matches: “I hope that is evident. I hoped that was evident before today.
“I hope that it doesn’t require us to come back and win on a number of occasions to prove to people that there’s a really good team spirit there. People care about their mates and the club and the team, it’s lovely.”
The Blues manager thought Huddersfield’s first half penalty shouldn’t have been awarded, referee Gary Sutton pointing to the spot after Christophe Berra had collided with James Vaughan: “I didn’t think it was a penalty, I thought that was a really harsh decision.
“If you look at them they’re both looking at the ball. Vaughan knew exactly what he was doing, he’s cute at it. It was just desserts when Gerks saved it.”
He says his keeper wouldn’t have known that Vaughan also missed a penalty in last year’s corresponding fixture when Scott Loach saved, but says he will have been aware of Vaughan’s more recent kicks.
“He’ll know where his last penalties have gone because [goalkeeper-coach] Malcolm Webster will have shown him,” he said.
“He ran up and I think in the rules you can’t stop when you’re running up. Somebody ought to tell the referees that, he also did it in Huddersfield’s game with Burnley.
“I thought it had been kyboshed, vetoed and you can’t do it. I think Gerks just read it, he tried to do it again and he didn’t buy the dummy.”
Overall, McCarthy has been impressed with his keeper: “It was some strike, the [Oliver Norwood] shot from wide, wasn’t it? Gerks has been great, he’s been really terrific. He’s been a really good signing for us and I’m really pleased with him.”
Having been behind at half-time he says he didn’t weigh-up whether to switch back to 4-4-2 from the 4-3-3 in which Town had started: “No, I considered making changes [of personnel]. I wondered how we were legs-wise, they’d had the games and had had to work hard.
“Was it bold? I’d set up really to play against 3-5-2 and they didn’t play that way. They started with Hammill up in 4-3-3 but they had to change and play against us because we were the better side.
“That stemmed the tide a bit and that was when they got their goal. I thought it worked well, I thought we played well in the first half.”
Cole Skuse played in McGoldrick for the equaliser but went off in the second half with an injury his manager hopes isn’t too serious: “Skusey’s a quality player. I’m hoping he’ll be OK, he’s just twisted his ankle.”
McCarthy was delighted for winning goalscorer Murphy: “He was a real physical presence, he’d had a couple of other chances. That’s all well and good, working hard, but centre forwards like scoring, so that’s great.”
The Town boss was delighted to have won having been behind after facing criticism from a supporter for his team failing to hold onto leads this season at Thursday’s PLC AGM: “They always give me the negative stat ‘You’ve conceded more points from winning positions’, but they neglect to say that we’ve won more points from losing positions.
“It’s how many you end up with, it’s not how you achieve them and when you achieve them, it’s the tally that you end up with, I always think.”
Huddersfield boss Mark Robins wasn’t too disappointed with his players, although he was critical of the referee for allowing the Blues to take the vital freekick which led to the winning goal twice.
“We lost because we gave the ball away, the referee gave them two chances at the freekick and we didn’t pick them up,” he said.
“We could have been 3-0 up at half-time, it wouldn’t have been an embarrassment and I thought we’d done OK. We coped with everything that they’ve thrown at us.
“The Championship is very, very diverse, different teams throw different challenges at you week in, week out.
“Ipswich is a different challenge than we'd faced, and they’re good at it. They put you under pressure, although I thought we coped with it.
“We tried to pass it when we could and we’ve created a number of chances and really we’ve been punished for not taking those chances but I cannot be too critical of the lads, I thought they worked hard and again they’ve tried to do things in the Huddersfield Town way and we’re progressing.”
Photo: Action Images
Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
LankHenners added 18:53 - Dec 7
I agree, well fought and despite a rather average performance (with some poor play in the second half) we defended well enough to give our strikers opportunities. |  | |
Dozzells_Bobblehat added 18:56 - Dec 7
Great three points but if im being honest i think Huddersfield will feel hard done by............................... but then again who cares ! |  | |
muccletonjoe added 18:57 - Dec 7
Another stat mick is you brought on a teenaager from villa while ours was scoring a hattrick for Woking , no doubt the usual minus pressers will be at it before long but I will support our academy boys over any manager. |  | |
1966 added 19:19 - Dec 7
We've played well and got nothing, so maybe we're not playing sexy football but 3 pts is all that matters to get promoted ... |  | |
Mark added 19:19 - Dec 7
I thought we started far better than Tuesday, with an attacking line up, and it was an open first half. Second half I thought Huddersfield played the better football by far, yet we managed to get the goals we needed to win the match. As always the players all worked hard, and credit especially to Dean Gerken for an excellent display.
Tuesday's win took us up to 8th and after today's win we are 9th - that's the Championship! :-) One win away from 5th place. Well done to Mick, Terry and all involved. |  | |
isitinthemiddle added 19:22 - Dec 7
Joe, that's harsh. As much as I believe the young lad is a prospect. Woking is a completely different level. He is benefiting from playing for Working. We have good options up front at the moment. We needed more options wide so that's why he has this young villa lad. Great effort and team spirit won this game today!!!!
Well don't!!!! | | |
Marcus added 19:36 - Dec 7
 Sorry, couldn't resist... |  | |
HALLSJ added 19:41 - Dec 7
Absolutely thrilled, great 'never give in attitude' isnt this so much better than what we're all used to. Be happy with a pt at Forest | | |
BillBlue added 19:54 - Dec 7
muccletonjoe - with you all the way.
|  | |
bluebrit added 19:59 - Dec 7
The game was as tight as the two teams league position suggested it would be. Let's be honest the game could have gone either way in the second half but credit to the lads for the way they battled away, particularly the defence and especially Gerken. We are now in a good position going into the Christmas period and that makes a nice change.
| | |
oscarwhiting added 20:02 - Dec 7
Marcus. I love it , very good :) |  | |
Simonds92 added 20:13 - Dec 7
Muccletonjoe although he seems to have some promise, Woking is a completely different standard to championship, both our strikers scored today so that doesn't really help your argument. We've just won 3 games in a row! It's not often that happens! Where's all the optimism? Very much looking forward to the Christmas fixtures now, could be very much in the play off mix by the end of it! | | |
Blue041273 added 20:16 - Dec 7
Muccletonjoe/Billblue
While I can understand your viewpoint, it is surely better for our youngsters to play hardball full time in a lower league, learning to take the hard knocks, than making cameo appearances for maybe five minutes every third game in the Championship. | | |
TimmyH added 20:39 - Dec 7
Well that's what Graham will no doubt do over the next month, be very surprised if Mick starts him - hopefully Marriott will be a better player when he comes back. |  | |
KiwiTractor added 22:34 - Dec 7
Agree with Blue041273, also Marriott and Graham play different positions. |  | |
SouperJim added 23:32 - Dec 7
If Mick hadn't have sent Marriot out on loan, most of you berks asking for him to be recalled would be oblivious of his progress.
Next. |  | |
Pip50 added 07:48 - Dec 8
I must have been in some parallel universe. I observed Mickey mouse Huddlesfield keeping the ball for long periods missing a penalty hitting the woodwork and Ipswich passing to the crowd. The game crying out for width for us, the manager ignoring this until the final few minutes. Our keeper keeping us in the game and thinking a number of our players should have been wearing yellow the times they passed to Huddlesfield.
We bring on a tricky winger and still persist in the long and sometimes longer hoof down the middle which seems to be our game plan nowadays.
How MM can say we shaded it, no football no tactics no idea and no future under this dinosaur.
Yes I see we are two points from 5th but come on be realistic anyone decent would have put us to the sword in the last three games! | | |
Butchered added 08:50 - Dec 8
muccletonjoe 18:57 your complete lack of understanding of the loan system is astounding, Marriott is getting valuable experience at Woking playing regular football which he would not get at Ipswich at the moment. I'm sure Villa think Graham will get the same opportunities at Ipswich and if he does and if it benefits us then happy days. | | |
bluefeast added 09:30 - Dec 8
3 wins from 3 , the players fighting for the shirt and each other. We are tough to beat , and are the 3rd highest scorers in the league. Wheres the problem. There 15 sides behind us in the league .Why the negativity >? | | |
muccletonjoe added 09:35 - Dec 8
Butchered , why should I give 2 hoots what benefits Woking and Aston Villa , we are the losers in every way on this loan system which you understand so well , if you think woking is a good experience for the championship , take another look at the league ladder | | |
bluefeast added 09:46 - Dec 8
muccletonjoe Is it better that he plays in the under 21 system or plays highly competitive games in order to play in an aggressive environment . The experience he is getting is good in my opinion. He would not get into our 1st team as a starter just yet . It can only do him good. | | |
Dozzells_Bobblehat added 10:24 - Dec 8
muccletonjoe - Its better for him than the U21 league or sitting on our bench. | | |
JWM added 13:34 - Dec 8
Jeez Pip50 If we are as poor as that Why do you bother showing up each week? I would rather have a dinosaur who knows how to win games as opposed to the previous clowns who didn't have a clue! | | |
bluey123 added 14:32 - Dec 8
Actually he has got to be better than the rubbish on show yesterday | | |
Butchered added 18:05 - Dec 8
Muccletonjoe, you are a plum first team competitive football at a senior level will prove to be a good education for a young lad, the loan system benefits both ends of the spectrum if graham does well for us we will certainly benefit also. By the looks of it I'm not the only one who thinks so | | |
You need to login in order to post your comments
| 
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
