Boss Mick McCarthy believes the Blues need to get something out of Saturday’s visit to Brighton and Hove Albion if they are to stand a chance of reaching the play-offs.

Town face Derby and Nottingham Forest at home following the trip to the Amex in what are likely to prove pivotal games in they play-off push. The Blues are currently ninth, six points from the top six.

“They’re huge games for us,” McCarthy said. “I keep saying we might know where we are at the end of the week. Maybe we won’t with the results the way they are in terms of the play-off spots.

“You don’t write it off until it’s mathematically impossible, of course, but I think we need to go to Brighton and get something.

“I think Derby are the ones who are out of our sights, so the two bigger ones are Brighton and Nottingham Forest, we can’t allow them to take maximum points from us.”

Looking at the division as a whole, he says that while plenty of clubs are embroiled in play-off or relegation fights, he believes the two automatic places are sorted.

“We know it’s fascinating, it is every year, last season it certainly was when you think about the relegation scrap,” he said.

“The promotion battle, for me, is just about over and done with in terms of the top two. I think Leicester and Burnley are going to sort that out.

“QPR and Forest were two teams I thought were home and hosed for the play-offs but I’m not convinced that’s all certain.

“If you get on a bad run it really can grip you and it’s hard to get out of it. And yet at the bottom, teams are picking up points.

“I was at Charlton, watching them against Bournemouth with TC, and Bournemouth I thought were excellent in the first half.

“We left, as we do, 10 minutes before the end, thinking it’s been a hard-fought draw and even on the radio coming home it said it was a 0-0 but then there was a goal, 1-0, Charlton won.

“We were sat with the Millwall coach, Marc Bircham, and he was desperately hoping Bournemouth would win and that must have been devastating for them having watched the game to 93 minutes and then suddenly finding themselves in the bottom three. It’s exciting and intriguing and it always is.”

McCarthy is a fan of the play-offs, although he wasn’t entirely happy with the way they were initially set up: “When they first came out I seem to remember the third bottom of the top league played somebody from the Championship, which I thought was completely and utter bollocks and I still do if they ever decide to do that again.

“If you’ve got 34 points from Premier League football, I’m not bothered if you’ve got 85 in the Championship, because gaining 34 points might just be a magnificent effort.

“I think the play-offs have been great. They keep interest in the league, we’re still interested in the league because there’s a play-off spot.

“If it was the top three going up we’d be forgetting all about it. We’re still interested and it keeps us all honest. If you remember last year it was down to 12th spot. I think it is now - if somebody put in a good run they could get there.

“Despite the fact that I’ve finished third twice and ended up in them, I like them. Even then I thought that we knew before the start of the season what the rules were and if you finish sixth and get in the play-offs you think it’s great. They’re the rules. I think they’ve been good for the league.”

Photo: Action Images

BlueMachines added 06:18 - Mar 21 Yawn
5

GerkensBeard added 06:40 - Mar 21 Micks getting as bad as Andy Townsends commentary... Pointing out the obvious
2

essexboy added 07:08 - Mar 21 Same old story every other day.Tactics,and bad team selections have hindered us this season Mick.Just win all our remaining matches.COYB
3

TractorCam added 07:36 - Mar 21 We need to get THREE points at Brighton, a draw isn"t really good enough
3

jeera added 07:39 - Mar 21 This is the trouble Mick, you've had years to sort this out. People would understand if this was your first full season here after that other mess but come on! Moon, stick. Now! And stop saying the obvious. Talk about alien spacecraft instead.
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ericclacton added 08:21 - Mar 21 Brighton rock anyone?
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mikeybloo88 added 08:26 - Mar 21 Give over, Mick...use your time better and start planning for next season. Sort the blooming midfield out once and for all....and then the right back position. Doesn't take a genius to figure out why we aren't going to the play-offs.
4

Keaneish added 09:25 - Mar 21 'Get Something'????? No..... We need a win, not something... DO NOT play for a draw!
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raycrawfordswig added 09:46 - Mar 21 So it's one up front at Brighton.
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yorksblue added 10:01 - Mar 21 Play offs are another reason our great game has gone down the swanny. Money money money
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Kesgraveblue57 added 10:36 - Mar 21 Stating the bleeding obvious again Mick
3

ArnieM added 11:12 - Mar 21 Oh dear. Cue playing for that bloody draw again then.!! Im going down to watch and I hope to God MM puts a side out that is prepeared to at least have a go at the opposition.
4

NoCanariesAllowed added 11:14 - Mar 21 Mick and TC always leave the games they watch with 10mins left? Blimey. Imagine if they'd been at the Wigan v Yeovil game...! :)
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HarryfromBath added 11:20 - Mar 21 It's true that we are up against one of the tightest defences in the league and with McGoldrick in the sick bay, but I just wonder if Jonny Williams might have a trick or two up his sleeve tomorrow. Palace fans were saying that he is an Eagle, having come up through their youth ranks, that he always raises his game against Brighton and loves beating them. It would be terrific if he were to get off the mark against them.

4

BillBlue added 11:34 - Mar 21 Get 'something' Mick? Yes, a hammering.
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BillBlue added 11:39 - Mar 21 It has really come down to something when a person like Harry is hoping for a young lad, on loan here for one month, to salvage something for us!
1

TimmyH added 12:51 - Mar 21 3 points or it is definitely goodbye play-offs (not that I believe we have any chance). 'something' = set the team up again with the same old faces in midfield and play for a draw!
2

MonterreyBlue added 13:33 - Mar 21 "we need to get something out of it" MM code for we will play defensive and try and get a draw.... its ok, mark me down, am in a bad mood and a little bit dejected by 1: our mentality going into games (1-0 up and then all backs to the wall) 2: our style of play and tactics isnt the ITFC way. 3: lack of investment. 4: dropping attendances. 5:Entertainment value 6: ticket prices. I normally post positively, sorry guys!!! COYBs

3

ericclacton added 13:36 - Mar 21 Why not play 8 1 1.
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Seasider added 14:56 - Mar 21 I do hope that MM is aware that Garcia expects him to play the way that we all expect;so why not change it round a bit,say three at the back? Alternatively Gerken/Loach Richardson Berra Smith Mings Taylor Green Williams Cresswell Murphy Ebanks-Blake Expect more likely 4.3.3. though with his favourites Tabby and big Frank in there somewhere!
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Tom18 added 20:29 - Mar 21 Nothing less than a win will do
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theobald1985 added 22:38 - Mar 21 i bet if you offered mcarthy a point now he would take it-which is exactly the problem with him he lacks any ambition to play proper football or attack teams he just has know intention of ever playing that way-we are just treading water with him in charge-why not just go for broke tomorow and who knows what may happen
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ITFCRealist added 23:08 - Mar 21 Theobald, wont happen Mick probably earns another million if we don't go down, so he has no ambition.
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roytheboy added 14:23 - Mar 22 Just heard that Paul Taylor is not even on the bench today, I feel very disillusioned by Mick, let's hope we get the win today otherwise I think he needs to tell us why he refuses to play Taylor.
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