Town boss Mick McCarthy felt his side deserved their 2-1 victory over Fulham, despite some nervy closing moments after Tim Hoogland had pulled a late goal back for the visitors. Earlier, Daryl Murphy and the returning David McGoldrick had been on target for the Blues.

“It was a nervy end but I think we deserved to win it overall,” McCarthy said. “Gerks hasn’t had a lot to do, not that I’m saying that their keeper has been diving around making saves either.

“I thought they had a lot of the ball in the first half without hurting us and we certainly scored a good goal on the break. I think we deserved it overall.”

The Town boss was delighted to see McGoldrick get back on the scoresheet so soon after returning from his lengthy absence with the knee injury suffered against Blackpool in January.

The 26-year-old had made only fleeting appearances in two friendlies before coming on as a sub just prior to half-time against the Cottagers.

“If he was fit I would always fancy him to get on the scoresheet,” he said. “But I didn’t know whether he was going to be fit or not.

“I think that’s down to his diligence and his professionalism to get himself fit, he’s worked really, really hard and he was desperate to get back playing. It’s lovely to get him back because he’s real quality.”

Would Town have made the play-offs last season had McGoldrick remained fit? “We would have been better placed to have compete for it but whether we would have got there or not, I don’t know.

“We have a better functioning team when David McGoldrick is fit and playing, we’re more likely to score goals when he’s fit and playing.”

The Town boss was pleased to see Daryl Murphy score with his right foot, something he felt was a result of his work with assistant manager Terry Connor: “He practises. I saw the session yesterday morning that TC put on and TC works as well as anybody I’ve seen with strikers, the sessions he puts on are excellent.

“I think any striker who has been with him and has worked with him will know he improves them. He makes them take it on their right foot. It was a fabulous finish, especially as he’d had to run past him at full tilt as well.”

McGoldrick replaced debutant striker Balint Bajner shortly before half-time and McCarthy outlined his reasons for withdrawing the Hungarian frontman.

“Absolutely bollocksed. Bollocksed Bajner, his name is! Or Badger, as he’s affectionately known with the lads,” He said. “He was just tired. That was a welcome to the Championship for him.”

The Town boss also explained why Luke Hyam came off towards the end: “He got cramp in the end, he ran out of juice and he’s the fittest lad I know.

“He was a big part of the first goal. He broke it up and we hadn’t been doing that really. We’d been making them kick it, we’d been winning the first headers but they were picking it up.

“Luke took it upon himself and went and nailed someone and won the ball and we were on the front foot and we scored from it.”

McCarthy says Cole Skuse, who was replaced by Anthony Wordsworth, suffered a knock: “He got an injury, he has a sore foot, we’ll see how he is.”

The Blues boss says he’s not taking too much significance from the game: “That’s welcome to the Championship for some of their players. But they knew what my team would be like because Peter Grant works with them.

“I played with him at Celtic, he’s one of my good mates in football and I’ve managed against him. He would have been under no illusions what to expect here, so it would have been no surprise to them.

“I don’t think it has any significance other than that it’s a good three points for us. I watched the game last night, Blackburn and Cardiff, and when it ended in a draw the two managers were shaking hands.

“Not being negative, but I would have taken a point on the first day, you just don’t want zip-a-dee-doo-dah because you’re looking at it then with no points and we’d be going to Reading. So, it’s nice to get points.”

Fulham manager Felix Magath was pleased with his side’s display, despite their defeat: “I’m glad, I’m not very glad, but I’m glad about our performance today and it has shown that in my opinion we are on the right way.

“We knew before that it was a very difficult game for us, a very tough game and we expected the Ipswich team, how they have played, and there was always a balance in the game.”

He added: “In many periods, especially before the first goal, we had control over the game and we were playing well, we had the first chance to score, but after [the first goal] we were a little bit nervous so we lost our game-plan and unfortunately the second goal came too early in the second half.

“At the end I’m glad with our performance and I think we are on the right way and I don’t worry about the future.”

Magath was unimpressed with the way the game was officiated - “The referee has not his best day” - believing his players should have received more protection: “We have a lot of young players and our players from the youth academy are not used to being tackled as they were today, so they have to get used to it.

“It was a good learning session for them because the referee let things go on, so we lost some tackles and therefore, in my opinion, we lost the game.”

Responding to his opposite number’s comments, McCarthy added: “Only 45 to go, tell him!

“It’s the Championship. I thought the game was played in a good spirit, I thought there were some really hard tackles but I don’t think there were any really nasty fouls.

“There were three bookings but no really nasty tackles. There are plenty more of those games for them to come.”

Photo: Action Images

irishtim added 20:59 - Aug 9 Go MM
2

HALLSJ added 21:03 - Aug 9 Great result, expected a draw so this is a bonus
12

blueherts added 21:06 - Aug 9 Hewitt was immense and in fact all the midfield put in some great challenges - Yes Fulham have some great ball players and I am sure will do well but they need to add some bite - learn from us and just glad to think we have 4 players to come back into the frame - all f whom will add threat Nice
6

blueherts added 21:06 - Aug 9 Hewitt was immense and in fact all the midfield put in some great challenges - Yes Fulham have some great ball players and I am sure will do well but they need to add some bite - learn from us and just glad to think we have 4 players to come back into the frame - all f whom will add threat Nice
0

blueherts added 21:06 - Aug 9 Hewitt was immense and in fact all the midfield put in some great challenges - Yes Fulham have some great ball players and I am sure will do well but they need to add some bite - learn from us and just glad to think we have 4 players to come back into the frame - all f whom will add threat Nice
0

blueherts added 21:06 - Aug 9 Hewitt was immense and in fact all the midfield put in some great challenges - Yes Fulham have some great ball players and I am sure will do well but they need to add some bite - learn from us and just glad to think we have 4 players to come back into the frame - all f whom will add threat Nice
0

ArnieMsBigToe added 21:14 - Aug 9 I remember our first game against Reading last year, and we played well without getting anything. I watched the game today in sky and I have to tell you I was PROUD!! It was a hard game, but then it was never going to be anything else. I cannot get to get to the games now, but I do not feel ashamed. My personal circumstances allow it, Todays result was a ver good start. MM and TC are gods. Come on you blues !!

5

ArnieMsBigToe added 21:16 - Aug 9 Oops. Forgot to mention Hewitt. Fantastic performance!!
2

Marcus added 21:17 - Aug 9 We heard you first time ;) Solid performance. Central midfield was a bit odd today - it was defensive when we needed to attack and we have two attacking players when we needed to defend. Apart from that we looked solid but lacked a bit of creativity from the wings. Hewitt looked ok in midfield, Tabb/Mings on the left looks like it could be a vulnerability, Mings had a mare in the first 30 mins but then recovered a bit but was caught out of position a few times, Tabb looked ok but didn't track back at times when it was expected forcing Smith to cover leaving a potential gap in defence that another team could have exploited. Fulham looked like a decent set of players who didn't really know each other well enough. There was a clear lack of cohesion and there were times players were looking to check where their colleagues were before passing where a more instinctive team would know without double checking. I think that was the main difference today when they played against a much more established Town side.

8

oscarwhiting added 21:18 - Aug 9 Fantastic performance all round. Hyam, Murphy, Hewitt and tabb were excellent. Well done kick and co. Hard earnt win. The last 5 mins were horrible though :') . On to Crawley #COYB!!!!
4

Popeye added 21:33 - Aug 9 Tabb played too narrow first half and tendered to wander infield leaving mings exposed and without an outlet, but after the break tabb stayed wide and was the best town player second half. Hewitt needs to improve his corner kicks, too many hit the first man a la leadbitter style. Bajner not fully fit but will improve but maybe too similar to murphs to play them together although it was necessary today due to didsy's fitness. Expecting a few changes for cup match and hopefully one or two injured players to return for reading game.

3

Walk_the_Wark added 21:45 - Aug 9 Second half performance was better. McGoldrick is our only class- he should play behind a front two as he is sharp and his distribution is great, Good result. Fulham have a premiership mentality and perm players. We upset them. Would still like to see more possession football, but sadly we have not the players or the management for that,
-6

jas0999 added 22:05 - Aug 9 I personally thought the referee had a good game. Not sure why Fulham are moaning? First half, Hyam fouled their player, but he let the game go and rightly booked Hyam later. Thought for once the ref was very good. Fair to both teams.
2

bluewein added 22:17 - Aug 9 @Walk the Wark:- Fulham have, as you've stated prem players. They also have a manager who has won 3 Bundasliga titles They tried playing possession football today and looked toothless and had no cutting edge. Your statement of "Would still like to see more possession football, but sadly we have not the players or the management for that." is immensely hypocritical.
3

spanishblue added 22:45 - Aug 9 For all you Luke Hyam doubters what about that then I suppose you,ll find something to moan about he looked tougher and stronger than last year.Elliott was a real surprise faded late on but good performance all round even Tabb had an exceptional game nice to see David mcgoldrick back quality Coyb
6

batram92 added 22:46 - Aug 9 Berra is like a brick wall! Hyam was twice the player he was last year. Bring in some of the players who were out injured and we'll be fine for the next few games.
4

dalinghooblue added 22:52 - Aug 9 Felix Magath! Welcome to the Championship.
6

peewee added 06:46 - Aug 10 Wow hyam was a different player, attacking forward passes and runs. more of that please! mings did need some help but the goals where worked well nice to see that we where shooting from out side the box and the players looked like they where confident. lest we havent just played back to the keeper then out to the wing. if town can keep this style of play up this season will be a pleasure to watch

4

rfretwell added 08:37 - Aug 10 Great to see a former Northgate lad really perform as we all want him to v Fulham Luke Hyam.Now carry on supporting Murphy & Didsy like that for the whole season. Up the Town!
3

shiminywho added 08:59 - Aug 10 'Bollocksed Badger'! Gotta love MM's post-match comments - have missed these gems over the summer. Super start, boys - now the hard work really begins!
3

JustSpivvyChops added 09:49 - Aug 10 @bluewein............Fulham dominated possession from start to finish and were clearly considerably more talented man for man. Their problem was their front men who put in shocking displays.........had one or both of them been remotely better than crap, we'd have likely seen a different result yesterday. I would be very hopeful for the season if I was Magath and very disappointed with my front 2 on the day....they will be at the business end of the table come April/May.

1

Farmers_Union added 10:22 - Aug 10 We're in the Play-offs, we're in the Play-offs....... COYB!!!
-2

renoble added 10:29 - Aug 10 A word about Luke Hyam. He was the man who put the first big tackle in the second minute. He was the man who made the first serious interception, run and pass to set up Murphy. He was the man in the second half who had the nerve to seek the ball at all times. He was the man who made the first run forward in the crucial moments of the second half. He might well be the future captain and I think it could be a great season for the lad. Good to hear the North Stand giving him a well deserved song and didn't we miss him when he went off! Really impressed with him today.

12

Bluebongo added 13:53 - Aug 10 Really good performance . Thought Jay Tabb was well worth his selection. Can,t see how Fulhams goal was credited to Tim Hoogland, it was a defo O.G. [hard luck Tommy]
4

TractorBeezer added 15:23 - Aug 10 Thanks to Phil's article about far-flung fans I was able to connect with a couple of Tractor Boys in Toronto. It was a good streaming feed at the pub with good reception except for one bit. Just when McGoldrick scored it froze (and had to be reset) so we had to wait to see whether the goal stood! That was a magic moment because McGoldrick, introduced at the 44 minute mark, had been out for 6 months and other than a few minutes pre-season this was his first appearance. The other magic moment was our first goal. Hyam won the ball and burst through the middle before laying a good pass off to Murphy who left Hutchinson standing as he took the ball into the area and smashed it past Joronen. Hyam has been criticized for not creating enough goals and Murphy is not renowned for his bursts of speed! The boys got stuck in well which unsettled Fulham. Fantastic start.Well done MM,TC and the boys! Roll on The Scum.

3

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls