McCarthy: Probably a Robbery
Tuesday, 17th Mar 2015 22:48 Town boss Mick McCarthy felt his side pulled off a “robbery” by beating Bolton 1-0 at Portman Road, believing the Blues played better during their 4-1 defeat at Middlesbrough on Saturday.
Asked whether he thought his side just about deserved their win, he said: “I think as managers as coaches we always think that but I’m not quite sure. I’ve just said to someone else, it was never in doubt!
“We played better on Saturday, far better on Saturday. But we didn’t concede tonight. How, I don’t know because they had lots of chances and the game was wide open, and we had loads of chances.
“But if you’re profligate in front of goal, which they were, and we were until we get the one, which was a pure strike from Tabby.
“And that’s all that counts. We’ve played better and lost. We played better on Saturday and lost. It could easily have been 3-3 at half-time.
“But at this stage of the season, who gives a flying one? I keep coming back to it. On Saturday, you know I don’t have rose-coloured specs, but I have to analyse it and see the true picture because it’s easy to have knee-jerk reactions; everything’s wrong.
“I kept the same team because I thought they were great on Saturday. It’s one of them, if you don’t make changes you get beaten, you’re a chump. If you make changes and you get beaten you’re a chump. We won tonight. I didn’t make any changes and we won.”
He admits managers aren't particularly concerned how points coe at this point in a season: “Not at all. Give Bolton some credit. I didn’t see any mugs on their team, by any stretch of the imagination. They’ve got good players.
“They came and surprised me, they played 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 or whatever number you want to put on it, they had three at the back.
“Rochinha was a handful, we had to stop him in the second half and change the system, which worked.
“And thankfully we pinched it, we burgled it, the coppers are coming. There’s been a robbery.”
McCarthy wasn’t surprised that there was a nervy atmosphere: “Fans were nervous, I was nervous, anxious, apprehensive, whatever word you want to put on it.
“There were nine games left, we’ve a chance of being promoted, still. We’re not going to play silky free-flowing football without nerves at all, that’s just the way it is.
“Wait for the next eight, they’re all going to be nervous but I’ll settle for being nervous and scruffy wins.”
The Town boss was delighted with the goalscorer: “He was different class, Tabby. It was a pure strike, I’ve told you once already!
“I don’t think as a team we functioned brilliantly by any stretch of the imagination. I keep saying that we were better on Saturday and lost 4-1, which was outrageous really.
“They didn’t have Patrick Bamford playing for them tonight, of course, I think he scored the winner again tonight for Middlesbrough. It’s just a good feeling, winning a game.”
McCarthy said Jonny Parr’s substitution was simply tactical: “Jonny was terrific, it was just purely tactical.
“I couldn’t let Rochinha keep running free. Skusey was designated to drop on him and pick him up but it’s difficult if you’ve got somebody who’s good at doing it.
“I haven’t seen the kid playing before. I said to TC before the game that he could be their Jonny Williams and that I hoped he wouldn’t be and, of course, he was, except I think Jonny would have scored.
“But he played well, he was a real handful, so I had to stop him. That’s why I went 4-3-3.”
Bolton manager Neil Lennon was frustrated by his side’s continued failure to take their opportunities: “It’s been endemic of our season away from home. You cannot miss gilt-edged chances like we’ve done tonight against a good side like Ipswich at home. When the game is in the balance anything can happen.
“We should have been home and hosed at half-time. Even at the end we’ve had a good chance at the far post and we’ve missed it. It’s football, so nothing surprises you.
“Our performance was good and in Rochinha we had the outstanding footballer on the pitch. If he’d scored the one he missed you’d have been talking about one of the goals of the season. We think we’ve found a very good player.
“We had a young team out tonight, we rested a few players, McCarthy, Heskey, Le Fondre was ill so had to pull out before the game, which was a blow. I think he would have enjoyed himself out there tonight.”
Photo: Action Images
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blueboy1981 added 22:55 - Mar 17
.......... fair comment about the missing Le Fondre - would have fancied him to have taken a couple of the Bolton chances - on his current form.
Grateful for small mercies tonight - is the truth of the matter. |  | |
stantheman added 22:57 - Mar 17
Well Mick did something because Rochina was all but invisible in the second half after an excellent first. |  | |
ArnieM added 23:00 - Mar 17
3pts. Job done .move on. We're going to need a lot of guts and 9/10 performances sat to stand any chance of getting even a point. Im going but not expecting to be happy at end of day. COYBS |  | |
bluefeast added 23:04 - Mar 17
who cares about the performance we won ,brilliant feeling to close the gap on norwich and derby plus bournmouth for that matter. If we win another 5 games we will be in the playoffs. COYB | | |
Mark added 23:21 - Mar 17
I'm pleased for Jay, deserves a goal after the work he puts in. As for the game, yes, fortunate to win and not a good game to watch but we will take the three points ahead of the Watford and Bournemouth fixtures. |  | |
Gilesy added 23:29 - Mar 17
When have we played free-flowing silky football this season? | | |
GiveusaWave added 23:30 - Mar 17
Really doesn't matter that it was a robbery. Yes, they played better than us: but we got the 3 points.
Our 6th spot push is back on track. Lets not mess it up at Watford. |  | |
Jimmy86 added 23:37 - Mar 17
Suprised by lennon's comments to be honest, as judging by his touchline antics I thought he would have been a really sore loser. Not seen anyone as animated as that for a long while and he was complaining left, right and centre!!! At the ref and the assistant ref. Average manager for an average team in the Mickey mouse SPL. Great 3 points tonight tho COYB | | |
Normandyblue added 23:42 - Mar 17
A bit of skullduggery....... |  | |
bohslegend added 00:07 - Mar 18
Jimmy86 slight correction; average manager, BEST team in a Mickey Mouse SPL league. |  | |
Jimmy86 added 00:31 - Mar 18
Bohslegend Celtic are still average on the scale of things, a 1 horse race in a poor league and that made lennon out to be better than what he is | | |
gippeswyk added 00:37 - Mar 18
I was at the game and found it entertaining. Town played well but didnt take their chances, except for Tabby. Thankfully neither did Bolton.Interesting to note that none of the regulars are on here yet but since they slag off Tabby, I guess they're having a break from boooing for now. | | |
NoelTheDub added 03:14 - Mar 18
gippeswyk
Tabb is a poor footballer and the cause of our poor form yes he got a fortunate goal tonight and 3pts but our issues are still not addressed.A half decent Bolton team would have ripped us apart tonight.We are a terrible football team punching way above our weight but its a sad reflection on our club to be this way. Yes Im happy with 3 pts but we have serious problems and going nowhere . | | |
Simonds92 added 04:17 - Mar 18
All this 'tabb haters' is ridiculous, nobody hates one of their own players, (unless we were to sign someone like joey Barton or grant holt, then quite possibly!) it's just that he simply is not up to the standard of a player we need if we want to get promoted imo. Yes he works hard you can't fault him for that, everyone was delighted when he scored because it's a crucial goal for us, it doesn't matter who scores it but he does deserve credit for getting the goal and on the whole a decent performance. It doesn't however instantly make him a world beater and the shape of our team accommodating him on the left through the season has caused us a lot of problems, unless mick is willing to revert to the 4-3-3 which suits is much better and tabs energy could be a benefit even if technically he's not great. | | |
commuterblue added 06:31 - Mar 18
"technically he's not great".
If you're 5ft 6 and playing in the top two tiers of English football your technique can't be too bad... |  | |
ITFCFan added 07:08 - Mar 18
It doesn't matter what we do there is always haters on this site!! Why?? We havent spent the money that the big boys have and we are still there in with a shout!! When we were on that massive unbeaten run the mood among fans was upbeat and no one on here complained about MM tactics and who he should of pick because we were doing so well and on paper probably over achieving, You so called fans who moan week-in & out are in my mind are no better than them yellow & green scum up the road!! As a loyal fan who goes to watch my team most weeks believe we have done fantastic so far this season, Yes I'd luv us to have walked the league but let's be real here!! Stop the moaning and lets get behind our team in theses last 8 games and get back to were are fantastic team belongs, The Premiereship!! Rant Over!! | | |
smithy0981 added 07:09 - Mar 18
We definitely nicked it tonight because I actually thought Bolton looked very good on the ball and we were just lucky they didn't have a decent striker on the pitch! We really needed Brentford to loose last night but it wasn't to be. Unfortunately I cannot see us getting a result in the next 2 games and I think say we will get smashed at Watford. Before Christmas we looked like we could beat anyone but no we look like we are a team fighting to stay up. Last night we look so nervous on the ball, we couldn't even get a simple pass right! We also look like we have just run out of steam. I really hope the boys suprise us and get a win sat but I have to be honest I have prepared myself for not getting a play off place :o( | | |
Hegansheroes added 07:46 - Mar 18
Expect a very defensive team at Watford, could get a thrashing there on last night's evidence. | | |
BackTheBlues added 08:42 - Mar 18
Seem to be an anomaly here but...
I thought it was an exciting game to watch - not for a purist perhaps but both teams had probably 3 guilt edged chances and we scored one of ours!
That goal did wonders for the team, settled the crowd and after they we looked almost in complete control...
Pleased for Tabby has been consistently good for me the last couple weeks and after that goal the header he won against their centre back was outrageous - confidence!!!
Up the town - take a pint saturday! | | |
TR11BLU added 09:18 - Mar 18
Pleased for Tabby, he's no world beater but runs all day, wins more than his share of headers and gets stuck in where others flinch. He is not our worst player, by some distance. | | |
jalapenosteve added 09:54 - Mar 18
Tabb and Skuse really impressed last night, easily Town's best players by a mile - closely followed by Bru when he came on. Have to say Mings was a shocking disappointment yet again. How many times did he give away possession??? As for Tommy Smith - his confidence is shot to pieces and he's making everyone around him nervous. Yet again our back line was awful. Lucky to get the win but give Tommy a rest at Watford please....
| | |
jabberjackson added 09:59 - Mar 18
We are 3 points behind Derby County
When you think what an awful run we have had in the last 2 months that is quite amazing
We need David McGoldrick back tout de suite
He has to play behind Sears and Murphy in the Eric Gates role
i.e. Sears = Brazil, Murphy = Mariner
top 6 guaranteed, and a Boys of 81 renaissance |  | |
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