Town boss Mick McCarthy was pleased with his side’s 1-1 draw at Molineux with reaching the play-offs in the six-placed Blues’ own hands as they go into the final two games of their Championship campaign.

“It’s in our hands to big it up or screw it up, isn’t it, I suppose,” he said. “It was a good performance, a good point and very pleasing.”

The Blues, who will end the day sixth regardless of results elsewhere, were unable to capitalise on Richard Stearman’s first-half own goal giving them the lead with Wolves on top, particularly having equalised five minutes after the break.

“I think you’ve got to give Wolves credit for that,” the Town manager added. “They’ve played well, certainly in the second half.

“I’m disappointed with the way we started the second half. I thought we invited pressure, we just didn’t set off well but again you’ve got to give them credit, they must have been in their dressing room talking about starting well.

“And having done that they were certainly in the ascendancy in the second half but we’ve had a great, stubborn, belligerent, professional [performance].

“All those horrible words that people don’t like in football except me because you win games and win leagues doing that.

“We might not be the best team, mightn’t always play great but we’re always hard to beat, hard to play against.”

McCarthy had praise for man of the match Christophe Berra, who was making his first return to his old stomping ground.

“He probably had a point to prove coming back here,” the Blues manager continued. “He was outstanding.”

Was the Scotland international underrated by Wolves fans during McCarthy’s time at the club?

“No, because he played in the team that got promoted and was in the team which stayed in the Premier League for two years," McCarthy added.

“But I think when it starts to go a little bit pear-shaped everybody gets a little bit of stick.

“If you get relegated everybody [gets it] and then they got relegated again it was almost like everybody who had been there was shipped out and Kenny Jackett started again and he’s done a great job with fresh new players.”

McCarthy was applauded by the Wolves support both before and after the game and believes he has nothing to prove to his old fans.

“I don’t think I’ve got any points to prove to anybody here,” he said. “I think I am very much liked and respected by the Wolves fans and I love the club and the people here.

“I don’t think I’ve got anything to prove and I always appreciate it when I get a nice, warm welcome coming back. But I’ve took the point and I’m happy with it.”

Jackett was disappointed that his team was unable to break the Blues down again having got back on terms through Benik Afobe.

“Ultimately it’s a better point for Ipswich than it is for us,” he said. “We needed to win today and I felt we built up very well in the second half.

“We got a goal back early on and showed good momentum and got a good tempo to our game as well, we’ve got a lot of natural ability but ultimately couldn’t break down a very determined and well-organised and resolute Ipswich defence.

“The times that they got blocks in and got a foot in at the end was high. Us [being unable] to break them down in that period was ultimately our undoing and then I’m disappointed with the draw.”

Photo: Action Images

bobble added 05:19 - Apr 21 oh so close
0

Ipswich Town Polls