McCarthy: Penalty Decisions Pivotal
Saturday, 16th May 2015 15:36

Town boss Mick McCarthy felt two penalty decisions were pivotal in the Blues’ 3-1 Championship play-off semi-final second leg defeat at Norwich City, the Canaries winning the tie 4-2 on aggregate to set up a Wembley final against Middlesbrough.

Blues midfielder Teddy Bishop was caught in the first half by Nathan Redmond but referee Roger East waved away his protests. After the break, East correctly dismissed Christophe Berra for handling Redmond’s shot on the line, leading to Wes Hoolahan opening the scoring from the penalty spot.

“The game’s hinged on a penalty decision, two penalty decisions in my view,” McCarthy said.”I thought we should have had one in the first half when Bish was brought down.

“And the second one was a stonewaller, it’s a sending off and with 10 men we were hardly likely to win, unfortunately.”

McCarthy felt Berra handing the ball was a natural reaction: “The TV asked me whether he should he have pulled his hand away, and of course he should in the cold light of day, but we’re kind of hardwired and trained to stop the ball going in the net.

“He’s been brilliant, Christophe. It’s a penalty, a sending off, nothing we can do about it.”

Despite being reduced to 10 men the Blues got back on terms when Tommy Smith netted from close range, typifying the resilience and never-say-die spirit the side have shown all season.

“They’re great, I’m immensely proud of them,” McCarthy added. “They’ve been fantastic all season I couldn’t be any prouder of a group of fellas.

"Low maintenance, hard-working, really professional and I think today they’ve shown what they’ve been about and why we’re in the play-offs when we were pretty unfancied at the start of the season.

“We were the better side in the first half. I go back to the point. I don’t know what anybody else thinks but I think Teddy Bishop got clipped, he says he got clipped, and it should be a penalty.

“Unfortunately, I’ve got history, I seem to remember a game [when manager of Sunderland] against Watford, not that I’ve got a long memory, when we didn’t get one given.”

He says he would feel just as sick if the Blues had reached Wembley and lost there: “There are two teams, I’ve seen Middlesbrough cock-a-hoop on the pitch last night and Norwich today and one of them’s going to be as sick as a seaside donkey, just like I feel now.

“It makes no odds, we’ve got to win it. We haven’t got the chance to play at Wembley but if we’d have lost at Wembley I’d have still been sick. Good luck to the two of them, one of them’s going to be coming back and seeing my kipper in the Championship.”

As home fans ran onto the pitch after the final whistle with police horses helping to disperse them, McCarthy hung around to see his players off the field.

“There are some muppets who come on and want to abuse you, but it’s generally from a distance. I hope they enjoyed themselves,” he said.

“I wanted to make sure all my players came off safe and sound because at Preston [Chesterfield’s] Ian Evatt got kicked, punched and spat on and I certainly didn’t want that happening to any of mine.

“And I don’t think it did, there were some numpties running around giving the usual wanker sign and all that but nothing more. They’re generally not the bravest when they come and shout from a distance.”

Norwich manager Alex Neil said the match went as he expected: “It was a really tense affair, a tight game, as I expected it would be. We’ve come out the other side of it managing to do the job we set out to do.

“It was really pleasing and I’m delighted for the players, the fans and the club that we’ve managed to get ourselves into the final and give ourselves a chance of getting to the Premier League.”

Having brought Wes Hoolahan into the side along with Nathan Redmond, he was pleased that they both played a part in the game’s pivotal incident.

“I put Wes Hoolahan and Nathan Redmond in the team to give us that bit of quality later on as we got further up the pitch and the pleasing thing is that they combined to get us the penalty and the red card which was the turning point in the game.”

Photo: Action Images

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jas0999 added 17:56 - May 16

Excellent assessment by Mick. Sadly a step too far, but after the sending off it was all over. I hope Mick stays and that there is nothing in the rumour he may go to Fulham.

It's now all about Evans. Mick did very well with virtually no financial backing. Players came in yes, but many also left. We can't have a situation next season where we can't name a full quota of subs, or only have two senior fully fit strikers available. Also, it's time for some to leave. Stephen hunt has probably played his Last game. We can do better now. Tabb has been woeful recently. One or two of the decent players will inevitably go. It's all about Evans ambition and the money he frees up. Sears tells us that with a small investment you can get very good players. There are some good frees too. But it's time we don't rely solely on that. I still firmly believe if Evans had invested half a million more in January we would be talking premier league football. The type of players we now need will cost money. Over to you Evans. You put my season ticket up. Now buy players.

paris_mitchell_in_oz added 17:57 - May 16 And now to the six million dollar question - Will we still see MM & TC at the helm come August?
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rinkydinkpanther added 18:04 - May 16 Keaneish - no we wouldn't. Because you need to score goals and win games to get into the top two. Not sure I know many teams that are mostly huff and puff, carve out a paltry one or two chances a game and 'walk' into the top two. Top two teams are so much better than that.
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bluebare added 18:09 - May 16 its not today that cost us but the stupid games we lost and drew when we didn't play positive football the whole season been a tease to the supporters but when we had the chance to go top or to win important games we bottled it. was pleased by the way we played most of the game today just a shame mistakes were made that got punished.
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shelfmeister added 18:11 - May 16 Really proud of the season we have had,biggest overachievers in the league!! Lets hope Mr Evans puts his hand in his pocket and signs 3 quality players to push us on to automatic next season and hopefully pass the scum coming back down!!!
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Tractor_Bhoy added 19:00 - May 16 Utterly proud of the boys. Berra = God. He's been immense all season. So sorry when he went off as it was always going to be hard to come back from that. Not his fault, we'd have all done the same. Wonderful, wonderful show from the boys today. Next year we'll get there.
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essex57 added 19:20 - May 16

Agree 100% blue bare on todays game Berra fantastic all season but football matches hinge on minute decisions and his to handle the the ball and get sent off was pivotal that decision of his was pivotal 1-0 down with 11 men chance 1-0 down10 men no chance .Still fantastic season thanks players management supporters just one word on supporters is it realy necessary to throw beer over supporters who go to watch football not get pissed and finaly why do some supporters when we score find it necessary to launch themselves at other supporters and knock them down 3 rows just a thought happy holidays see you all next season

WorcesterBlue added 20:35 - May 16 A bitter pill to swallow but a great achievement to get so far and ultimately without the red card who knows we could have gone further. Don't like the football but the guts and determination should make us proud. A few astute additions and keep the quality and we'll win the league :)
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DerryfromBury added 20:43 - May 16 Ah well,never mind always next season. Com on BORO
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KiwiTractor added 21:36 - May 16 Hard luck lads, but well done for the season overall.
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WestNorfolk_Blue added 21:58 - May 16

I have done my share of bitching about the back four when the ball was like a hot potato, but today i thought we were the better team in the first half and up until the penalty i really fancied a win. I dont blame Berra as he has been an absolute diamond this year and hope he sticks around. For me there were a few balls ups at the back as there has been since Christmas but no whinging tonight it will give Mick and Terry something to work on. I actually thought Dids looked good when he came on and he is a class act, i hope this wasnt just to put him in the shop window. For all thier current extra cash i dont think Narwich were that great and although i dislike Bora i will be cheering them on, bitter, yes but why not, Monday will be shi*te living and working where i do surrounded by budgies. All in all i would like to say thanks to all at ITFC it has been a better season than i dreamed of and i am already looking forward to next year and meeting the yellow and green w*****s again (if Mick can get away with it so can i). Cheers, till then :), actually i couldnt so had to ammend.

Walk_the_Wark added 22:40 - May 16 We did well today. The best we could. Well done lads! A good manager and a few additions and we can go up next year. Not sure what the chances are though.
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bohslegend added 23:13 - May 16

Great season, today just a step too far. The peno changed the entire game especially as we had so much of the ball first half. Pity we couldn't grab a goal 1st half to make the pressure pay off.
But at the end of it all, I'm so proud to say this is my team. They gave everything fornus this season.
2014/15 major progress.

Now for 2015/16 - can we go further? I firmly believe we've built a solid foundation under MM and we can now justifiably show real confidence going into next season.
COYB !

bohslegend added 23:14 - May 16 *Everything for us
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coolcat added 08:03 - May 17

Town can hold their heads high after that. Which is more than I can say for Norwich for allowing rent-a-mob to invade the pitch afterwards and insult Mick McCarthy and our players. This was really poor policing as these guys weren't protected. Seeing Luke Chambers afterwards leading the team in trying to thank us fans amidst this mayhem really separated the men from the boys.

A Norwich fan told me afterwards (there are some nice ones) that the club could be fined for allowing the pitch invasion. Also he is unable to get a season ticket as there is a one year waiting list, apparently??? and is a real admirer of Mick McCarthy.

This is my first year as a season ticket holder. I come up from London to all the games and after seeing them play all season they fully deserved to get into the playoffs . I'm so proud of our team. Our game has massively improved from the time I've been coming and has remained consistent, so I can see that being taken into the next season. We will be a bigger force come next May.

coolcat added 08:03 - May 17

yorksblue added 08:15 - May 17 Hard luck lads. Onwards n upwards next season. Lose the dross, players in correct positions and who knows what we can achieve
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coolcat added 08:15 - May 17 My comment's been entered twice above - daresay a fault on my computer and not an indication from myself of how great my comment is that I have to enter it twice.
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dirtydingusmagee added 09:54 - May 17

Well thats it for a while, not too disheartened,its just being knocked out by the budgies that really p###es me off.I hope we can keep our best players and add some more quality for next season , i also hope the team are going to be re-programed and play a different style next term ,with fluid passing . As much as the lads put the effort in ,Saturday as in many other games our front men did not get the service they need.Lost count of how many times the ball was given to Bala to punt up the pitch,only to find a budgie head .Lets see Wingers or wing backs running the ball and crossing ,give the forwards a chance. It has been frustrating to watch at times when we know we have players capable of taking defenders on .That said Thanks to the lads for their efforts,have a good holiday ,and good luck next season .COYB

Razor added 12:47 - May 17

We were great in first half and just stopped them playing and things were looking good-then two players fell asleep and lost concentration and that was that.

In such a tight game we were never going to win with 10 men.

Two or three other things, if Didds had played all season we would have gone up automatic, no doubt, and our fans are undoubtedly the best in the world, end of.

We need a good clear out of very ordinary players in the summer and must recruit better, not players like Henshall and Stewart who Mick never played.

Will the present management and style get us over the line next season-----discuss!!

All you out there have a fantastic summer, draw breath and we go again in August-----BLUE ARMY!!!!!

Beattiesballbag added 13:23 - May 17

At least we looked like the team with the edge in the first half, we must have won twice as many 50/50 balls as the scum & then..........gave it back to them!
Alex Neil must have thought it was Christmas when we isolated our front two.........again! You have to feel sorry for Murphy & Sears playing in such a system......at least it stopped their fullbacks bombing forward I suppose?
I think this was more pivotal, a bit like taking a bears claws out before putting it in to fight dogs!
Before Christmas we were actually playing good football as well as working hard & winning games, since Christmas it's back to the stop the opposition playing priority & clear the ball no matter where it goes.
But I've probably got it all wrong as most people on here seem to think that playing with 10 defenders is moving forward.

TimmyH added 15:55 - May 17

@bohslegend - 'we had so much of the ball 1st half' - rubbish! we pressed them in their own half at times and gave 100% effort but to say that is incorrect, they had a lot more possession than what we did. The sending off changed the game not the penalty but they always looked the more dangerous team, we had very few efforts on goal up to then and even before we equalized.

bohslegend added 21:09 - May 17 Tummy go look at the sky sports stats at half time.
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steve_mcalls_teeth added 10:00 - May 18

Have to say if it was me in Berras position i would have done the same thing a hundred times. Micks right, its just hardwired - stop them getting the first goal. AND even then down to ten men they still had trouble putting us away !! So proud of the team and (our) fans. Best season in a decade and a lot to look forward to for next season. Mind you i think N*rwich once theyve recovered from losing a dour final to boro on penalties will be up there with us!!!