Town boss Mick McCarthy hailed an outstanding performance from his team as they beat Bolton 2-0 at Portman Road but admitted he was relieved to see the Blues’ seven-game winless run come to an end.

“Thank f**k for that!” exclaimed the Blues boss. “I’m delighted with the performance, we’ve played well at Forest and we played well on Saturday but not really had the result, so of course there’s a bit of relief to get a win after seven games.

“I’d have taken a scruffy shinner, the ball going in off somebody’s knee, an own goal. I would have taken anything tonight to get back to winning ways.

“But it was a really outstanding performance and could have been far better in terms of the scoreline. Their keeper was outstanding, Brett Pitman’s been denied a hat-trick by some really good defending.

“A really good performance, delighted with that, and back to winning ways, thankfully.”

He added: “We had a tough spell in the first half when they had a good bit of possession. We weathered that storm and we defended corners.

“The clean sheet is a team effort but I thought some of the play from the front lads was terrific. I just thought it was an all-round outstanding performance, to be honest with you, I’m really pleased with it.”

McCarthy was delighted to see Daryl Murphy put in an impressive display even if last season’s 27-goal top scorer is still to open his account for 2015/16.

“That was really pleasing, he was back in his pomp, I loved to hear his name being sung, I hadn’t heard it for a while,” he said.

“How he’s not scored a goal, he must have killed an albatross or something, I don’t know what he’s done. He was great, he played really well, he fought his corner, did his hard yards.

“That was him last year and that’s when he got his goals and if he does that every week he’ll get them again.”

The Blues manager also had praise for Freddie Sears who was still running at the Bolton defence in injury time, although joked that he might owe one of his team-mates an apology.

“He might have a word with Didz, who might think his neck was a bit tired because he didn’t lift his head up and roll it to Didzy because he could have put it in the net!” he laughed.

“He’s been great, Freddie. He’s played wide left, wide right, up front, he’s played in three, in a four and he’s never once complained.

“I spoke to him yesterday and he just said ‘Talk to me about where you want me when we’re out of possession and what I need to do’. He’s a great lad, a great professional.”

Pitman also impressed his boss, not least for his goal: “I thought he played really well. He had one hooked off the line, which he still says was in, so I think he thinks we’ve won 3-0.

“He had one blocked after he scored his goal. The link-up for his goal was terrific. He hit it so cleanly, I know it took a bit of a deflection but it was a great goal.”

Regarding the incident when Jonas Knudsen tripped Max Clayton not far outside the area and was shown a yellow card rather than a red, McCarthy said he hadn’t seen the incident again.

“Was he past him? I haven’t seen it, if he’s past him and he brings him down,” he said. “If he’s just gone with the tackle, I think he’s gone with the wrong foot, but I’m don’t know if there was anybody else around, I don’t know if he’s just gone for the ball and brought him down.

“Let me tell you, if that’s my bit good luck, it’s been a f*****g long time coming! Hallelujah! Fan-f*****g-tastic! Excuse my French. We’ve had last minute goals, we’ve had things blocked on the line…

“I always say it’ll turn around, it will turn around, we’ll get something, and if that’s my bit of luck then happy days.”

Ainsley Maitland-Niles was subbed just before half-time with a foot injury: “He’s got a bruised metatarsal. I asked him if it’s cracked and he said no.

“It was funny because he still ran past the defender with a bruised foot. It was great for him to get his goal as well, he’s been great.”

Bolton manager Neil Lennon admitted that Town deserved to win: “I thought we were in the game in the first half but in the second half I didn’t think we competed at all.

“And if you don’t compete in this division, particularly against a team like Mick McCarthy’s, then you’re going to get beaten.

“The two goals were poor from our point of view but we were very flimsy at the back at times. I thought we had good chances in the first half.

“I thought Knudsen should have been sent off, Clayton was in and he was taken clean out on the edge of the box, he was the last man. And we had the same situation on Saturday and that was an important part of the game.”

Photo: Action Images

PeekFreans added 23:07 - Nov 3 “Thank f**k for that!” Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided. I think we can by-pass this statement tonight ;)
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Safetyfirstmrwarke added 23:11 - Nov 3 COYB!
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GiveusaWave added 23:20 - Nov 3 Finally.... Just an overwhelming feeling of relief. Don't mind if we don't make the top 6 places this year as long as we avoid the bottom 3. And keaneish' bet is still on!
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ArnieM added 23:26 - Nov 3 Thank F**k for Mick Mc F**kingMcarthy! Mickma, Mickma, Mickma
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VulpineBlue added 23:33 - Nov 3 Well, Mr Lennon, if Jonas Knudsen should have been sent off, how did Wheater get away with holding Murphy all night and almost garotting him at one point without Town even getting a free kick? Very poor refereeing tonight. Bolton will rely on winning set pieces (diving?) this season as scoring from set pieces look to be their only hope of survival.
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UppaTowen added 23:41 - Nov 3 That's exactly what I said at full time too! Classic Mick, and well done lads - that was much more like it, although Bolton did seem poor it's still a good result and the win we so desperately needed! Hopefully tonight will start off another good run and we can kick on from here. Bring on the Rotherham. COYB!
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WicklowBlue added 23:41 - Nov 3 No matter what people say about Mick you can never doubt his passion! The expletives above show how much the win meant to him!
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Mark added 00:16 - Nov 4 A far better performance tonight, and especially good link up play between Sears and Pitman. Lots of good displays tonight and the fans went home happy. Forget the stress of striving for promotion and let's concentrate on scoring a few goals and entertaining the supporters, then see where that takes us in the table.
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gainsboroughblue added 00:44 - Nov 4 8 comments. We must have won. COYBS.
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battyblue added 05:09 - Nov 4 Well done lads we needed those points but we were playing Bolton at home so all you IN Mick WE TRUST brigade dont celebrate to soon still think MM selection and tactics are cr-p,Chambers a liability but will play as long as MM is manager Sears out of position,Murphy for what ever reason not on it for games now but still plays,Parr dropped to bring back Micks record signing who in his eyes just have to be better, i could go on but now see what happens on Saturday i predict draw at best then loose to Wolves.

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muccletonjoe added 05:33 - Nov 4 You can only win and mm has done that, whether or not a corner has been turned remains to be seen on Saturday. Great second goal.
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HackneyBlue added 05:57 - Nov 4 well done lads,when Chambers kicked the ball straight out from kick off i thought here we go again,it took some time to get flowing and with Chambers getting roasted down his side again it was not pretty until the second goal then it improved massively,well done to Murphy best game this season.
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jert16 added 06:01 - Nov 4 Haha.. love super Mick, what a character!
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CharlieITFC added 06:07 - Nov 4 It's rare that I will reply directly to an individual on here, but battyblue you really are talking rubbish. Chambers has probably had his best games in a town shirt in the last 3 games, so not in any way a liability. He's got forward well, and not been overrun by decent wingers. Sears has arguably been our best player this season, and is creating an incredible amount of chances for the likes of pitman, Murphy and mcgoldrick. But I imagine you're the type of person that complains about him playing on the left, but would then still complain when one of the strikers is dropped for Jay tabb or jonny Parr on the left. And Murphy not on it for games?! You really haven't got a clue. He hasn't scored, but that doesn't mean he's played badly. He's a real handful at this level and gives us a completely different dimension and something else for the defenders to worry about. Knudsen is still adjusting to this league and country, but of course he doesn't deserve his chance to adapt and should just be dropped immediately. But wait, he was part of a clean sheet and overlapped down the left really well... I'm glad you didn't go on, because you don't have a clue.

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bluearmy84 added 06:13 - Nov 4 great result first and foremost and well done to mick mcarthy and terry connor workin hard to get the results that just havent been coming, cant believe certain fans could even consider a change in mananagement mm is the best manager weve had in years! the support for mm sat was unreal and thats what its all about getting behind the team and now i dont think the fans and players will take any 3 points for granted in this league. teams dont just role over and mm knows how to get teams out of this division and the players hes showed faith in need to stand and deliver the goods and this is a great start!!!

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GiveusaWave added 06:59 - Nov 4 CharlieITFC I didn't see the game, but sounds like Chambers was caught out of position a few times and in the 1st half Bolton did a pretty good job down our right yet again. Can understand the criticism given by battyblue IF this was the case (I didn't see it, it just sounded that way). Agree with most of what you say though. Murphy did sound a handful, though I'd emphasise again that I didn't get to see the game. Radio can be a bit biased at times. Certainly it sounded as if we were over-run in the first half and the match report and supporters reports suggest otherwise. Just delighted to be back on track. its been a very long time since we last won a game.

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blueherts added 07:15 - Nov 4 A classic MM comment , and probably echos us all on here - it is one win but as we know that can become habit forming - if we can keep the clean sheets going - which is a decent thing , and at least create chances like we did we will start to climb back to the business end Results tonight also show there is no runaway team so it will be tight this year - win afew games in a row and you can jump right up So , well done on winnning a football match again Mick but we need to use this as a springboard ... Nice feeling though

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CharlieITFC added 07:18 - Nov 4 Guentchev - personally I think it's a bit harsh to label chambers a liability just because it took him 20 minutes to get a handle on feeney, after the first couple of runs, Chambers seemed comfortable. I think he is finally starting to adjust to life as a full back, getting forward well and starting to get the measure of wingers. His last few games have definitely been the best I've seen him at right back. But I agree, being back on track is the important thing. Unfortunately some people still need things to moan about when we play well, keep a clean sheet and win comfortably.

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Blue_Again added 07:35 - Nov 4 Funny how everybody loves Mick now after 1 win. Fickle
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Tractorboy1985 added 07:57 - Nov 4 I'm not one for singling one out @charlieITFC but if u honestly think chambers is good enough at right back you are the one my friend who hasn't got a clue! Last night some of his distribution was abysmal.. Something you would see over a local park! Balls scewing off foot in all directions! Our 2 full backs are a massive weak link and will get skinned by the better wingers in this league! How Jonny parr does not play is beyond me! Must be something personal! HOWEVER.. A win is a win and on to Rotherham we go where Neil Redfearn has yet to win a game....... 😁

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essex57 added 08:03 - Nov 4 Great post Charlie itfc need we say more
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warktheline added 08:05 - Nov 4 @guentchev, I really don't understand your mindset, I'm referring to your first post! Would you accept avoiding relegation as an achievement? Mid table mediocrity!!!!!! I've been very critical of McCarthy's team selections recently, but in him we have most certainly one of the best championship managers in the division, surely considering the squad as his disposal, we should be expecting better!

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beornioblue added 08:26 - Nov 4 Good for you Mick , you drop a few more f"&k's if it's gets them playing like that , thoroughly enjoyable game of football were we looked like ourselves again. I think the problem spots looked better last night too Gerken good match, chambo bit shaky first half and far to easy to tap the ball around but second half looked very assured at the back. Knudsen same story but looked a good attacking full back especially in the 2nd half. Sears what a little blue legend still running around faster than a terrier on a vindaloo even into injury time. Berra looking like him again thank god!! Murphy played a blinder that goal is coming but the rest of his play last night was great and much more positive. Even Didz came on and wanted to prove a point, dropping him for pitman gave us a good outlet and a great goal, but also gave him some impetus to raise his own very good game as his starting place isn't a sure thing!! All in all thanks Mick and the boys last night was one of the reasons we keep going back ... Coyb!! Ps bruuuuuuuu

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gazmangaz added 08:35 - Nov 4 “Thank f**k for that!” exclaimed the Blues boss. “.here here !! Much improved against a very poor Bolton side. Three points a must at Rotherham on saturday also. COYB
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grumpyoldman added 08:38 - Nov 4 I did no go and only caught a little of commentary, before people start going over the top about the win, the one comment I did hear from the radio was, "Bolton have a reasonable defence and pass it well in midfield, but run out of ideas in the final third". If this was a correct description how can posters state that Chambers and the defence played well, with no pressure on the defence how can people gauge how well it played.

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