Boss Mick McCarthy believes the Blues’ back-to-back victories over Bolton and Rotherham were big wins at an important point in the season with some fans beginning to criticise his management.

Town halted their winless run at seven by beating the Trotters 2-0 at Portman Road last Tuesday then thrashed the Millers 5-2 at the New York Stadium.

“Those two wins were big victories for us and at a really important time,” McCarthy told the club site.

“We had dipped from our early season form and people were starting to be critical. They started to be critical of me and I understand that. It starts to creep in, all that ‘taken the team as far as he can’ stuff.

“I had it at Wolves when we went something like one win in 11 games. Then we went to Crystal Palace and won 1-0 in a real scrap and then did the same at Sheffield Wednesday on a mudbath of a pitch. That got us back on track and we ended up winning the league by seven points.

“It was obviously important to end the run we were on and people would have looked at Bolton and Rotherham and the position they are in the table and said ‘We should win those games’.

“It’s never that easy. If it was that easy teams would have beaten us when I arrived here and were at the bottom of the league. We would have been relegated.

“We had to play well against Bolton and do the same again at Rotherham and we did that. It was a real high tempo, exciting performance there.”

As usual during international breaks those players not involved with their countries will be given some additional time off to rest after a busy schedule of Championship fixtures.

Photo: Action Images

Penguinblue added 14:49 - Nov 11 Two wins against poor teams. I for one am critical over standard of football, negative 'tactics', team selection, favorites in team without merit, substitutions and hoofball. Would rather MM leave/were relieved of his duties so this once proud club can progress back to where it belongs
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essextractorboy93 added 15:00 - Nov 11 Penguinblue - Don't think you could have possible written a more ridiculous and idiotic statement than that. You have absolutely no idea... nice trolling! Even though Bolton and Rotherham were poor sides, we played really well in both games! Bishop, Fraser and Hyam to come back from injuries in the next few weeks too. COYB!
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Penguinblue added 15:07 - Nov 11 essextractor - respect - but you have very low expectations
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ITFCGloryDays added 15:16 - Nov 11 In stark contrast to his time at Wolves, I don't see us winning the league by a margin of 7 points! We'll do well to make the play offs....
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topguy added 15:45 - Nov 11 I have had some negative thoughts and said stuff when we were in our slump, but after reading this I agree with MM look at last season for example people were saying games like this last year we would have lost Rotherham being a prime example as we did. But if you look at last year we only got to the playoffs buy doing well against the better sides and derby collapsing, but this year the first half against Rotherham we could have beaten anyone, if we can make PR a fortress and pick up away points against weaker sides I can see the playoffs and can still see more.

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Wickets added 16:11 - Nov 11 For me we pick up points when Bru plays he's our only fit midfielder who looks comftable on the ball. Pity he got injured in first match of the season after a man of the match performance. Hope we can now get Bish back.
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Langdon_Blue added 16:26 - Nov 11 I don't know where McCarthy gets the idea that the fans were starting to turn against him. A huge majority understand where he has taken us from when he arrived, to now and with hardly any funds. Certainly at games I have attended during the run without a win, the support has been excellent for him and the players.
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Wickets added 16:51 - Nov 11 I seem to remember he got a few jeers from some behind the dugout after the goalless draws. Me thinks that what he means, he said something along the lines " all of a sudden no more Super Mick" on Radio Suffolk.
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NoCanariesAllowed added 17:06 - Nov 11 Seemed to me that after so many steps forward in the last few years, there's a certain number of Town fans just waiting to jump on McCarthy the instant we take a step back. Suspect those who have been calling for his head are not people genuinely concerned with our recent form, but more those who simply never wanted him in the first place.
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Langdon_Blue added 17:21 - Nov 11 They'll always be a few, Wickets. I'd have thought he'd ignore those as long as the majority were sticking behind him. Oh well, hopefully they'll be no reason for the boo boys to make any noise for a while now...
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blueboy1981 added 17:54 - Nov 11 ..... all is well again in the minds of some - we are now going to win the Championship - Didn't you all know ??? And of course - 'Pigs start flying tomorrow' ....... !!!! Would be good to be proved wrong though - that would make me 'a happy chappie' - along with the permanent residents of that Street.
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Kirbmeister added 18:07 - Nov 11 Pengiunblue - where do we belong, in the premiership? - us along with two thirds of the teams in the Championship along with a few from each of league 1 and 2.
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bluearmy84 added 18:09 - Nov 11 i believe that most of the critism came from a minority of people that post negative comments on social media sites and websites like twtd. i find some of the comments after games hilarious! and to be fair i find comments made in the ground about certain players frustrating and usually made by people that dont know anything about football and have never played the game and dont know what they are talking about!! admitted under mm we dont play the best stuff at times but there are times we do and we certainly win more games under his management and at the end of the day winning is all that counts!! mcarthy best manager for a long time at the club and certain fans will only appreciate mick sadly when hes gone! but for me i think the man is awesome

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StowTractorBoy added 18:20 - Nov 11 Langdon Blue are you a regular on this site if so Mick McCarthy was lambasted on here in our bad run. Posters were critical of the style of football we play and when we lose MM always takes unjust and at times abusive stick. You only have to look at the number of after match comments when we lose compared to those when we win. It is disappointing to lose but some of the comments on here against McCarthy were in my opinion unnecessary. Just hope the fans don't drive him away.

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Langdon_Blue added 18:30 - Nov 11 StowTractorBoy - yes, I do regularly visit TWTD. That's why I specifically referred to the support in the ground by the supports that actually watch the games. I sincerely hope McCarthy doesn't waste his time reading comments on this site, albeit some are so ridiculous it is very amusing. I do enjoy TWTD for excellent coverage of our team and there are plenty of sensible posts, like yours.

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jas0999 added 18:56 - Nov 11 I agree. Two very good wins, particularly scoring 5 away from home, which at any level is impressive. More importantly Murphy scored which is critical. That said, we can't over look the standard of opposition. Both good wins, but December may impact our season. If we can stay in touch after some tough games, add some quality to that midfield in January, then we are in business. I still think we need to add goals to that central midfield. Promoted teams have them. We don't. Overall though, recent games are reasons to be cheerful.

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bluebare added 19:10 - Nov 11 We won 2 games against bottom teams doesn't mean we are back to our best. I am hopeful that we have picked up some confidence. Any way its down to the power of my Mo. last 2 seasons we have played well during Movember and I kept it till new year then we lost when it went.
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WarkyWonderLand added 20:29 - Nov 11 So 7 Championship managers have already been sacked this season and we are barely into November. That shows what is wrong in football and life in general in the 'microwave' society we live in now of having everything instantly. If you look back at last season we had an awful October and didn't win a game!! We have only lost one more game than last season at this stage and only have 4 fewer points. The football may not have been super sexy and turgid at times but 2 defeats in 10 now. I know who I would prefer in charge that's for sure and you don't win anything or promotion in November. Keep the faith and COYB

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Pip50 added 20:32 - Nov 11 I'm with penguin blue those of you think that this manager can take us up are on another planet. Yep he works on a wafer thin budget outside those regulated all championship teams pretty much do. Two fine results doesn't take away the awful tactics and football. Play offs no chance. Some footballing sides coming up will confirm that.
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Keaneish added 21:00 - Nov 11 Bet you never thought we'd make the play-offs either did you Pip50? There were a lot that didn't.
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wayway added 21:09 - Nov 11 Very well said Penguinblue, someone who can see the bigger picture. So there is a slim chance we might scrape into the playoffs again. Is this what we must expect of this once great club. And what if we don't make the playoffs? Is there anyone who thinks Boring Billy should still be here this time next year
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Warkys_Tash added 23:09 - Nov 11 It's way too early & disrespectful for any genuine Town fan to be calling for Micks head - seriously, people need to remember the state we were in before he restored some parity. However, I will judge if we have turned the corner by the end of December, we will either be knocking on the autos or stopping & stuttering mid-table... Fingers crossed its the former. Two wins against teams you should be beating, if you have any aspirations of getting promoted, doesn't prove nothing - yet.

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carlo88 added 09:36 - Nov 12 @wayway Hilarious, some contributors on here think we're still a club in Europe and the Premier League. Would love to see someone else come in and do as well on this type of budget.
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Europablue added 13:34 - Nov 12 I don't get to the matches very often, but my dad is a season ticket holder and reports back to me. Aside from the result he has just said the games have been dull and poor tactical choices. There are times when a club gets as far it can get with a manager, but it may be worth considering if it is the other way round. I can't think of any better managers that would want us. McCarthy has proven himself to be a top Championship level manager, just not top Premier League. We are emphatically a Championship club with no realistic expectation of promotion, so the matches have to be entertaining. Never sack a manager during the season unless it is obvious the manager can't keep you up. Anyway, the criticism of Mick is somewhat justified but I've never seriously considered getting rid of him.

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Stato added 18:05 - Nov 12 I never wanted Mick in the first place and despite that amazing first season great escape I have seen nothing but ugly boring football for most of the time he has been here. No club in the Championship has conceded more away goals than us despite the defensive set up. I hope Mick does continue the momentum from the last 2 games but I can't see him making the defensive changes that the MAJORITY of fans are calling for.

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