McCarthy: A Draw a Fair Result Saturday, 2nd Jan 2016 18:22 Town boss Mick McCarthy was happy enough with the Blues’ 0-0 draw at Burnley, believing that the level scoreline reflected what he felt was a really tough but entertaining game at Turf Moor. “It was probably a fair result,” he reflected. ”There wasn’t a lot in it. I thought it was a great game, a really tough game. “The marker was made on the very first challenge [by Sam Vokes on Christophe Berra] and it continued until the 94th minute. “I thought it was a great game, really tough, between two teams who were really competitive, neither one was going to give an inch. “There weren’t a lot of chances, there were two or three shots [Burnley keeper Tom Heaton] had to save but straight down his neck. I’d take a 0-0 draw, of course. I think it was probably fair.” McCarthy said he had no issue with Vokes’s challenge on Berra in the opening minute which left the Scot - who played alongside the Wales striker for Wolves under the Town boss - requiring several minutes’ treatment. “It was just a challenge, it was a bit like Reg Varney’s challenge [on Joey Barton] late on, they went and challenged,” he said. “When he clattered him, Dychey is saying ‘Well done Vokesy’ and I’m thinking ‘Yeah, you twat, Vokesy!’. But it was just a challenge, that’s all it is, he’s clattered him. “I’d like my centre forward to clatter their centre-half exactly the same. And what was lovely about the game was that both teams competed and nobody’s whinged about anything, they’ve all got up and tackled and challenged for headers. “I know we haven’t seen any goals but I thought it was an entertaining game between two teams who were prepared to scrap it out. “That’s all it was with Sam Vokes. Good luck to him, I’d like to put my marker on the centre-half first one as well.” He says Berra, who was wearing a bandage on his head after receiving a cut in the game against QPR and has had a tooth knocked out on several occasions this season, is fine and confirmed that he wasn’t concussed in the incident. “He’s all right, we’ve told him he’s Bobby Moore and he’s great,” the Town boss joked. “He was remarkable because when he came off the field I thought he was coming off for good, he looked dazed, but then he wanted to go up for the bleeding corner, which I couldn’t believe. We got a corner and he wanted to stagger up there - ‘Stay where you are!’. “I thought he was awesome against Andre Gray. I know they were all whinging about fouls, there weren’t any fouls, they were all backing into each other, he’s backing in, he’s holding on. “Everybody thinks they were fouls, well, I just thought he stood up to him, I thought he was brilliant today, Christophe. He epitomises my team.” Regarding Burnley’s disallowed first-half goal, McCarthy said he couldn’t make a comment as he didn’t see the incident. “Absolutely nothing, from where I was stood with all those people in front,” he added. “He gave a freekick. I didn’t see owt.” The Town manager had praise for Ryan Fraser and Freddie Sears: “The two wide players are good players. Ryan, we’ve missed him, he was out for most of four months. “Strangely enough it coincided with a real dip in our form when Murph hadn’t scored, we lost Didzy, we lost Bish, Kevin Bru, so to have him back is great. “Freddie’s just been a star all season, I think. It’s lovely to have Luke Hyam back, he gives us a real tenacity and a bit of steel and he adds to the team.” McCarthy says some sides would have buckled when facing a Clarets team he rates very highly. “I think Burnley won the league two years ago and they were just as they are now, a good team, with a good team ethic that work very hard, they’ve a real toughness about them,” he continued. “Me and Dychey were talking, we’re behind the likes of Derby and Middlesbrough for spending power but we have that team spirit and that ethic that goes a long way. And I think they’re just the same with good players. “But they came up against a good team today, who played well and competed for everything. We didn’t back down. I would imagine some teams do when they come here.” Regarding new loan signing Paul Digby, McCarthy said he views the 20-year-old as a centre-half, despite the former England U19 and U20 international having been primarily a central midfielder up to now. He says Digby could sign on a permanent basis if he impresses: “We’ve signed him on loan with a view to a permanent deal.” McCarthy says Jonathan Douglas wasn’t too far from being fit but the Blues boss didn’t want to take any risks with the 34-year-old. “He had a bang above his knee,” he said. “Dougie wanted to play today but he’s played most of the games this season and has been different class and I’d sooner have him right for Leeds and for Preston and make sure he’s OK. I’ve got a squad, Luke Hyam’s back, it was great to have him back.” The draw took the Blues’ Christmas-New Year points haul to seven, more than McCarthy was anticipating over the holiday period. “You’re not wrong!” he said. “I said we would have taken six, so we’re one in front of that.” Burnley manager Sean Dyche was pleased with his team's display, but was disappointed that Ben Mee's goal was disallowed. “It was a scruffy game I felt, and a good performance in the sense that we were playing an in—form side who have just won five on the spin away from home," he said. “They are no mugs and they grind games out, working from their shape and getting the ball forward at every opportunity. “I felt we dealt with that well and had some good moments ourselves. “We didn’t create enough in the end and I will say it was a hard afternoon for Andre Gray, who didn’t get a lot today, I’d suggest. “I try not to get too involved with referees, so I’ll let others decide that. “But I’ve had a good look at the goal that was disallowed. There are two of their defenders in there screening with our two forwards, and there is minimal contact on the keeper. “He gets penned in by their own two men, so I am disappointed in that decision “With all those things considered, to come away with a nice clean sheet — our ninth of the season and third in four games — means we are making this a tough place to come.”
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