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McCarthy: Bonkers Start, Magnificent End!
Tuesday, 12th Jan 2016 23:05

Town boss Mick McCarthy felt his side thoroughly deserved their 2-1 home victory over Leeds United, despite Brett Pitman’s winner coming two minutes into injury time.

“It was a bonkers start and a magnificent end to a really good game, one that we thoroughly deserved to win, I might add, so it was a fitting end in my view,” he said.

“Weird’s a good word for it, conceding after 12 seconds. I thought they obviously started well, they got the goal, but it was just a mistake and they finished it well, good luck to him. Well done. I can say that now we’ve won, of course.

“I thought for 10 or 15 minutes they were probably slightly the better team, I think after that we’ve been different class, their keeper’s made all sorts of saves and we’ve deserved to win. I think we created enough chances to win two games, to be honest with you.”

McCarthy was delighted to grab the late winner, but was most pleased with the overall display: “It’s the all-round performance, of course it is just about winning, because we could have played well and drawn and we’d all be feeling differently and probably the ‘Super Mick’ wouldn’t have been going behind the goal, there’d have been a chorus of boos.

“But I understand that as well because you expect us to win at home but we were excellent tonight. That’s as well as we’ve played and created as many chances as ever we have. The lads were different class, I’m really pleased.”

The Town boss had praise for Ryan Fraser, the man of the match who created both goals: “In the second half he was great, the game opened up.

“It was hard for him, it was a turgid first half because they were sitting back and trying to catch us on the break.

“It was really cluttered in there and they were defending deep, so it was hard for him. But in the second half he thrived, he was different class altogether.”

Reiterating that AFC Bournemouth can’t recall the Scotland U21 international who is on a season-long loan, he added: “He came for the season, if there’d have been a recall they’d have taken him before now!”

Brett Pitman netted his eighth goal of the season having come off the bench, which came as no surprise to the man who brought him on.

“It’s great when they work, isn’t it?” McCarthy continued. “I’m sure somebody was thinking ‘What are they taking Murphy off for, he scored 27 goals?’, but we’ve got good substitutes.


“I keep saying, I look behind me and I’ve got players who can make a difference and he did. You fancy him if it comes in, he’s great header of the ball, he’s a great finisher, but he works at his heading and it was a fabulous finish.”

The Blues boss was similarly pleased to see his skipper Luke Chambers head his third goal of the campaign.

“He’s an attacking right-back!” he added. “He’s really transformed from being a centre-back. He’s bought into it, what I love about him is that he’s done it unconditionally and selflessly and he’s made himself into a good right-back. He’s a top bloke, a top pro, a good captain and I’m delighted for him.”

He also had praise for midfielder Cole Skuse: “Skusey’s a Premier League footballer, I’m delighted to have him here on a long contract. I think he’s been a special player for us.

“I’ve had a couple of digs, but he was much maligned because he sits there and helps it on, he’s a continuity player, but he breaks things up and he gets back. He’s a delight to work with as well, a great guy.”

McCarthy says he was confident his side would win even when they were one down at half-time: “My half-time teamtalk was very calm and calculated, I thought we were excellent, if we kept playing that way and opening them up, we’d create chances and we would score.

“I said if we score one we’d score two and we’d win the game, I fancied we’d win it even at that point.

“That might sound bonkers that but I thought we were dominated possession in the game. But we had to play well in the second half, they’ve got good players Leeds, they’re on a good run, or they were.”

He added: “I think the performance is the sign of a good side and the performance warranted and merited the win. They keep going to the last, they always have. They’re a terrific bunch of lads.”

Leeds boss Steve Evans was disappointed his team didn’t see the game out: "We had a perfect start scoring in the first minute and we dominated for the first 10 to 15 minutes.

“You know they are not going to pass the ball around, instead lumping it to [Daryl] Murphy. It became a dour battle between the two teams.

"Their two goals came from two crosses when we switched off - they were two poor goals.

"We should have tried to take the point but at the end Souley should walk the ball into the corner for their goal.”

Evans was furious with referee Fred Graham, who wouldn’t leave the field after the game until the Leeds boss had been removed from the tunnel by stewards.

"I can't fault the efforts of my players though the referee will be getting a low mark - I thought he was absolutely garbage,” Evans fumed.

"We got in good areas to create but we didn't create enough. It demonstrated to me that we need to bring some more quality into the football club and we are trying to do that.

"Ipswich are a benchmark for us, but I don't think they deserved the win. In spells, they were disjointed and just as bad as we were.

"I don't remember them creating too much in the second half but at the end, we just switched off and were punished.”

Winning goalscorer Pitman felt the Blues were well worth the three points.

“I thought we played well tonight and we thoroughly deserved the three points,” he told Ipswich Player HD .

“It would have been harsh on us if we’d only got one point because there was only one team trying to win that game and they would have been delighted with a point.

“Obviously it wasn’t an ideal start but conceding that early gives you a lot of time to get back in the game. It’s nice to come on to make an impact and it’s turned out that I’ve got the winner tonight ,which hopefully puts me in the frame for Saturday.

“You can’t win the league, get promoted or reach the play-offs with 11 players, you need a lot more. We’ve got a good squad here, as the manager keeps saying, and instances like tonight probably prove him right.”


Photo: Action Images



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jert16 added 23:06 - Jan 12
So lucky to have this man as our manager! What a job, what a man!
23

itfc1981 added 23:09 - Jan 12
For Evan's sake...
3

alztar added 23:10 - Jan 12
My thoughts on Steve Evans comments:

Sorry, what?
11

jert16 added 23:10 - Jan 12
Evans.. wow, just wow
12

RaymondovicBlue added 23:11 - Jan 12
Now to finish off Portsmouth and set up a full house against Bournemouth... AND more league matches to win.

Sitting will in the table tonight..... Keep it coming boys!!!!
4

Flewitt85 added 23:12 - Jan 12
Steve Evans what a knob!!!!! Sorry gav but he's a prick!!

Did he watch the game that I did??

We deserved all 3 points and then some tonight, great performance.
23

brainbox added 23:13 - Jan 12
I guess the ref had to get Evans shifted from the tunnel to let everyone off the field - what a fat git!!
9

Stato added 23:13 - Jan 12
You at the same game as the rest of us Evans ?
10

KuqiCoup added 23:14 - Jan 12
One of the most dominant displays you'll see. We battered them for 90 minutes in all honesty. On another night we could have scored 6. We passed it well. We didn't play just long ball. We mixed it up. Dominated possession. Had nearly 20 shots. Leeds barely mustered an effort and the comments from Evans are the most deluded comments I've seen for some time.

It would be closer to the truth for him to claim to share Cheryl Cole's figure than to say we didn't deserve a win. What a pathetic loser.
12

Smithy added 23:14 - Jan 12
Steve Evans, prize knob!!

Maybe Mr Cellini will be calling later???
3

LesTibbetsbrokenleg added 23:15 - Jan 12
Ridiculous comments from their manager. Been on the sour grapes Evans?
6

Jimmy86 added 23:15 - Jan 12
Bore off Evans you fat tax dodging tosser!!! We created enough chances to win 2 games across the whole game. The ref was garbage!!! But he gave your shower more than he gave us, must be in awe of the "massive" club Leeds are..... he gave fouls for Leeds that were minimal, yet waved away blatant fouls against us... what can Evans moan about?!
7

billlm added 23:16 - Jan 12
Evans must have been at a different game
4

OwainG1992 added 23:17 - Jan 12
Steve Evans just likes to get a reaction we had 10+ more shots on goal and we were crap? Who cares...we won! We are 5th! And crazy to say it but 2nd place does not seem impossible.
2

irish_tractor added 23:19 - Jan 12
An American interview with Evans would describe the 260 lbs manager as being unhappy. Where I'm from he's just a big fat moaner.
One thing you can say about mick he has a bit of dignity in an interview.
5

Woodbridgian added 23:22 - Jan 12
Who cares what Steve Evans thinks he's just a fat slob with a Sombrero !
3

pointofblue added 23:25 - Jan 12
Super game, super result.

And I'll happily pay for Steve Evans to visit Specsavers; he obviously needs to.
5

manualthetisfanclub added 23:28 - Jan 12
Steve Evans = divert
0

Bert added 23:32 - Jan 12
As much as we were awful for 25 minutes we were excellent second half. Evans normally talks sense, on this occasion he is clearly deluded poor man. Skuse and Fraser top class and everyone played their part. It's still not silky football but can't say that any team other than Borough are better than us . Grinding out results and ending other teams winning streaks appears to be to our liking.
1

WashbrookBlue added 23:36 - Jan 12
No surprise on here that such an excellent performance and exciting finish produces barely a page of comment with the usual protagonists of doom missing, how disappointed they must be. That team tonight represents the best starting XI at the club, fit or unfit. Yes you could argue for finding room for a fit Bishop in there but I just think the balance in that XI is spot on with Bru in an advanced position leaving Skuse (who was outstanding tonight) and Douglas to do what they do best. So pleased for the much maligned Chambers to get a goal after a first 10 seconds he'd rather forget and those Fraser crosses were absolutely sublime - what a way to finish tonight! This team is some way from being the finished article and our limitations are laid bare on here to the nth degree - if only people could balance that with recognising the fantastic spirit , endeavour and - yes - maybe a bit of quality too. Fantastic boys, same again Saturday please and lets leave volcano face Evans to lie down on the bus floor and calm down a little....
13

truckertractorboy added 23:38 - Jan 12
Wat is evans on about abit of a give away of wat happened in the game was apart from picking the ball out of his net after 12 seconds deano didnt need to make a save . Fraser fantastic scuse fantastic the rest good bring on Preston
3

BlueandTruesince82 added 23:38 - Jan 12
What do you expect of a man who emails owners regarding his availability whilst his predecessor is still in the hot seat.

The comments he made towards Neil Redfern a coupe of weeks ago show what a complete lack of class the man has.

Best result of the season just because it's Leeds and just because Steve Evans.

4

WicklowBlue added 23:40 - Jan 12
A bit bitter are we Steve hahahaha

On another note Micks presser must be the new record for the phrase "different class"!
5

carsey added 23:45 - Jan 12
Evans is a deluded idiot or he is trying to divert the Leeds owner from sacking him. For those who think the referee was poor I have to disagree. It was pleasing to see someone let the players make a challenge and the game keep going. Most of them blow the whistle every time someone looks at an opponent. And don't forget this one is our lucky referee.
-2

ChrisFelix added 23:47 - Jan 12
Shame another crap referee
3


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