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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.”
FROM THE BOSS: Gaffer delighted with #itfc display as Blues come from behind to see off Leeds in dramatic style
https://t.co/yBtgAquVpa– Ipswich Town FC (@Official_ITFC) January 12, 2016
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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The ref was poor but Evans was worse. The lino flagged for offside with about 10 minutes to go and, as we had the ball, the ref played on. Both Evans and his assistant complained that the lino had flagged for a goal kick - the ball didn't go within 30 years of the goal line!! It was that poor a shout it was embarassing.
I have moaned about the hoof football of the last few home games - we were so much better than that tonight. Fraser, Skuse and Smith were outstanding....
It's interviews like this after results like this that make me so damn proud and happy that we have Mick as our manager rather than someone like Evans, who will blame everyone but himself when something goes wrong. Brilliant result!
What a fat c*nt Steve Evans is,talking a load of old sh*t about tonight's game! A brilliant win against crappy & now "little" "joke" club Leeds! Doing the double on them is so sweet! "Marching on together,they're gonna win f*ck all!" Going to game on Saturday & coming up from Bristol,hopefully another performance & 3 pts like that will go down a treat! Tractor Boy til I die,COYB!
Love Ryan Fraser,can we keep him Bournemouth please,pretty please! He's our loanee super Scot for sure,hope he can stay fit for remainder of season! We need him playing like tonight & banging those great crosses into the box. Also such a pity & real sad that David McGoldrick has become a sick note as would love him back too. Think he'd have a fight on his hands to get back in the side though!
This is probably our best line-up, but that's a bit harsh on Pitman and Oar, who at least can be very active subs. When we have this team available, we obviously can play some decent football. Hope we can keep this going now. Well done to all involved last night.
That's what happens MM when you play your strongest team ( apart from the keeper) and that's also what happens when you play football not hoofball and guess what that's what happens when you have possession ! Thought Skuse played the best I've seen him and deserved a mention . Steve Evans was watching a different game but just a tip for him don't have a comedian in goal it lets the rest of your team down and puts the back 4 on edge as they have no clue what's going to happen next !
Evans ... What planet are you on man. You're team was outplayed outworked and outfought. We battered you for 75 mins after shaky start. Hoofed it at Murphy ?? And you don't do that with Wood in the team ?? We had nearly 20 attempts at goal. You had 1. You're next best 2 chances were both by Tommy Smith as he tried to cut out crosses. Something your team couldn't do hence the 2 goals. Ryan Frazer is an absolute wonder. FAR FAR to good for this division. He lit up the game after shocking fouling and no protection from a "garbage" referee. That's the only thing you got right you stupid fat tw&t !!!!!!
Evans is a bad loossseeerrrr, no need for those comments Evans- youve gone down in my estimation. Thought it was our best footballing display this season. Skusy was magnificent. Loved it
Evan, Evans, what's the score, aaaaggghhhhhhh shhhhhhhhhh. Complete sour grapes as Leeds season ends, you only make one relevant point, yes the ref was awful, how come you only escaped with one booking despite persistent fouling and timewasting! Enjoy your mediocrity for the rest of the season.
Evans you do realise you're team wasn't in Blue tonight? How did we not deserve to win that! you have a stroke of pure luck when Dougie miss controls it and you score. We're like where the flip did that come from and you have momentum, FOR ANOTHER 9 MINUTES! after that as the Pitbull said "only one team wanted to win!" If you didn't deserve to lose that game then looking forward to your unbeaten end to the season!
Really not sure what game Evans was at but it wasn't at Portman Road. He's right about the referee, he was poor, but only cos he gave us nothing at all. How Leeds can be disappointed I don't know. Football is all about opinions as this website often proves but only one team tried to win that match and only one team deserved to win it.
I think Evans comments place into even sharper focus how good Mick is. Mick is a genuine man, who sees things clearly and states the facts exactly as they are. He gives an honest assessment, whatever that is. When Town put in a poor performance on Saturday, Mick was fully gracious to Portsmouth, complimented them on how well they played, that they deserved to win, and was honest in his assessment of where Town were short of the required standard. Mick is always like that...sees it clearly, states in clearly. if Evans is that delusional, how can he properly make the improvements that Leeds undoubtedly need? All that guff about "We need more quality" as if thats something he's going to do and can achieve. You and 91 other league managers with the same aim, mate. The fact that Mick is always honest in his assessments, sees them clearly and looks to improve on them is the bedrock of why he has slowly and gradually improved our team from relegation fodder to promotion candidates
I have a very low opinion of Evans after reading his ridiculous comments, he'll never ever rise to Mick's standards spouting such degrading garbage, a very poor loser indeed.
I am reliably informed that Evans even entered the Referee changing room after the game and continued his rant. I personally thought we have had worse Refs than Fred Graham and he was not helped by the performance of the linesman on the Co-op side. He was way below the standard required.
bizarre comments by Evans! the ref was poor and didn't give anything all night but I feel he missed far more fouls on Town players than the other way round??!
Lumping it to Murphy?... we passed the ball around far better last night than most games this season. Imagine what he would have thought if he'd been to watch us play a few weeks ago! :)
He is clearly a terrible loser and the Leeds fans on Twitter have been saying as much. The majority of comments I read agree that we dominated the game for 80 mins and deserved all 3 points.
Evans what a pathetic nerd we gave him a goal start and all they did (goalie mainly) was play at time wasting so if that's your "Benchmark" Evans you will shortly get the now regular Leeds managers Boot goodbye and good riddance to !!!
Evans is a prize tw@t! We outplayed Leeds for 75% of the game and created enough chances to win three games! I absolutely hate millwall, Leeds and Norwich and I thoroughly enjoy beating all of them, when it happens!
Evans comments on game absolute proof that 'Salad Dodging' seriously damages your eye sight' - best display by Town for years. Fraser class, excellent shape to team and everyone working for each other. Apart from goals highlight for me was pass Hyam made to set Fraser free for the cross that Pitman couldn't quite reach. Shows he has this side to his game as well.
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