McCarthy: Pompey Deserved to Win
Tuesday, 19th Jan 2016 22:32

Town boss Mick McCarthy admitted that Portsmouth fully deserved their 2-1 victory over the Blues in this evening’s FA Cup third round replay at Fratton Park.

“I thought Portsmouth played well again tonight and deserved to win,” he said. “I think that we’ve given barmy goals away, to be honest with you, and you’re never going to win against anybody if you’re going to give goals like that away.

“A bit like at home, I thought we were better in the second half. But, as I said, we gave the penalty away and we didn’t defend a cross which was pretty routine.”

McCarthy had no argument regarding the penalty, awarded in the first half after Piotr Malarczyk had fouled former Blue Gary Roberts, who netted the spotkick: “None at all.”

Having changed his entire XI, the Town boss says the performance reaffirmed his belief that his regular team is the best he has available: “It’s confirmed to me what I probably already know, that the best side is the one that’s been playing.

“With Christophe Berra with a shoulder injury and Chambo playing with a calf strain on Saturday, I need them this Saturday and to have a chance of being in those play-offs I need that best team playing week in, week out.

VIDEO: Mixed emotions for 'skipper' @LukeHyam19 following FA Cup defeat at Fratton Park #itfc https://t.co/V3saC1Jkns

— Ipswich Town FC (@Official_ITFC) January 20, 2016

“And unfortunately, that’s why some of them had to play [this evening]. Did any of them give me a problem about picking my team over the next few weeks? I don’t think so, no. But I know the ones who are capable of playing.”

McCarthy felt sent-off defender Malarczyk’s second yellow card was a touch harsh but wasn’t interested in debating the minutiae of the game: “He’s run across him. There’s no intent in it, he’s just running back and he’s run across him.

“I’m not here to complain, they deserved to win, so complaining about other things is irrelevant to me.”

Does he have any regrets about fielding such an extensively changed team? “None whatsoever, except that our fans didn’t see a particularly good performance from the lads who came in.

“I think Brett and Reg up front have had to work damned hard, and Ainsley, Luke Hyam, Tabby. Some of the young ‘uns who have come in, if I need them over the next 19 games they’re going to have to perform.

“Like I said, none of them have really given me any great headaches in terms of picking them, I know who the best players are.”

He added: “I’m disappointed to lose, of course I am. I didn’t come here to lose. Maybe the fact that these haven’t played for 10 days meant that they were fully fresh and they played well at our place. They deserved to win there.”

Portsmouth assistant manager Leam Richardson said: “From both the games, first we went to Ipswich and we thought we gave a good account of ourselves down there and were disappointed with the goal to take it to a replay.

“But you’re playing against a good team in Ipswich, a top Championship side with a class manager and management team, so to get ourselves through was a great credit to our lads.”

Despite Town exiting the competition, Reading’s 5-2 victory at home to Huddersfield means Town’s Championship game against the Royals set for a week on Saturday will be postponed and will be played on Tuesday 2nd February.

Photo: Action Images

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essex57 added 22:43 - Jan 19 Fully agree Mick good luck to them now let's move on to the more important business of getting out of the championship.
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Ipswichlove added 22:43 - Jan 19 Why don't McCarthy you put a bit of a decent team out for the fans that travelled up there. You are effectively putting two fingers up to them. Shows our strength in depth really. Poor.
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Global_Blue added 22:44 - Jan 19 if that's the quality of our strength in depth then alarm bells should be ringing.
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stantheman added 22:45 - Jan 19 What he should say is the ref was garbage and we were deserved something from the game. Oh sorry wrong manager.
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bluechill added 22:45 - Jan 19 "I didn't come here to lose." .... Really? Little evidence to support that. A very very sad day for ITFC.. The final straw for me... No respect shown for the sport at all.
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BriggEnd added 22:49 - Jan 19 Hope it does not back fire on you mick this saurday for playing that weakened team tonight like it did after the Man Utd game. I feel very sorry for the hardcore who traveled tonight. The club should be embarassed and refund the fans there hard earned cash who went tonight its a disgrace . Rant over onwards to saturday we await !!
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manualthetisfanclub added 22:52 - Jan 19 Feel sorry for the 800 who went to watch that shower, lack of respect or prioritising league? The latter no doubt. Now his "best" team now need to produce on Saturday otherwise he won't look too clever.
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mickeyjb added 22:57 - Jan 19

Their managers comments Made me laught, I guess he has the right to say that they did indeed beat Ipswich, however one that is a million miles from our best one!!! We do have no real strength in depth so I would say money is required to rectify this. One more injury to Frazer and we are doomed! I can't help thinking tgat we are the championships Man U (without the money of course), in reality we are doing quite well, however what is being seen is pretty sh1te! And if the dream is promotion then how long would we last playing like we do, especially as our best player doesn't even belong to us!

Mark added 22:58 - Jan 19

What's worrying is our lack of strength of depth in defence. We have three solid Championship defenders in Berra, Smith and Chambers, plus Knudsen who is adjusting to English football. Beyond them we are reliant on the players who played tonight: three youngsters and red-carded Malarczyk. Okay Foley is joining, but I dread injuries at the back derailing our play-off campaign.

bluechill added 23:01 - Jan 19 Prioritising the league, interesting theory, do we/mm really want promotion? We would get thrashed most weeks and he would run the risk of being sacked fairly sharpish... Being around the play offs without going up keeps him in work indefinitely.
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Karlosfandangal added 23:02 - Jan 19

Well done to all that traveled to Portsmouth, however I don't get this the club is putting two fingers up to the fans stuff.......we all knew that MM was putting out a reserve side so the fans that went knew what sort of team would be on show.
I keep forgetting that Ipswich is only about the 1st eleven........ O wait a minute I think half the side were classed as 1st team regulars last season.
I think the club should go on a cup run to keep the fans happy instead of trying to get a bit of the billion pound band wagon called the Premiership.
Hit that minus button as I don't agree with the wingers

Karlosfandangal added 23:03 - Jan 19

jollyroger added 23:06 - Jan 19 Well that shows our strength in depth we haven't got any only weakness if we had to rely on them money must be spent to get out of this league and into prem
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essex57 added 23:11 - Jan 19 Blue chill don't think Mccarthy would be out of work too long plenty of clubs and fans would be glad off him as he once famously said enjoy the promotion cause he will be sacked by Christmas that's the nature if modern football
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Pezzer added 23:12 - Jan 19 Umm... Pompey away is a difficult game at the best of times, and I think it was a bit unfair on the inexperienced players to come in at a hostile ground and play a full 90 minutes. I wonder if Bournemouth will do the same when they go to Fratton Park.
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gippeswyk added 23:14 - Jan 19

I was there and the first half was embarrassing. Portsmouth played Town off the park and fully deserved to be ahead at half time. We just didnt want it enough. They closed us down and worked hard and skillfully. We couldnt keep possession or string an attack together. I feared a mauling second half but MM must have taken a rocket into the dressing room and Town improved second half but the best side won. I don't blame MM. I blame the players. They were outclassed by a league 2 side, for the second time in fortnight. Hard to pick out anyone for praise. Bart was kept busy and kept the scoreline respectable. Maitland Niles scored a great goal. Hyam worked hard. Otherwise, they should all be ashamed of themselves and should refund the 800 fans who were let down. Last time MM fielded a weakened team, against Man U, to focus on the league game at the weekend we lost both matches. I hope resting players for Birmingham sees us take the 3 points and all will be forgiven.

yungblue added 23:19 - Jan 19 Promise you, McCarthy isn't the right man for the job
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Pezzer added 23:24 - Jan 19 I went too. Obvious we hadn't much understanding as not a settled team, unlike Pompey. Bonkers to make XI changes as team will not gel. The 3rd round of the FA cup used to mean something. Good job MM was manager in 1978!
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Pezzer added 23:25 - Jan 19 NOT!!
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vodkaboy added 23:32 - Jan 19

Heard too many times this season 'they deserved to win' / they 'deserved a point' / we didn't deserve anything - yet again a McCarthy team crashes out of the FA cup - supports claim he isn't interested in the competition - I for one would like to see us get at least into the 4th round! Also we need to hear less of MM comments as quote above after league games if we are to truly be a team challenging for the PO's

oldegold added 23:36 - Jan 19

The guy is a professional joke who lacks the bottle for a fight. Appalling cup and play off record and it shows.Should bow his head in shame and personally refund all the 800 who travelled.
I would say that under MM, we should be scrubbed from all cup tournaments as he doesn't give two hoots and we might as well stay at home. Tonight I burnt my bridges with him.A complete waste of space..

Garv added 00:02 - Jan 20 Bit pathetic really. Could he sound less bothered?
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Daz added 00:24 - Jan 20

I think mick is unfair to say his best team etc. These guys where chucked together and expected to match the first team? Some have hardly played all season. Then to be judged like that by Mick. Guess tabby is not golden balls anymore and some of these players would do better with the weekly footie and playing in a settled team so don't be to hard on them guys. Mick knows best now so no saying who should or shouldn't play anymore

MyBlueHeaven added 00:26 - Jan 20 Could McCarthy be charged with bringing the game into disrepute by not giving a 'flying one' about the FA Cup (and League Cup for that matter)? Won't happen of course but that's basically what he's doing. Utterly shameful.
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