Tommy Smith believes Town boss Mick McCarthy has performed a minor miracle during his time in charge at Portman Road, especially since progress has come on the cheap.

McCarthy was true to his word in not getting involved in the late spending frenzy on Monday as the transfer window closed, leaving others to finalise multi-million pound deals in the quest for success.

Smith said: “The gaffer told us after the transfer window closed that if he was to bring players in he would have to spend millions and millions of pounds to better what we already have here, which is something we obviously can’t do at the moment under whatever budget Marcus [Evans] has given the gaffer to spend.

“The gaffer has worked wonders in the transfer market without spending a massive sum and long may that continue because it holds the club in good stead financially as well.”

Smith agrees that players who move in big-money transfers are under pressure to deliver, adding: “I would imagine it adds a dimension of pressure. You are looking at people like Jordan Rhodes — the expectation is that he will fire Middlesbrough to promotion now so there is massive pressure on his shoulders.

“But these guys are attracting big fees and being paid big wages for a reason — they are good players and the majority of them can cope with the pressure. In our case we’ve earned respect from how we went about our business last season, ending up in the play-offs.

“It is tougher to do it again because teams will be taking us a bit more seriously and know what we’re about. Maybe that’s why we had that tough period earlier in the season, because teams were more prepared for what we had to offer.

“We managed to overcome that and hopefully we can go on another good run to cement our place in that top six.

“We are currently more than holding our own despite clubs around us forking out a lot of money on new signings.

“But when teams are spending money there is probably more pressure heaped on them. We put pressure on ourselves internally and we know we should be in and around that top six. We’ll be doing whatever it takes to stay there.

“We believe we can challenge the teams who are there with us. It shows how good the gaffer has been with the additions to the squad that he has brought in on a shoestring budget compared to the other teams. He deserves all the credit he is getting for that.”

Photo: Action Images

Kikapu added 13:32 - Feb 5 Well, there's no doubt he's a McCarthy fan. Good lad.
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JewellintheTown added 13:41 - Feb 5 I should hope the whole team feels constantly under presure considering the wages they get and the job they're paid to do, large transfer fees or not.
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essex57 added 14:27 - Feb 5 Well said Tommy just goes to show the bond in the team I've always been of the opinion that to have good players with great team spirit is as good as few class players with no team spirit that's what happens when you bring a few players in on high transfer fees and higher wages it's a kick in the teeth for the engine room of the team.
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derby123 added 16:13 - Feb 5 Good point Essex57. Living in derby and speaking to a lot of there fans. Many of the opinion that they have paid over the odds for average players. The problem they have is that clement doesn't no his best team. But due to the money he paid for many of them he's afraid to drop them no matter how bad they play and it seems to of had a detrimental affect on the team spirit etc. Think this shows that it's very well having money to burn but you need the right mixture in the squad and you need to buy into what's trying to be achieved. Derby to me seem to be a team of individuals.

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jas0999 added 17:20 - Feb 5 Quite agree. Shame on Evans for not providing more financial backing to a manager who has worked wonders and could probably do even better with a small but modest cash injection.
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Bluetone added 17:38 - Feb 5 Should drop-proof you to the end of the season Tommy.
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Seasider added 17:53 - Feb 5 Well said that man. Agree about Derby.Same thing happened here with GB in 2nd Premiership year Matteo Sereni,Finidi George et al. Think most fans even the most devout supporters of MM would like to have seen us spend a bit in transfer window. Agree with our captain from the glory years Mick Mills,when he agreed about Derby;but said that a couple of carefully selected players could have enhanced the squad and been simulated;whereas loads upset the balance. Hope MM brings in a couple perhaps during the final Loan window which opens on Monday.

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magnus68 added 17:59 - Feb 5 Kissing your bosses ass? I think he is honest and humble.
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Westy added 10:06 - Feb 6 I am frustrated that we have not added to the squad, and had Marcus Evans not made money available for Keen and Paul Jewell to waste he perhaps would make it available to Mick McCarthy now. Generally, though, I agree with Tommy Smith. McCarthy has acquired Frazer, Pitman, Sears, Bru for virtually nothing, although know Frazer is on loan but even so has done well to attract him to Ipswich.

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