Town boss Mick McCarthy admitted his side had “mugged” Derby after sub Luke Varney’s goal eight minutes after half-time saw the Blues to a 1-0 win at the iPro Stadium.

“I said to the lads, sod the two draws, let’s lose one and win one,” McCarthy said reflecting on the away trips to Reading on Friday and Derby.

“I didn’t feel that way on Friday, I have to be honest, although I did say after the game we’ve got to repair it and if we do that [we could win].

“It was unlikely, we’ve mugged them, to be fair. They were better than us. They dominated the first half and for 10 minutes we were hanging on.

“But it was all the stuff that I preach to the players and I think sometimes supporters don’t like it when I’m talking about being resilient and tough and hard-working and putting a shift in. It gets ridiculed a bit.

“But without it you get nothing for me. We’ve shown all those qualities tonight. When we were getting a right royal doing in the first half we we’ve got blocks in and saves in and headers out, they couldn’t score. But it was unlikely, they were better than us, played better but couldn’t score.

“And we had Johnny on the spot, Reg, who has been waiting for his chance. He’s a fabulous guy around the place. It’s great when a sub comes on and does that, it’s brilliant.”

He added: “He gave us an outlet we didn’t have in the first half, which was why I made the subs.”

“I wanted to stop them coming forward onto us as much as they were. We weren’t coping with it.

“I was tempted in the first half but I don’t like doing that to players because that is really detrimental to them, so that was why I was screaming for the last five minutes of the first half to make sure we didn’t concede and then I could make the changes. And it’s nice when they work.”

McCarthy had praise for the evening’s debutant, another half-time sub: “I just said to Tom Lawrence, ‘You’ll do for me, kid’. He’ll fit in with us, he’ll be right up my street, he worked his socks off.

“And it’s hard for him, and for Conor Grant who had been out for two weeks. Tom’s come on and it’s hard to show your true ability when you’re having to work as hard as that because when the ball comes sometimes your touch isn’t there, he’s not been playing competitively, so he’s behind everybody else, but I’m really pleased with him as well.”

Regarding Tommy Smith and Freddie Sears, who both missed the game through injury, McCarthy said: “Tommy’s got a problem with his back, he needs some treatment on that and Freddie had a groin strain.

“They were never coming. Sorry for not telling you, but I thought why should I tell everybody my team and who would or wouldn’t be playing. You’ll have to forgive me on that one.”

Are they doubts for Saturday’s home game against Aston Villa? “We’ll see, they’ve been back having treatment. I think Freddie, if it had been a cup final and we’d only got one game left to play then we might have risked him but not when we’ve got 39 to play.

“Cole Skuse had the snuffles and sniffles this morning, flu symptoms, he was bunged up and he’s done well to play 72 minutes. The other two changes were tactical.”

Derby boss Nigel Pearson was disappointed with the result but not with his team’s display: “Mick said to me before the game that he felt that they’d been mugged on Friday, I think they’ve probably done that to us tonight.

“Of course, it’s a disappointing night and it’s difficult to sell the idea that that was OK when you’re losing games. To score one goal so far this season in the league is a poor return, but I thought the player deserved to win the game. I thought they played exceptionally well, but there you are. Move on.

“I really felt for the players after the Newcastle game and I feel for them more tonight. I felt for the fans and the players.

“But the good thing tonight is that I think our fans could see what our players are about, they stuck with them, which is positive, and really you’ve got to be pragmatic with how you look at nights like to night.

“In the context of what’s happened so far this season, that was a very good performance which didn’t get the result we were looking for.”

Photo: Action Images

beornioblue added 11:13 - Sep 14 up a towen !!! 3 points away from home ill take that any day , dont get me wrong id love to see attractive flowing exciting football every week as I sit in my blue plastic chair of frustration!! Unfortunately were not that team yet so 3 points in the bag for later in the season when Jonny is back, Bish is starting, Lawrence is wowing us and the Grants continue to impress will be very very handy. So in terms of points haul well done boys gutsy away performance special mentions to Webster and Bart !! Now lets hope we can do as the song suggests and S*&t on the Villa!!!!!

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Karlosfandangal added 11:16 - Sep 14 To be fair we are up there and not a million miles off the top, still don't think we will make the top two, however with Lawrence, Williams,Best and Grant and Bishop still to make their mark its a possibility we may creep in to the top six. With more attaching football it will take the pressure off our back four like it does with teams like Derby etc, If that would happen then it's bad news for Bart in the MOTM tables

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jas0999 added 12:21 - Sep 14 The bottom line is we are not good enough. We went there and bored everyone, played a brand of football which fails to entertain. Football was the loser last night. What a sorry state. Some on here will be happy, but on the whole, this brand of football and low quality footballers isn't what the once great name of ITFC is all about. Result papers over the cracks. We have a terrible reputation.

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Ferguson added 12:34 - Sep 14 3 BIG POINTS that keep us in touch. Every team needs the odd win against the run of play - our turn last night. Very pleased. 20 + shots but only 5 on target shows how we frustrated them last night. There'll be more games like this where we'll need to fight for every ball and grind out results if we're t get anything from the likes of Newcastle and Villa. We can do that. I thought that Mac Carthy looked tired and a bit low in pre-season to be honest He comes across in this interview as if he's got his mojo back - maybe getting angry does him good ! Changes to his last 11 forced by injury made a difference and forced him into changes, but the substitutions made a real difference. MM's squad isn't as thin as some on here might have us think. As for Bart ? Player of the season with only 7 games gone. Performance like that after getting beat by 2 penalties ? Fantastic character. Fantastic keeper.

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Cheshire_Blue added 13:15 - Sep 14 Many of the usual moaners are conspicuous by their absence. Long may it remain so.
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BlueMachines added 13:19 - Sep 14 @ Cheshire_Blue MM certainly doesn't get the best out of what he has, and bottom line that is ultimately my problem with him. Players continually out of position and playing poorly as a result. Round pegs in round holes please.
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Penguinblue added 13:59 - Sep 14 Cheshire - no offence, lets enjoy the win. Not much point complaining when we succeed - but rest assured I am 100% McCarthy out - BlueMachines above gives one reason - I previously have given many others That's be honest - the football is crap
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battyblue added 15:40 - Sep 14 Boring play for a 0-0 draw McCarthy sometimes pays off ..about one in ten last nights! never watch this crap now rather watch any match thats trying to play football .But well done to the team who do what the manager instils in them to do.
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rinkydinkpanther added 15:47 - Sep 14 If people can be buoyed by a good performance when losing, as McCarthy seemed to be after the Reading defeat, then it's also perfectly legitimate for people to express concerns in a performance after a win. Even if it was at Derby (although Derby's status as one of the better teams in the division has to be called into question so far this season). Yes, a win is a win. But some wins are achieved in a way that certainly doesn't point to anything representing a flourishing long-term future for a club. On the other hand, winning when you don't play well is also considered to be a good sign. It's fair to say the jury should remain out on the season so far. But, as ever, McCarthy's footballing philosophy in most games - home or away - seldom inspires admiration, more often that not elicits despair, and, more problematically, doesn't really produce the results with enough frequency for it all to be forgivable.

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Pilgrimblue added 16:53 - Sep 14 Many on here the likes of penguin and jas are being realistic so for all you adorers of MM they aren't moaners. We got away with the points at Derby but if we continue relying on Bart and defensive style it's going to get very nasty. Can't believe that MM has failed to get passing sorted as it looks like the players have no faith and just lump it up in the hope it'll find a blue shirt. Same with defence (can't remember when Berra last found his man in space ahead) so pleased that Webster got another chance. I accept that new players need to settle in and get over their injuries but if MM continues to select Skuse Douglas and Bru, then there's going to be lots more unhappy fans on here.

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NoelTheDub added 17:57 - Sep 14 OwainG1992 As you say an away win v Derby is very good and everyone agrees even me, but think back to Reading match and the shocking performance by our team football wise and again last night MUGGED was the word he used if this is the way forward that is my issue.We can do better that is for sure and that is what I want to see at my club but this manager is going to bore,grind, mug results that a sad reflection on this club at this time..

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Seasider added 18:13 - Sep 14 When I heard MM interviewed,he seemed very realistic,and didn't get carried away with our performance.Having seen 10+ minutes of highlights,I can see why he said that Derby were mugged. Talk about parking the bus,and at times 10/11 behind the ball,and hoof clearances to nobody in particular so it came straight back again. However a win is a win,and it looks better viewing of league table;but these are the type of performances that we were seeing when he first arrived;so no progression football wise,although would take some ugly wins away from home. Lets hope we see a better performance from the midfield and strikers on Saturday to take the pressure off the back five.

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blueboy1981 added 18:56 - Sep 14 ........ we have a superb Goalkeeper to thank for this win. And the Manager is still reluctant to play him - one small slip, and he'll be out - to make way for Gerks the Manager's favourite. Not many teams (none actually) will be envious of our set in stone starting midfield - Skuse, Douglas, Bru ........ there cannot be any less productive midfield, even in League 1. What we saw again tonight is :- McCARTHY STYLE - if you expect more - forget it, it won't happen. EVER.

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