Town boss Mick McCarthy hailed a performance and result which he felt reflected his four years at Town more accurately than some other recent games as the Blues defeated Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 at Hillsborough.

“I’m delighted with that,” McCarthy said. “I thought it was a good display by virtually the same team that played last week. Really very, very pleased, of course, and even happier still with the result.”

After an evenly-balanced first half, Wednesday started the second period the stronger before the Blues got on top.

“That’s normal when you’re away from home,” McCarthy reflected. “I didn’t think we’d be the dominant team all that game, they’re a good side with good players, who rotate particularly well and pass it well.

“But we negated that for most of the time, I thought. They didn’t have that many chances.

“And as the game went on, when it got stretched we caught them on the break a number of times and didn’t really make enough of it, which we should have done, until we got the winner. I’m very pleased.”

He added: “I told you on Thursday [at the pre-match press conference] that I don’t worry about my ability or my confidence in the players and they’ve backed that up today with a really good performance.

“I thought we played well enough last week, we were just on the back of two horrible goals we gave away and it was hard to play then.

“We’d had one win in seven [before the Rotherham game], it doesn’t get any easier under those circumstances, I thought we were excellent today, I was really pleased with that performance.”

Regarding Tom Lawrence’s excellent opening goal, his first for the Blues, McCarthy said: “I said to him before the game that all he needs to cap off his performances is a goal because I think he’s been excellent for us, a really good signing, really good performances.

“I don’t think I’ve left him out, I think he’s played every week. He got his goal this week and it was an excellent goal.”

Skipper Luke Chambers netted the winner, diverting a Christophe Berra header which was going wide.

“He intercepted a header which was going over the North Stand by Bez,” the Town boss continued. “Nevertheless, they were both in there and attacking it and it was great when it went in the net.”

McCarthy felt the display typified what his Ipswich Town teams have been about over his four years in charge far more than some other displays.

“If anyone wants to judge me, crack on,” he added. “But that performance today and that result reflects my time at Ipswich, my four years and 202 games far more than performances they choose to carp on about.

“That is more like my team, that is more how I’ve been than some of the other performances, Brentford away, Leeds away, that reflects me far more. A nice result.”

He was pleased to be able to field a 4-4-2 formation with widemen, having not been able to name the team he ideally would have wanted to in recent weeks.

“I’ve had it here before, I had Tabby and Ando, although I’m not going to say they were flying wingers, but we were playing 4-4-2.

“I’ve not been able to play 4-4-2 really, I’ve had Pits injured, Reg Varney injured, Didzy injured, we sold Murph, Besty came in.

“So to play two strikers from the start when we’ve only got two it makes it pretty difficult then to make substitutions.

“That’s my preferred way of playing, sometimes I’ll choose differently if we have to stop the opposition but it proved fruitful today.”

The result meant McCarthy’s remarkable unbeaten record as a manager at Hillsborough continued.

“Apparently, maybe they should make me the manager here!” he joked. “No, I forgot, I’ll be with [Ipswich] for another couple of weeks now.”

McCarthy's only managerial defeat to Wednesday came as Millwall boss in a League Cup tie at the Den in 1995.

The win and performance see the Blues go into the international break with the mood much more positive than it was going into the game.

“Of course it is,” McCarthy continued. “Had we been going into the international break, we were all having a couple of days off whatever happened, but the difference is that I’m going to enjoy them now.”

Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal thought his side were under par: “We didn’t perform at our levels, that was the problem today. I hope this game will be an exception in the run that we have because really we were playing, very, very well in the last seven or eight games.

“Today we didn’t perform to our level. We know we were playing against a team that don’t concede many goals, they play very compact, they have very good discipline.

“We knew that before the game, we prepared for the game, we took a goal with a mistake when we were planning to attack, we conceded a goal in a fast attack.

“After we try to find a way to score and we scored to make it 1-1. In the second half we started well in the first minutes, pressed a little more but really we don’t act today like a real threat to Ipswich.

“We were losing energy, we were trying but we were going against a wall and, of course, when you go against a wall and you try to break lines you open up spaces for the counter-attacks.

“One of the counter-attacks we made a fault we can’t do and from the fault they scored to make it 2-1. I think it’s very heavy the score, we didn’t deserve to lose the game, but we didn’t deserve to win also.”

Photo: TWTD

Stato added 18:15 - Nov 5 Not a mick fan but best away performance since Brighton last season
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Mark added 18:22 - Nov 5 Credit to McCarthy for playing Bishop, Ward, Lawrence, Sears, AND McGoldrick AWAY to Sheffield Wednesday. It goes to show that when we have confidence in ourselves and attack teams we can get results, and that defensive football is not necessarily more successful results-wise. I suppose McGoldrick's return is key as he makes such a difference. Please stay fit David. It's great to go into the international break on a win, especially with Norwich struggling. We have two home games after the return, and if we win both we will have the same number of points Norwich have today. All to play for. Well done lads.

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TrueBlue1998 added 18:23 - Nov 5 Well done Mick. Attacking changes paid off, no shutting up shop today. Keep going about your business and we can get out of this
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blueboy1981 added 18:24 - Nov 5 ...... this man always has to have a pop at the fans who question him - in many ways his attitude towards the fans, who ultimately pay his wages, is just not good enough. Mick - sarcasm, of which you distribute often - is the lowest form of wit. Arrogance is one of your strong traits, which will never warm you to some supporters, and rightly so to. Just let your results speak for you - and win games for us. That's all.

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martin587 added 18:27 - Nov 5 4-4-2 suits our style of play with the team that MM put out today,but I don't think we should get too carried away with the result although it's great to win away and it's making my drive home from Sheffield a happy one. TL is a class player and McG is looking better with each game.I felt the midfield was more balanced without two defensive players.For me Bishop is still not at his best and I feel his long term injuries are still holding him back and I would have preferred JW in his place today. The defence is still prone to making stupid errors and the goal Hooper scored should have been better defended.Having said that it was a good away performance against a Sheffield side off form on the day. Well done lads,and let's just hope MM can see hhis best team and the correct tactics going forward.

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Suffolk_n_Good added 18:31 - Nov 5 A great result, I hope it means we've turned the corner, the fact that McCarthy is now playing Sears up front (like we had been asking for) the fact that McCarthy has now dropped Douglas (like we've been asking for) the fact McCarthy is now lining up with 2 up front (like we've been asking for) (you get my point!!) means we are playing better football & hopefully will continue to get results. Bit of a sour note to end with, but personally I think could have built bridges with the fans by recognising that he's made mistakes, & take a more humble tone in his post match interview, rather than taking a "there's 2 fingers up to the fans" attitude, until he does, I'm afraid people will still want him out.

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Lukeybluey added 18:33 - Nov 5 well done town! I actually had a cheeky bet that we'd lose 2 nil, so I'm glad I've been proved wrong! Onwards and upwards!
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Pencilpete added 18:33 - Nov 5 If you listen to any pundit on sky or Channel 5 they all wax lyrical about the job Mick has done here with no money, if you read Harry from Bath's pre-match look at the opposition forums they nearly always have comments from the other fans along the lines of "It's never an easy game against one of Mick McCarthys teams" The man commands huge respect throughout the game, the only ones who don't appriciate him seems to be his own fans.

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therein61 added 18:37 - Nov 5 Oh you love a dig at the people who pay your wages don't you Mick!!!! while todays result is very welcome(well done), and with hope better things to come which this club deserves! you seem unable to accept comments directed towards you when things have been so dire this season when it has been your fault and yours alone with your negativity selection wise which has driven supporters away, now for heavens sake keep it going get a smile on your face, the chip off your shoulder, and get us up the table if you are positive then so will we be and fill the ground again that big man is the way to go!!!

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DirtyOldNodger added 18:43 - Nov 5 blueboy1981 - where in the article above do you think Mick is being arrogant? Sarcasm is a trait you will find in a lot of people from Yorkshire, doesn't make them arrogant!
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pragmatic added 18:51 - Nov 5 About time some "critics" listened to what is actually said & give some credit during our "poor" spell. Obviously "trolls" will pick up on this! !
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blueboy1981 added 18:52 - Nov 5 DirtyOldNodger ......... as in all life- all about opinions. You entitled to yours - equally so, me to mine.
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hairbear added 18:53 - Nov 5 SUPER, SUPER MICK...
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blueboy1981 added 18:56 - Nov 5 ....... the messiah has risen - we'll be winning the Championship next - in some eyes .... !!!! Oh well - it takes all sorts ....... I've never known one swallow to make a summer yet.
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cromwellblue added 18:56 - Nov 5 Blueboy81, if you are going to have a go at someone on a forum like this don't be a cry baby if the target bites back.
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alfromcol added 18:56 - Nov 5 We wait to see if this is a new era of free flowing football and more wins that draws and losses. Two home games now and nothing less that 2 wins will do. No mention of super Dougie?
6

lightingblue added 18:57 - Nov 5 I've always likes mick. A real gentlemen. Always pleased when he comes out with the quality results lie this. Marcus Evans must also be appreciated. Given mick time. He has a company to run. He ultimately saved our club financially and still trying to deal with the dept. please if somebody here can stump up the same amount of money one way or another then please crack on.

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yorksblue added 19:04 - Nov 5 A decent performance. Should have been more than 2 with 2 nd half dominance, but I'll take this. Thought Webster was easily MOM. Sears and Didz looked dangerous at times.. Now turn this into a consistent run.
1

franco added 19:11 - Nov 5 I still hate you so much mick you pr1ck
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sereneblue added 19:39 - Nov 5 Totally agree with blueboy, soon as he wins a game he starts with the sarcasm towards the supporters. Your a poor excuse for a manager ,blames everyone,rather than himself.
19

TimmyH added 19:43 - Nov 5 Was the performance that good today?...1st half played fairly well 2nd half nothing until the last 10 minutes, the diffence being this time we had the personnel to snatch the game at the end unlike other games. Only time will tell if Mick will get the best out of this squad, if he can't get us in the top 8 with them then he has failed! Consistency consistency!
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BlueMachines added 19:46 - Nov 5 Yes PencilPete. The fans who have to put up with boring non entertaining footy all every week. If you've ever listened to Sky Sports it is blatantly apparent they know little about the Championship. All they reel out is cliche after cliche, no real knowledge to back it up. The commentary and punditry is poor every week. MM has done well on a budget. No doubt. But people are bored. We don't like knowing however well youngsters play they won't get a look in. And we're fed up of favourites playing. MM is clearly feeling the pressure with the way he has started to defend himself fiercely of late. On another note, well done today Town. Let's hope the positive team selections continue and we can win a few games.

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Bluesquid added 19:58 - Nov 5 A good result today but due to our form, style of play, criticism, reduced gates and of course after last weeks embarrassment where a last gasp equalizer got him a draw in a massive game against the bottom club, Mick was 'forced' to go to Hillsborough and field the squad that he did today to get a result. It will be more telling and interesting to see how 'Super' Mick sets up against Forest and QPR. We shall see.

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ArnieM added 20:01 - Nov 5 Credit where credit Is due. Mick finally gets his best players back and starts to play a more attacking line up. Bring on the next two home games. Win those and we're on a role. BTW How did the scum get on today?
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BillBlue added 20:06 - Nov 5 Pencilpete - In a way, by saying 'his own fans' you could be right. Take the trouble to read the forums from Sunderland and Wolves when he had been there a while and you would find they are identical to this forum so yes, 'his own fans', the ones who see the truth, would be right.
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