Town boss Mick McCarthy felt the Blues’ 3-1 victory over Newcastle United on Sir Bobby Robson Day was a fitting tribute to the clubs’ legendary manager. Goals from Freddie Sears, David McGoldrick and Emyr Huws saw Town to the win, with ex-Blues striker Daryl Murphy netting for the Magpies.

“I think it was a great tribute to Sir Bobby and Lady Elsie, who was here and all the family,” McCarthy said.

“I’m not sure which side he’d be on, I think he must have favoured us today.

"I think the game was a fitting tribute to him, it was a good game. It was a lovely thing to do and it’s nice to be part of it, I have to be honest.”

Was the win and performance against one of the division’s top sides and the Blues’ first back-to-back victories coming at this late stage of the season to some extent bittersweet? “No, it’s just sweet!”

But McCarthy agreed it was Town’s best performance of the campaign: “I would say so, especially with beating Newcastle at home, so I would guess it makes it even better. It’s the best one.”

Did he sense some nervousness from the visitors as they close in on a return to the Premier League? “You get nervous at either end, we were talking about that before the game.

“If you’re in that top two and you start looking at the games and wondering, and likewise for us on Friday night [at Burton], we were nervous. But thankfully we held it together and won.

“But we deserved to win today, we’ve just been better than them all-round, I think. And if anybody goes away talking about Newcastle being nervous and not playing very well, I think that would be an injustice to my team and my players today.”

With their Championship status having been all but secured by beating the Brewers 2-1 on Friday night, did he feel the shackles were off for his players? “Maybe, that’s a good story. But I thought we played well on Friday night when the shackles were on good and proper and if we’d have lost we’d got Newcastle coming. We played well on Friday night.

“That’s a little bit unjust to say that, although it may well have happened. They are feeling it a bit and I did say to the lads there are 25,000 coming here to watch.

“I said, ‘Not us by the way, I’m sure none of the f****rs are coming to watch us the way we’ve been playing here. So if that’s the case, I’m not bothered about that but make sure they’re talking about us when they go home, in a positive manner, and make sure they’ve come and they’ve enjoyed watching us’.”

“So for whatever reason it’s a good performance. I can’t get to the bottom of it and tell you why. Maybe it’s the fact that David McGoldrick’s in his pomp and playing great and Freddie and Tom Lawrence and Wardy, I thought the front four were excellent. Anyway, I’m not really bothered about the reason why, I’m just delighted we did.”

Regarding third goalscorer Huws, who is on loan from Cardiff, McCarthy reiterated his desire to keep the Welshman at Portman Road but says there’s nothing new to add on that front: “I’m only repeating what I’ve said before, but yes.”

McCarthy said he was pleased to send everyone happy and with what was an excellent Portman Road atmosphere, which hasn’t always been the case in recent times.

“That’s because we’ve been shit!” McCarthy added, referencing terrace chants at recent matches. “I’m cool with that, I’m fine. But it’s not been helped by a shit atmosphere as well.

“It cuts both ways, doesn’t it? Cuts both ways. I said when we were struggling and maybe could have got relegated, I said the crowd are part of that as well if it happens.

“And they’ve been a great part of a fabulous victory today and I love to send them home feeling that way.

“And we did for a long time, we had 13 victories on a Tuesday night here. It was fab, it was great. Like I said to you before, I kept the club up, three top 10 finishes and I’ve had a bad year this year.

“Isn’t it great when everybody turns their back on you and sneers at you and actually wants to stop you coming to the game and things like that. I’m glad they’ve enjoyed it today. Good. I have as well.”

Keeper Dean Gerken missed out on a place on the bench again due to a shoulder injury, while Jonny Williams was in the squad but not included in the 18.

Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez was disappointed with his side’s display which he felt was significantly worse than their showing in Friday’s 1-1 home draw with Leeds.

“I am concerned about the change in the team in terms of the performance against Leeds and the performance today,” he admitted.

“We know we still have to win games — and we must improve a lot. We knew it could be this kind of game today and I felt we were ready but it seems we were not.

“We were not focused or mentally ready. It is difficult to explain that but that is the reality. As soon as we scored and had control of the game we made another mistake.

“We are paying for our mistakes and we have to learn from that. But it is still in our hands.

“This was not us at our best and we have to change quickly. We all have to take responsibility — we win and lose together.

“Was it our worst display of the season? I don’t know and I’m not worried about that. We lost and that’s it, and I am disappointed because of that.

“We know something is wrong and we have to analyse the situation. We have had a lot of very good performances this season and we need to do it again.”

Photo: TWTD

SitfcB added 19:25 - Apr 17 Mick speaks the truth and people get upset again. The same people lapped up whatever he said when we were top 6!!
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thundercat600 added 19:26 - Apr 17 MM has a point, a few thousand supporters wandered home happy tonight, that is apart from the few "Mick out" so called supporters that voice their opinions on here. For the people who want MM out you have a choice get behind the team through thick and thin or stay at home and water your gardens.
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ArnieM added 19:28 - Apr 17 F**** Off Mick McCarthy. You're not wanted by the fans anymore. We have zero respect for you now.
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Swn98 added 19:28 - Apr 17 100%correct Tony88
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arc added 19:29 - Apr 17 Brilliant. Next match: "Mick McCarthy's Blue and White F###ERS!" :-)
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dusth added 19:31 - Apr 17 This is feeling a bit like a witch hunt and whatever you think about MM he has given a hundred per cent. My immediate reaction was that he wasn't talking about Town supporters who turned up loyally to every game and was suggesting that they were people who had come to see NU play. I don't think he would either feel that way or be so idiotic as to diss the support of real fans. Look at his other comments, he has taken most of the sometimes vitriolic criticism on the chin. Not a fan of the defensive play either just a fan of fairness and not rushing to judgement. (First Town game Sheffield Wednesday 1 Ipswich Town 4 - season 1961/2)

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Swn98 added 19:32 - Apr 17 Doseofreality I don't consider he was calling me a fcker just those mindless supporters that chant crap at him and some of his players if the cap fits wear it.
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grubbyoik added 19:34 - Apr 17 Great result and performance on such a special day.. So leave it at that McCarthy.. Im not a fxcker.. neither is my son.
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legal_blue added 19:39 - Apr 17 Gosh - Town fans here are behaving like a bunch of snowflakes. Ooh, MM used bad language - disgraceful! Of course, it's fine for thousands of fans to chant 'f*ck off MM', and probably a lot worse, at the stadium and when he's out and about. But woe betide, in jest, after a fantastic performance, he digs back. Grow a pair, or get back to your darning!
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thar22 added 19:39 - Apr 17 What a difference it makes when Chambers plays centre back and when Kenlock plays left back instead of Knudsen and when Freddie plays up front instead of wide left. It's not that difficult is it? To be fair Skuse had a good game today as well.
14

itfchorry added 19:45 - Apr 17 Co back to Spain SW98 !
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Spanishblueblood added 19:47 - Apr 17 I see Micks morons have come out of the woodwork, pmsl. Swn/essex57 changes like the wind, wasnt long ago he said mick had to go, now he is jizzing all over him again, hilarious!
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Spanishblueblood added 19:49 - Apr 17 Horry, i dont want that plonker here in Spain, you keep him!
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RRanger added 19:49 - Apr 17 Great performance by Town (and MM) today. I was at Fulham and enjoyed the game if not our finishing, but for me the one blot were the 150 or so fans that spent virtually the whole game chanting obscenities directed at Mick and Marcus Evans. I agree with the posters here that have said if you can't take it, don't dish it out. I for one am not offended by Micks after match comments today.

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cat added 19:50 - Apr 17 This is typical bad managing and PR from MM. He has had plenty of opportunities to reconnect with the fans but rather unwisely continues to use the two fingers. Like I have stated before, I really do like and admire this kind of response, after all I'm quite used to dishing it out!!!, and if I'm being really honest here, I would be the first to admit that I have what known as a slightly warped sense of humour!!! This will not appease the masses though, so basically MM has shot himself in his foot again, what a shame (lol) 😂.

2

BrandestonBlue added 19:52 - Apr 17 I recall similar indignation when Sir Bobby described us as a bunch of zombies in the early eighties Still wish MM had kept his mouth shut as it does nothing to heal the rift between club and fans
1

bbg added 19:53 - Apr 17 On many occasions, including a press conference this week, MM has thanked the fans who continued to support him and his team during a difficult run. The MM comments referred to above were not directed at such fans. Sir Bobby had reason to describe some of this clubs supports as morons, due to the vitriol that he experienced early in his reign. How would any of us react if we were on the receiving end? Supporters have to learn that it is not acceptable to abuse players, managers or referees. I can tolerate a bad performance but not the vitriol which are part of football grounds nowadays. No player or manager sets out to lose matches or play badly. If we don't like a meal in a restaurant, we don't launch foul mouthed tirades against the chef. If we can act in a civilised manner in other aspects of our lives, why can we not do so at football matches and let the people who run the club get on with it. We also have to accept the reality that unless a wealthy investor comes on board, we will have to sell our best or most marketable player each year to balance the books, and will need a lot of luck to get into a play-off position for the foreseeable future.

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DoseOfReality added 19:54 - Apr 17 Swn98 not sure why you think MM comments not directed at you if you were one of the f***ers there The patience shown by town fans this season is remarkable & to be insulted for turning up in good numbers on Sir Bobbys day is disgusting & he should be sacked
13

surgery added 19:56 - Apr 17 Let's be honest, our owner probably condones the use of this language because, as an alleged ticket spiv it's part of his everyday vocabulary
2

Gcon added 19:56 - Apr 17 Blimey. You are really struggling for something to moan about when all you can manage after today is to pick up on a swear word. Grow up, ladies. Well done Mick & the team.
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itfchorry added 19:57 - Apr 17 Fair comment SpanishBlueBlood - North Korea !!
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Lightningboy added 19:58 - Apr 17 Great win but changes absolutely zero as far as my feelings regards getting shot of McCarthy are concerned - 1 great performance over the course of a season is almost as pathetic as the Mick fans re-appearing in their droves tonight. Today's effort was probably more down to a man who sadly passed away a few years ago rather than our current boss.
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Kesblue66 added 19:59 - Apr 17 This man has no class,or respect. Not fit to tie up sir Alfs,or sIr Bobbys boot laces .
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Spanishblueblood added 20:01 - Apr 17 Yes horry. With one of them missiles shoved firmly up his arse!
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kevinocallaghan added 20:07 - Apr 17 Dusth , well said. Legalblue , I fully agree . The abuse some fans dish out , but how sensitive they can be .. Did Mick not say fans played a part today , he loves when they go home happy . Same fans choose to ignore the positive comments. Anyway I feel more like focusing on a fantastic 3-1 Victory over second placed Prem bound Newcastle ! Well done Blues !!!
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