Town boss Mick McCarthy hailed his side’s 2-0 home victory over Bolton Wanderers as a “great result”, even if he admitted the Blues weren’t brilliant against the division’s bottom-placed team.

“A great result, a fabulous result,” he enthused. “But I’m not going to sit here and tell you we were brilliant, but the result is.”

McCarthy felt his team were second best in a less than enthralling first half with Bolton better than their position suggested, as he had said at his pre-match press conference.

“I’m not sure whether you ever listen to me at press conferences, it always seems like a manager who is getting his excuses ready already when I’m talking about them as a team, just because they’re bottom of the league,” he said.

“I sometimes wonder if you’re all going, ‘Good one, bottom of the league, two points, they’re crap’. I’m saying this is what you’re saying, not me, by the way. ‘I can’t believe he’s even saying that, they should rollercoast and steamroll them’ and all that.

“Well, if ever my comments on Friday afternoon hit home, then that was true, because they’re a good side. They’re a handful with well-worn Championship players.

“They were far better than us in the first half, we were lucky to get away with it and I temper that luck with having to keep it out of the net, which we did.

“We defended, we had to defend, we had to scrap, we had to be belligerent and I decided to change it at half-time. I was going to change it anyway, it wasn’t working. They were doing it better than us.”

Regarding Cole Skuse’s goal - his first in 29 months and only his second for Town in his 175 starts and one sub appearance in four years - three minutes after the break, he said: “He’s just been drugs tested, maybe that’s why. Although I think he was probably pulled out before he scored. It took a deflection, but it was on target, it’s Skusey’s goal.

“It didn’t really matter, I said at half-time we needed a spark from somewhere, whatever it might be.

“Bersant hadn’t done a great deal, but I think it just caused them a problem, maybe even just changing the shape of the team. I thought we started well and then the goal was the icing, wasn’t it?”

Does Skuse get a ribbing from his team-mates for his lack of goals? “I’ve not seen him yet because he’s been whisked off to pee in a bottle and give them a sample for his drugs test.

“No, not really, there’s a lot of ribbing goes on in the place, but I think the players, like me, appreciate Skusey for what he does. And he’s brilliant, I thought he was outstanding today.”

Responding to comments regarding Skuse’s self-deprecating response when questioned on his lack of goals, McCarthy joked: “He can’t boast about it, can he? He’s got less than me, I think.”

More seriously, McCarthy says he’s unconcerned by the rarity of goals scored by the 31-year-old holding midfielder.

“I would like Skusey to score more and I would like our defenders who go up for corners to score more, I would like the goals from midfield to come,” he said.

“But also the reality is that I’m not really bothered as long as we score enough goals and we can win games.

“I’m not going to sacrifice what Skusey does for me to get him further forward and then leave us wide open.

“He made a tackle in the first half. When I’m saying we were lucky, that’s not lucky, that’s bloody damned hard work and being professional because he got back and he made a great tackle. Of course I would like him to score more, but I’m not unduly worried.”

Regarding sub Celina, who many fans had hoped would make his first Championship start, he added: “That first half was no half for Bersant to be playing in, no matter how we’d have been playing.

“But as the game opens up it’s certainly better for him. It depends how I’m playing. I was playing 3-5-2 and he was never going to get a game in that.

“He had a face like a slapped arse yesterday because he wasn’t involved but I made a point to say to TC to Chambo and I made a point of saying to him, ‘You be ready to go because you may have your chance’.

“You can’t switch it on and switch it off, you’ve got to be, ‘Alright Big Nose hasn’t picked me today, unlucky, and I’m really upset by it’. But you don’t take that upset into anything else and I thought he was great, he’s been good today.

“Although I thought he tried to nutmeg somebody in front of me and I was going to throttle him but he says he didn’t. We’ll have another look on Monday morning, because it ended up as a freekick and they stuck the ball in the box and we were having to defend with all our might.”

Jonas Knudsen, who was celebrating his 25th birthday today, missed the game having picked up an injury, despite McCarthy having said there were no new injuries at his pre-match press conference.

“I lied yesterday,” he admitted. “I didn’t lie, I just chose not to tell you. I say that and it gives Phil Parkinson the heads-up on what the team’s likely to be.

“Hamstring from last week, it tightened up right at the end of the game at QPR. He was brilliant last week, Jonas. No idea how long it will keep him out for.”

In the Danish international’s absence, Myles Kenlock impressed his manager: “The one person that nobody’s mentioned, I thought Myles Kenlock was different class today from the word go.

“And he’s had a right, royal kick up the arse recently because I want him to compete with Jonas Knudsen for that position, not to be, ‘I’ve been in the first team, the gaffer’s leaving me out because he prefers Jonas’.

“Well, yes I do because he’s bloody better than him mostly. Today, different class, so well done to him.”

What aspects did he want him to improve? “Every one of them. He’s been in the gym been doing his weights and all his strength and conditioning work that he was doing with Lids when he got in the team.

“Being in at nine o’clock and doing his stuff before he goes out. Training properly. I’m not saying he wasn’t training properly, but doing it right, every single day. Not being, ‘I’ve been in the team’.

“It happens to young men of that age. They get left out and they stop doing all the things that got them in the team for lots of reasons.

“And it’s usually, ‘The manager’s not picking me’. I’m not saying he’s said that to me, and he’s a great kid, but to maintain the level that got him in the team, he’s got to do everything right. And today he went and nailed somebody with the very first tackle.

“Fulham two weeks ago, guy has it, gets turned, sticks it up the side of him and I’m going, ‘What the heck?’. I’m not having that, I’m not having it, I won’t accept it and the day I do start accepting that sort of stuff you might as well wheel me out of here.

"And that’s all of them, Flynn, he’s been great, Tristan has. But the moment they drop their guard and they do less than what they were doing to get into the team, into the squad, then they’re out on their earhole. Myles was great today. I was delighted for him, and with him.”

Town, who were watched by only 14,164 fans, the lowest Portman Road crowd for a league game since 13,212 attended the 1-0 victory over Swindon in October 1998, are next in action against leaders Leeds at Elland Road next Saturday.

Bolton manager Phil Parkinson felt his team's performance didn't deserve a fifth successive league defeat.

“We’re hurting," he said. "I thought we did enough to get something from the game.

“We were excellent in parts and created a lot of chances. But we only had three or four on target and that stat has got to be better.

“The deflected goal came at a crucial moment just after the break but even after that we got into enough good positions to get one back.

“There was a lot of good stuff from us and the first win will come.”

Photo: TWTD

blue75 added 21:32 - Sep 16 LWNT2013 sorry you missed my point we don't sing for our manager why? I don't because I want him gone simple!!
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Cakeman added 22:07 - Sep 16 Oh dear Mr McCarthy.....Bolton are a good side!! That says it all.
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44_not_out added 22:26 - Sep 16 Five wins from seven games, top 6 and a game in hand. Some shrewd signings, an exciting crop of young players and key players coming back from injury....... yet still the moaners remain! Sadly modern day football fans will never be happy! Get a grip people and get behind the team
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ChestnutSe added 22:28 - Sep 16 Good result today. 2 points from the top with a game in hand. I think most fans would take that. Well done everybody at Town on the playing side.
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Dissboyitfc added 23:53 - Sep 16 If the performance isnt entertaining yet it remains expensive and the only thing that matters is the result, why bother going? Sadly that is exactly what is happening look at the attendance figures! People do not like what they are seeing, its negative anti-football rubbish. For those Ipswich fans who are happy watching us being out played by the worst team in the division without a win i say keep going and you can help to keep him in a job. Me personally i want to see football back at portman road! this will only happen when he leaves!

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BlueySwede added 00:14 - Sep 17 Unbelievable. The only "different class" players in this team are Bialkowski, McGoldrick, Celina and, when fit, maybe Smith and some other defense players as a unit. We still lack in midfield. The players seem afraid to attack, scared of making a mistake. Yes, we won, but I can understand why more and more fans turn away from watching us. It is awful for most of the time.

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Essexnblue added 04:39 - Sep 17 It is plainly obvious that those that have criticised were not at the game and probably haven't been all season. As for Bart being MOM, then where did that come from as he had nothing apart from 2 routine saves to make although Spence made 2 great blocks, one from Barts error. Celina made a difference but from his mouth "I was hurt in the week", yet the MM haters blast him for not starting him, unbelievable!! McGoldrick along with Skuse were the best 2 players on the pitch and I agree that Bolton were poor but you can only beat whats in front of you and often they had 9 or 10 behind the ball. Get a grip if we win our game in hand we will be top, a far cry from this season. Oh sack Mick and get Mourinho in charge ask him if he will play pretty football to please the fans? I go to see my team home and away win and I don't care how the points are accrued because the game is about winning, ask the supporters of Birmingham and Sunderland! I would love us to play expansive football but with frees and kids that is never going to happen, its about the points.

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BlueMachines added 06:53 - Sep 17 That interview was a painful read. The guy is full of drivel. Celina isn't his type of player but is what we need. And he basically says I'll pick my favourites not form players.
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thundercat600 added 07:50 - Sep 17 Once again all the anger is aimed at MM, what about the players why is their no criticising of them on here. He picks the team he tells them the tactics, they then go out onto the pitch and all they are told is forgotten. One thing that will never happen is a bunch of donkeys performing to the level of a race horse. Yes the players do put in a shift and run around a lot but when it gets down to a critical pass or decision they come up short

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LWNR2013 added 08:02 - Sep 17 Blue 75 .. yes, I read it wrong. I agree 👍
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Crawfordsboot added 08:51 - Sep 17 Blue machines - The moaners on here are the ones spouting drivel - Celina isn't his type of player and he only picks his favorites etc. Well clearly he believes Celina has something to offer - he signed him after all! He held him back in the first half and I agree with his observation that Celina would not have had much impact but offered us an impact option second half. As for only playing his favourites he has played a number of youngsters but makes the point in interview that if they stop performing he's on their case and they are likely to be out of the side - what's wrong with that? Our squad has good spirit but in reality are short on creative quality. In fairness they are trying to pass the ball around and are certainly not in hoofball mode, contrary to the comments of some on here. We are exceeding any reasonable expectation at the moment but hey don't let facts get in the way of a good prejudiced moan!

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RoyalAscotBlue added 08:58 - Sep 17 I just simply cannot understand how people can say that they go, home and away, and don't care what they watch.
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BoxerBlue added 09:54 - Sep 17 2 goals a home win a clean sheet and some fans still moan unbelievable 🖕🏻to all you MM outers
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Europablue added 09:54 - Sep 17 For the people saying we beat a team without a win, suddenly winning is important. I'm just happy that we have made a positive start because the beginning of the season so often sets the tone and now it looks like we are aiming for the playoffs rather than fourth from bottom. I don't watch the matches so I do have sympathy for people like my Dad who do, and he basically tells me that the football is terrible.

3

classicblue added 10:49 - Sep 17 Not published above but MM's comments on Radio Suffolk after the match shows he is not interested in entertaining the fans and he declared that the low attendance was not up to him - somehow laying the blame elsewhere? Just win and all will be well - I don't think that will get the missing thousands back. His 'style' of football should disappear just as the other dinosaurs did.

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StirlingArcher added 13:31 - Sep 17 we won we didn't concede we're pretty high in the table we're playing with kids, free transfers and a four year kitty i could have a slap up meal down the pub with. realism folks see Harry Redknapp for details moaners - yawn... you're more tired and boring than what you make MM out to be
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StirlingArcher added 13:36 - Sep 17 The fact I had to explain why if Celina wasn't fit for 90 mins, bringing him on would be better than starting him (fresh legs vs tired legs) against a staunch moaner in the chat room... sums it up. Moaners don't get the realism of it. although I'm sure he kicks ass on football manager...
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baxter7 added 13:57 - Sep 17 I think i will hibernate until april when mm contract is up and skuses a better team would have beaten us easily
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Pip50 added 14:05 - Sep 17 Trying to be supportive but what a tw@t. Roll on next season with the new man (or women).
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StirlingArcher added 14:18 - Sep 17 you're not trying to be supportive then...
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therein61 added 16:50 - Sep 17 Last seasons dire negativity is returning after he set us up for a point v Bolton at home, had you had Celina at em from the start Mick then we would not have been 2nd best in the first half for gods sake get a grip and be positive otherwise crowds will continue to dwindle.
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Pip50 added 17:42 - Sep 17 Stirling trying but failing lol
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dirtydingusmagee added 18:02 - Sep 17 44not out, yes five wins from seven , that's good, but against who really ? a couple of goals against bottom club yesterday [one of which a lucky deflection] yes the points are in the bank , but unless the performances improve vastly we will hit the buffers as soon as we start playing half decent sides. We have been very lucky to reach the dizzy height we are now in, but anyone who believes that luck last all season are seriously deluded.

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Dissboyitfc added 19:19 - Sep 17 Stirlingarcher.... you didnt go yesterday? i assume not as you were in the chat room! Its easy to look at it from the outside and see 5 wins and15 points from a possible 21. you can also say he has spent very little and has had to rely on some youngsters. Well let me tell you something the Ipswich way has always been to produce our own and get bargains in from a scouting Network. We have never really spent big and when we did it didnt work out. We got in Sereni Finidi Gorge, Le pen amongst others that probably being our biggest spending season! Facts are we have had a reputation for growing our own and Bargains. 5 defenders at home with a holding midfielder against the poorest team in the league and some think that is great, well its not, its wrong. As the season goes on we will run out of luck and slip down the division.

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BlueMachines added 20:40 - Sep 17 If we don't voice our dissatisfaction when winning we get called out as being fickle. When it all started to go down hill I suddenly kept reading how we didn't complain when we were in the play offs Well we're in the top 6 and guess what? I'm not happy.
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