Town boss Mick McCarthy felt his side’s 4-2 home victory over Nottingham Forest was "particularly pleasing" and was happy with the Blues' tally of eight points from their tough run of five games in 15 days.

“There’s no such thing as a bad win, but that was particularly pleasing,” he said. “Especially scoring four goals and, after we conceded the two, defending as well as we did after the second one.”

McCarthy thought his side coped with the blows of conceding Forest’s goals well: “I don’t think you’ve ever seen heads drop from the lads. We might not play well but their heads don’t drop but they’re a really good bunch of lads.”

Martyn Waghorn took his total for the season to 10 goals and claimed two more assists to take his tally to four for the campaign, all at home.

“He epitomised the performance really, five games in 15 days,” the Town boss enthused. “He was a real thorn in their side, he was fabulous."

McCarthy said earlier in the season that Waghorn and Garner cost less than a million between them when he signed them in separate deals from Rangers in the summer and he revealed that the former Forest striker cost most of that combined figure.

“I think Joe was three quarters of it,” he said. “The breakdown of it doesn’t matter, I don’t know the end figure but that’s what I think we paid.

“I thought Waggy was a good player, I wouldn’t have tried to sign him otherwise. But it’s funny when they come on the training ground and you see them play, his awareness, he’s clever.

“His pass to Santie for the fourth goal was terrific. He was on his right foot. He didn’t lash at it and blaze it wide, he’s put it right on a plate for him.

“He is better than I thought he was. Isn’t that nice to say when you sign players, other than he’s a pile of so and so when you’ve signed them? I’ve done that and all a few times, I have to be honest.”

Emyr Huws made his second start of the season and McCarthy says the Welshman is a player who ought to be playing at a higher level.

“Emyr is one of those players,” he reflected. “When I signed him, I sat him down and said, ‘What are you doing here?’. He said, ‘What do you mean?’.

“He shouldn’t be here, he should be in the Premier League, Emyr Huws. I think he’s been unfortunate with injuries throughout his career but he’s such a talent and he’s a great lad as well. He’s a good size, he’s quick.

“To be fair, I thought he was toiling a little bit and then he chased somebody back just in front of us and he opened his legs. He’s a good player.

“He’s getting back to full fitness. I took him off as we’d got subs on the bench but the last thing I needed him to do is end up getting really tired and doing his hammy again.”

Callum Connolly netted his second goal in two games and McCarthy has been delighted with the on-loan Everton man’s displays in midfield.

“He’s been great, he’s played really well,” he added. “I did say he’d got goals in him, he’s got a terrific strike in both feet, although bizarrely enough one was a rebound and the other was a header.

“I think we saw against Sheffield Wednesday when he checked on to his right foot and made the keeper make a good save. He has been outstanding, he’s been great.”

McCarthy was pleased to learn that Dominic Iorfa’s goal was his first at senior level - “a good time to get it” - and said his assistant Terry Connor played a part as the on-loan Wolves man made a lung-bursting run from deep to score having started the move on the edge of his own box.

“Because TC was barking at him to go and get in the box, that’s why,” the Blues boss said. “He’s 6ft 4, got to be, and he’s got Ben Osborn, their left winger, marking him. It’s an unfair fight. He should get in the box and he did. I’m giving TC a bit of credit for that.”

Reflecting on the five games in 15 days McCarthy is pleased with the eight points, although believes it should have been 10.

“Of course, and the reality is the Sheffield Wednesday game still rankles but we’ve made up for that by beating Derby away and beating a good team here today. That was very pleasing,” he added.

“We would have taken the amount of points we’ve taken out of them, however they’ve come.”

Given the busy run of fixtures, he says he’ll give those who have played the most football some time off.

“The lads who have been playing all the games, they’ll be back in on Wednesday,” he continued. “Some of them who haven’t, the likes of Bish, will be in on Tuesday and we’ll go through the rest of the week then.”

Quizzed on whether his critics among the Blues support could question the entertainment value of a game such as today’s, McCarthy reflected ruefully on the chants at Burton in October, which evidently still rankle, as he got up from his seat to leave for his post-match radio interview.

“Always remember, ‘Mick McCarthy, your football is shite’, ‘Mick McCarthy, get out of club’, ‘Mick McCarthy, you’re a boring bastard’," he said. "Always remember, because I do.”

Forest manager Mark Warburton was frustrated to concede Town's two second-half goals after twice pegging the Blues back in the first period.

“In first 10 minutes we found ourselves one down and we hadn’t got the ball into the Ipswich box, we hadn’t got into the final third literally," he said.

“So we started the game slowly and we were one down again. A great set piece and we were back in it, a good goal.

“And then from a great attacking position down our left flank we found ourselves 2-1 down.

“I thought our second goal was tremendous, I thought it was a great goal, a great finish, and it’s two-all. Great for the neutral, but we’ve given two soft goals away and we’ve come back.

“We said at half-time that when we moved the ball we were very dangerous and I thought we started the second half really well. Daryl Murphy dropped his shoulder, got on his right side and the keeper made a good save.

“We missed a couple of good chances and I thought we were in real control and looking dangerous.

“I was aware that Ipswich had had a game in midweek and had a couple of players missing and I thought we were looking very dominant then.

“But we’ve made two calamitous mistakes, simple as that. To get back in the game and to be in that position and to give away a goal, but it’s not about Michael Mancienne making a mistake.

"For us he’s been outstanding, he’s the skipper in Chris Cohen’s absence, he’s been outstanding all season.

"That happens. We win as a team, we lose as a team but we can’t give away goals of that nature. Too soft to give away, you give yourself a mountain to climb.”

Warburton says Blues striker Waghorn's threat was no surprise to him: “I know Martyn very well, I signed him at Rangers. He was one of our first signings.

"We were well aware of the threat he posed, dangerous left foot, physical and enjoying his football.

“We weren’t in for Martyn [in the summer], I have to be honest. We had the situation with Britt Assombalonga and we weren’t in for Martyn, but we were aware of the quality he possesses, likewise Joe Garner.”

Photo: TWTD

OwainG1992 added 18:35 - Dec 2 Very pleased with the 5 games too it has to be said. Villa were clearly better but Weds we were unlucky and showed the fight in getting a point at Hull. Onwards and upwards we go!
2

patthegimp added 19:32 - Dec 2 No wonder we have started winning again. We have Santa playing for us!
1

leftie1972 added 19:36 - Dec 2 That's why Cazorla hasn't played much for the gunners. It's cos he's been warming our bench up!
1

Karlosfandangal added 19:40 - Dec 2 Well the fans moaned about lack of goals and no entertainment....... No problems for goals as we have nearly 2 goals a game, however we are letting in goals at nearly the same rate. Last year I would be worried if they went behind but now Town are always in with a shout. 7 th in the league,one of are best players towards the end of the season back in Huws just need a couple of really good defender in the Jan window and the club are in with a real chance of a play off place. 4 goals today without Garner and McGoldrick starting to have strength in depth

3

Rensham added 20:00 - Dec 2 Be a good time to give Chambers a rest and stick with a settled back four. Well done the boys COYB
3

planetblue_2011 added 20:52 - Dec 2 Great win & a great game of football but still we don't sing the managers name?? He is a funny sod Mick but think we should give him credit when credit is due. We look a decent side now & really think we can make the top 6 with our support for the club & manager. We are 7th for a reason COYB 👍🏻
10

Bluespeed added 20:52 - Dec 2 Yes Mick the fans that traveled to Burton gave you personally a hard time, however you invited criticism by the way you set the team up most of last season & a lot of your comments in press conferences this, it may still rankle with you & I dare say it rankles with many town supporters of all ages the way you have spoken, so come on enjoy the performances of your team , give credit to the 15000 or so that still attend Portman Road & see where that takes us ! It would be very helpful all round if we finished top six to have management, staff & fans all singing from the same hymn sheet, thanks for the performance & entertainment today & more of the same please !

16

WashbrookBlue added 21:03 - Dec 2 Well said Bluespeed. And I think we should give him credit where its due for snapping up the bargain of the season in Garner & Waghorn - those purchases at those prices must be the envy of the entire division. Outstanding entertainment and game today. On one level its really hard to believe we're 7th ...but we are and there is definitely the bones of an upwardly mobile side here that we should allow ourselves to enjoy and be positive about. Incredible that its met with such grudging praise / silence on here. For heavens sake, would you rather lose just to "prove" yourself right about your opinion of the manager. His team selection, preference for overated favourites and PR approach drives me mad but there has to be a bigger picture and if we can't enjoy days and evenings like today then something is very very seriously wrong. COYB!

13

Edmundo added 21:25 - Dec 2 I don't know if I was watching a different game, but our defence was so dodgy today. Cut through so easily, loads of last ditch tackles (and a couple of world class saves). Iorfa was a liability at the back, and although Huws looks class on the ball, he was way off the pace. Still, to be only just hanging on and win 4-2 shows our strength is that we're much more of a threat up front this season. COYB

-1

BlueandTruesince82 added 21:35 - Dec 2 What a signing Wagghorn is looking like..... long may that continue. Absolutely Credit where its due today. Personally moving towards being much happier and i dont expect us to play lilke Barca every week and win a cricket score to nil it doesnt hapoen like that in the championship but more to be done and even one CB that can read the game and steady us at the back would make a huge difference. That said we are scoring goals from all over Celina has 7 from MF, Waggy has what 10? Didz and Garner 4 or 5 each plus Ward chipping in Connolly a couple, today is exactly what we all wanted to see, goals glore, looking threatening and and real open anything can happen game that we came through to claim the spoils. Thata will do me.... please sir, can I have some more?

7

pragmatic added 22:02 - Dec 2 What better way to put 2 fingers up to the mick outers with a performance like today!!
-1

GatesofDelirium added 22:05 - Dec 2 “Always remember, ‘Mick McCarthy, your football is sh*te', ‘Mick McCarthy, get out of club', ‘Mick McCarthy, you're a boring ba*tard'," he said. "Always remember, because I do.” Our manager takes a lot of pleasure in proving people wrong so keep remembering this Mick, we need more performances like today's and there will be songs praising you too.
2

GatesofDelirium added 22:06 - Dec 2 Ironic that I am not permitted to copy the actual quote!
2

heathen66 added 22:42 - Dec 2 There does seem to be some disparity as to what Rangers Claim that we paid for Garner and Waghorn (around £3m) and what Mick claims (under £1m). I can see why both would claim to have go the best deal but as we know it is not all about spending money. I am 100% sure that 2 good resullts does not allow everyone to forget to dire and turgid performances over the last 2 years or so.however until we have more consistent entertainment (like today,like against Sunderland, and...uhm....) then I am afraid the Mick out brigade will always be there. Carry on playing entertaining football see the attendances rise, treat the fans and the club with some respect and then perhaps some can be persuaded otherwise. I for one hope that this is the case...but I doubt it ...unfortunately !!!

2

Bert added 22:49 - Dec 2 I like to see fairness and balance so just remember that although MM should still learn to zip it, he was set up with the question. If we were told in public we were crap at our jobs wouldn't it rankle with us ?
13

RoyalAscotBlue added 23:29 - Dec 2 Today was OK. It was not, by a long shot, as brilliant as some would have you believe. Perhaps they have never known any better? People suggesting that the performance was anything to get really excited about need to consider the facts... We still conceded 2 goals, at home, and our goalkeeper made 2 or 3 world class saves. The result could very easily have gone the other way. We did win though. And I did consider myself to be reasonably entertained.

4

Currie10 added 02:34 - Dec 3 Who'd have thought that Mick may have a damn site more knowledge about the game than people on TWTD. Mick IN. May only have 6 months left of him, get behind the team the rest of this season, you never know you just MAY ENJOY IT?
6

blue75 added 07:48 - Dec 3 I was going to be positive about McCarthy but as he wants to point out that at Burton the fans told him rightly that his football was Sh1te. I'm going to point out that a good performance at home every once and a while isn't going to make up for all the dire games we've had in the last 3-4 years. There's a reason McCarthy's name isn't sung during games even ones like yesterday when we were by far the better team and he can take credit for that. Next game he'll change the team I thought Spence and Webster looked better than Webster and Chambers have this season, but I know who'll start the next game!! I'd love McCarthy to prove me wrong but the fact he brought up the Burton game after he'd done so well shows the contempt he has for us fans. Such a shame as there should be praise galore after beating Derby & Forrest in the last few days!! Nearly halfway through the season and we're in a good position looking up not down, the rest of the season should be very interesting obviously the toxic atmosphere is never far away. I still think McCarthy's position as manager after this season needs to be resolved now not wait until May too much uncertainty will cost us at some point and the fans need to know we're we stand, unfortunately that job falls to Evans and we know how he thinks £££££.

5

Edmundo added 08:17 - Dec 3 50 points look closer now. Then we can start to dream. Solid defence will be vital to this. Ironically we don't have one despite playing as if we do (i.e. on the counter, low possession %)
3

martin587 added 08:19 - Dec 3 MM is like Marmite to many of us.So let's just concentrate on the team and players we have in the squad.They are a very talented group of players. Whatever happens with MM at the end of the season is out of our hands and only one person can solve that ,and that is the owner. Let's just enjoy what we have and the position we are in,who knows we may well get into the play-off's.

5

cat added 11:50 - Dec 3 Shame MM can't let go and move on, like many of us fans have chosen to do. Like Bert correctly said he was set up, but he could have swerved it, chewed in tongue or simply laughed it off. 25 years in management you'd thought he would know how to ‘play the game' by now and with the improved performances & entertainment which we are clearly witnessing, now would have been the ideal time. I will roll with the positivity, but I get the feeling at reverting to type will be a ongoing issue with MM. The championship is the weakest I can remember it being for many years, so with a bit of luck and if the front lads keep banging them in, we could sneak into them playoffs.

2

muccletonjoe added 14:34 - Dec 3 Seems he doesnt remember those who backed him through thick and thin quite so clearly
-1

ChrisFelix added 15:16 - Dec 3 We have a very experienced manager with a record of getting teams promoted. I wanted him to manage our club, but some our progress has been blown of course. Money has has ruined our lovely game & we are unable to compete. Neither could Bill Mcgarry or Bobby.They used youth & the odd bargain. Let's hope Mick has learnt a few lessons along the way & we on the up again. Finally I'm baffled as to what has happened up the A140. Since doing a good "job" on us , only 2 points from 7 games !!!!

1

Theipswich added 18:23 - Dec 3 Quite unnecessary for him to have a pop considering he is responsible fir the worst football probably ever seen at Portman road and in 5 years not having produced one real season as a protagonist apart from 2014/15 when in the run in he lost his bottle and resorted to cautious hoofball, hasn't brought on any young academy player wiyj note, presided over a 15% attendance drop due primarily to his brand of "football"....no, not too much to crow about so maybe a little discretion is needed here...

1

cornishblu added 08:32 - Dec 4 ....and ironically this is the very reason as to why the fans will continue to shout those things at you As a self canonised leader if our club clearly he can do no wrong Happy with 50% success rate ..in the last four years this return would not even take us to the play offs. The team he put out against forest is not his first choice ...yet they played better football than his first choice selection ...yet despite this he,ll take the credit for it ....and to make the veiled threats that he doesn't forget !!......well I for one am delighted ...perhaps the fans having a pop might...just might have ....made you think a bit ....the protests would have been louder but your poor style of preferred football has driven them away in their thousands ......and your sheer arrogance in small victories demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of our club and the family togetherness that we have thrived on.......we don't forget either Mick ....your legacy remains ....rubbish hoofball, falling attendances , a disenchanted generation of football fans .......but don't worry while your their in your rocking chair at least you will think you are different class How on earth can a manager of our club be allowed to turn a positive result into An excuse for knocking the fans again ...MM you are simply a disgrace ...thank you for ruining a Little day of sunshine that a decent result brought us ..#bafoon COYB ....support the club absolutely detest its leadership

-2

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls