Town boss Mick McCarthy was pleased with his side’s performance and delighted with the result as the Blues beat Reading 2-0 at Portman Road. Callum Connolly scored the opener in the third minute and Joe Garner added the second on 27.

“I’m very pleased,” McCarthy said. “Pleased with the performance, absolutely delighted with the result.”

Asked if the early goal suited his tactics against a Reading side which likes to keep hold of the ball for long spells, he responded: “I think getting the early goal helps settle a team down, it doesn’t matter who we’re playing or whatever way anybody’s playing, it helps, it gives confidence.

“Generally, not always, but generally when you win tactically you’ve done all right, to be fair, unless you’ve got a really lucky one, but I don’t think that was the case.”

Like a number of other sides Town have faced recently Reading dominated the possession stats but were unable to make their greater share of the ball tell in terms of goals.

“I get a bit tired of it, to be honest, because I think there would be a section of people who would want us to play that way,” McCarthy reflected.

“We’ve never played that way and we’ve finished sixth and seventh and we’re doing particularly well.

“That’s what they want to do, we do what we want to do and neither way of playing guarantees you winning, no style of playing guarantees you winning.

"What guarantees you results is people who play well in that and work hard and are solid and do all their jobs and do all their dirty jobs.

“I saw a team play last night, Wolves, I know they’ve got players who cost fees of £15 million, but boy they worked hard, they know how to do the dirty jobs and got a 1-0 win.

“It doesn’t really matter, we’ve had a really solid performance today, a really good performance and their centre-backs weren’t hurting us with the ball.”

Regarding on-loan Everton man Connolly, who scored his third goal in the opening seven minutes of a match and his third in the last four games, he said: “Callum’s having a great season, he’s really helped bolster that central midfield and he’s been very good.

“I said to him he’s got a goal in him because he shoots in training with either foot, he gets in the box and he’s proving my theory right.”

Town have now won seven of their 11 games at Portman Road this season and McCarthy says the mood in the squad is upbeat when on home turf.

“They’re enjoying playing, they’re enjoying training, they’ve always been the same,” he said. “But it’s a lot nicer when you’re winning, we all feel better.

“It’s a lot easier to come in on a Monday morning and get yourself into gear and get going again when you’ve won, so I think they’re all enjoying it.”

Given the goals which have been conceded in recent matches, the Blues’ backline will be pleased with the clean sheet, as is their manager.

“Forget the back four, I’m delighted with the clean sheet,” he said. “Of course they are, the strikers have scored lots of goals and they keep getting the plaudits and rightfully so because it’s the hardest thing to do.

“But that’s very often bolstered by a lot of hard work and a lot of determination from other people. It’s great for them, they’ll be pleased.”

The crowd of only 13,832 was the lowest Portman Road crowd for a home game in the league since 13,212 attended the Blues' 1-0 victory over Swindon in October 1998.

Asked his thoughts on that figure, McCarthy said: “I can’t do owt about that, can I? We’ve had seven wins at home out of 11, that’s my role in all of this.

“If they want to come and watch my team play, great. If they don’t there’s owt I can do about it.”

A number of managers are cancelling their players’ Christmas parties after disappointing results, but McCarthy wouldn’t have done similar even if his team had lost.

“They’re going out tonight,” he said. “Am I going? You’re kidding me, that’s the last place I want to be. Thirty years ago I might have been, I’d have been leading the dance 30 years ago. Not the dance but leading the troop out to the pub, that’s for sure. If they go to pubs any more, I’m not quite certain they do.”

He says his team, who are eighth, two points from the play-offs, deserve their night out: “Unless you’re having an absolute stinker and players aren’t working hard and there’s a horrible atmosphere in the place, I wouldn’t cancel it just on the back of a bad result.

“If we’d have lost today I wouldn’t have cancelled it. Those lads run about for me and they earn their Christmas night out like everybody else in every business earn it, I think.

“It’s not going to affect them on Saturday if they go and have a few beers. I’ve told them to go and have a few beers because I might have a few as well.”

Midfielder Cole Skuse was replaced at half-time having picked up a knock but McCarthy is hopeful it’s nothing to serious: “A really badly bruised foot and I hope that’s all it is.”

Reading manager Jaap Stam was disappointed to concede the early goal and that his team failed to take first-half chances, but admitted they didn’t show enough after the break.

“A fair result? That’s always difficult and you always need to be careful if you answer these questions. I don’t want to speak about fair,” he said.

“I think if you concede an easy goal that early in a game it’s difficult to get back into the game.

“After that we did very well, we created quite a few opportunities to maybe score and we should have scored, I think, because they sat back.

“Basically they gave us time to play, we played well, we came out, we were threatening going forward in the first half.

“But then again it’s important that you score and if you look at the opposition with all respect and how they play, they’re a good team, physical, with a lot of energy, quality in the team as well.

“But in the first half, going forward being a threat, they had two balls on target, very effective and two goals, the second from a corner kick, coming out from a break and getting that corner.

“And that’s basically from every team, if you go forward you need to be a threat and you need to score and then when you’re 2-0 down it’s difficult to get into the game because you know what the opposition’s going to do.

“They’re going to be sitting even more, waiting for us to lose the ball, biding their time, pressing a little bit and, of course, trying to get that third goal maybe.

“And then making the areas very small, playing very compact and, to be honest, we didn’t create enough in the second half to get into the game. I think we were twice in front of goal and could have scored in the second half and maybe could have made a better choice.

“But, to be honest, not enough to get that first and let’s not talk about that second goal. If you don’t score the first one then you don’t need to talk about getting the second one.”

He added: “If you create five or six opportunities to score in the first half and you don’t score, you’re disappointed about that.

“And if the opposition go forward twice and they score twice then it’s very good what they’ve done.”

Reading's day got little better after they departed Portman Road with a BMW driving into the back of their coach in Princes Street.

@AwayDays_ the Reading team bus stuck in Ipswich after Somone crashed in to it #itfc #royals pic.twitter.com/uprwn3tzcX

— Mark Walker (@WalkerSparks) December 16, 2017

Photo: TWTD

rfretwell added 21:53 - Dec 16 Before last seasons poor results and performances fans liked Mick for his blunt Yorkshire wit. Last season his relations with the fans went awol as he had goes back at worried fans calling for his head. Its time those same fans cut him son slack and appreciate his fantastic summer transfer dealings and our lofty league position.
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IpswichToon added 21:53 - Dec 16 Low attendances are mostly due to the stupid prices in my opinion. 1,000% increase in ticket prices over 20 years is beyond belief!
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Gcon added 22:00 - Dec 16 Right now we have the best squad of players for probably the last 8 years or so. There is a better team spirit amongst them than I have seen for years at ITFC. The football is more entertaining than it's been for a very long time. MM is frank and straight talking, he is not arrogant. He put this team together on a shoestring budget and has them playing good football. It takes a very sensitive soul to take umbrage with his manner to the point that you stop supporting your club. He believes in himself as any good manger should. I don't really give a monkeys if you attend games or not. I'm just saying, you are missing out if you choose to be so stubborn. Come back, and take a look for yourselves.

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Tractorboy1985 added 22:15 - Dec 16 Get rid of McCarthy and replace with......................???? Come on... please tell me!! It's not pretty to watch 90% of the time but we get results.. the players clearly play for him and we are doing as well as we can expect! You just can't please some tools!!!
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Rensham added 22:23 - Dec 16 With the fans celebrating a good home win, MM lets himself done again on national TV. You're supposed to be Big Mick but you can't take any criticism. What a pity.
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Northstandveteran added 22:37 - Dec 16 Just wanted to put my opinion across. 43 year old, lifelong Ipswich fan from Essex. My dad reluctantly took me to my 1st game against W.B.A, 83?84? We lost 4-3 but was hooked. Remember warky swinging on the cross bar after scoring a penalty and Butcher taking a throw in right in front of me in the family enclosure and looking like a giant. I continued to follow the town throughout my teens/early 20's up and down the country. The reason the crowds are so shockingly low is that going to Portman road no longer represents v.f.m. I go to Ipswich once a year for the same reason I only gamble once a year on the grand national. To remind myself why I don't do it for the rest of the year. Having been seriously ill for the last few months, a friend of mine talked me in to going to the Norwich game, as I have for the last few meetings between the team's. The football was entertaining to say the least. My opinion was that both teams were happy to settle for 0-0. The only positive I could take from the game was that Norwich were no better than us, which, however you look at it, has been the case for quite some time having premier league money to spend. The only difference between the team's was they put the ball in the net. Despite a decent atmosphere in the ground, this soon became muted 5 minutes after k.o. Now despite just going to the game and doing very little else, this still cost me in the region of £60, which as a single parent, I can afford but cannot justify. I felt very sorry for the husband and wife and their two children that probably had little to no change from £100. Not only is it unaffordable for families and now o.a.p's who have been treated so badly by the club but just as importantly, young adults. In my teens we'd go to Jacks cafe for a fry up, have a few beers, watch the game and get the train home. But I could afford it. Match day wasn't just about the football, it was the whole day. The atmosphere in the North stand was electric. I remember being in the loo when we scored against West Ham. The concrete above me was shaking. I remember running up the stairs to see a copper physically bouncing up and down from the vibrations laughing his head off! You could go to a simod cup game on a Tuesday night with 12000 fans in the ground and the North would still create an amazing atmosphere. Now, apart from a group of fans in the lower part of the Bobby Robson stand near the Chantry blues flag, the atmosphere is non existent. Ok, at 43, I probably wouldn't be in the North stand, probably be in what used to be the lower west stand ( should my memory serve me correctly) this always seemed to me where the ex north standers would go. But having just watched the championship highlights, it is obvious by the empty seats that this is the case for the majority of teams in this division. Now after last season, where to be honest, had Ipswich been playing in my back garden I wouldn't have watched, I thought it was time for a managerial change and fully expected this season to be spent in the bottom six . My opinion is that if you looked at the table you would have to say M.M is doing a decent job (although you may disagree if you attend matches) He has been very shrewd in the transfer market and I really can't think of who could or for that matter would replace him and get better results than he is currently achieving. Just one question. Why does he go for a draw in ANY game? We are not an Italian side, we are not a George Graham Arsenal team. We really couldn't defend if our lives depended on it so why try? Now as for M.E. Yes, I accept Ipswich is a handy way of keeping his tax bill down but look at it rationally. Before investing in football, to accumulate his wealth, he is clearly a very successful businessman in everything he has invested in. Who could honestly admit to not being excited when he took over and appointed Roy Keane giving him money to burn? So after several terrible seasons watching millions squandered, why would he continue to throw more millions at it? He wants a manager to prove himself and I truly believe, that if by some miracle we were to get promoted, he would back the manager in the transfer market. Just one final point. Norwich fans walking down Portman road before the match taunting Ipswich fans?! Jesus! That wouldn't have happened 20 years ago!!!

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Northstandveteran added 22:38 - Dec 16 #unentertaining
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blue75 added 06:50 - Dec 17 Northstandveteran we're from the same era most of my mates that used go don't anyone and it's all down to the entertainment on offer which has been getting worse since Evans took over and shows no sign of improving. Hopefully next time you return we'll have a new attack minded manager.
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geminimustang added 07:22 - Dec 17 In the mid-eighties,i used to go every game and the entry price was exactly what i earned per hour.Then i had a massive piece of luck with a huge pay rise.The club obviously heard about it because they put the ticket price up to match my hourly pay.Today,i don't earn the pay per hour that equates to a match day ticket price and i'm on a decent salary.Football on a Saturday is a luxury and a 50% reduction for is needed to get people back on a regular basis.It's not MM,it's cost.

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jas0999 added 08:29 - Dec 17 The debate in attendances is an interesting one. Folk I speak to, who have given up season tickets or just don't go state: - it's too expensive simple as. Many remain disappointed with Evans pricing structure particularly for 60-64 year olds. Putting up prices didn't help. - 20 odd months of boring negative football didn't help. Nor the under investment in the playing squad. We are definitely doing much better in past five months and it's certainly mostly good to watch. - MMs attitude to the fans is still on the whole disappointing. Slagged us all off the other day after the Forest win. Why? Talk the excellent result.

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powinswitch added 08:36 - Dec 17 There are many factors that will mean people are not attending, and these will differ for many people. I get that we are successful, but pleasant on the eye we are not. McCarthy has spent the very little Evans has allowed him extremely well and we have a pretty decent squad. But he does not trust the players he has available. I acknowledge he has had many injuries to key players. But he very rarely puts less than 7 defensive players out. That is a GK, 4 defenders (or 5) plus 2defensive midfielders. And his first priority is for th opposition to score 0. We have some excellent players at this level; Waghorn, Huws, Didz, BART, Webster ( whose poise on the ball has not been as good in recent weeks), Garner, and then proper fighters like Chambo and Knudsen. Adeyemi looks decent as do Downes, Nydam, Spence, Andre, and Celina when we have the ball. Why do we only have 27% possession yesterday and 30% against Forest. I don't mind a decent defensive performance, but not every home game. I applaud his ability to identify decent footballers, and gel them into a great squad who stick together. But he is not bothered about entertainment, just accumulating points. His squad are better than that. Much better.

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Northstandveteran added 08:49 - Dec 17 The problem for me is that I want to go. I miss going. I want to be enticed back. But sitting at the back of the Alf Ramsey stand with a gale blowing up my back and not once rising from my seat in anticipation in a soulless stadium, I again left Portman road feeling I could have spent that money on a day out with my children. Incidentally, I took my children to a game last year. Neither are particularly into football but often hear of the great times we used to have when I'm with friends, so kept on at me to take them. When my 14 year old daughter said "why don't Ipswich pass the ball to each other like the other team" I thought that summed it up well. Neither her or my 12 year old son have asked to go again . I understand that due to wages etc it isn't possible, but if it was £15 to go in either the Bobby Robson or Alf Ramsey stand the crowds would certainly improve. Unfortunately we just have to accept that football is no longer the working mans game. And when you lose that, you lose the passion. I used to feel part of something. It was like being part of an extended family. Now I feel nothing. Which is terribly sad

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Geddis78 added 09:23 - Dec 17 I agree, football is too expensive. I pay by direct debit so never physically hand over money for each match. If I did, I would certainly think twice and consider what I could be spending it on. But that is modern football. The Premier League clubs still sell out but I see so many empty seats in The Championship and below. But when you consider it costs £6 to watch Ipswich Wanderers, perhaps £25 doesn't seem so bad! The club makes a loss so difficult to reduce it. Don't get the argument on the 60-65 fans. Most people don't retire TIL 65 so why get a discount at 60 when they are probably working with no kids at home to support?! Agree could have been handled better though. I get not going because of the cost, but agree with Gcon, those that don't go because they don't like the guy on the sideline are missing out. Forget possession stats, we are playing well this season and our style is a lot more attacking and purposeful.

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Rensham added 10:15 - Dec 17 We are Austerity ITFC at the moment and ticket prices should mirror that. Football is expensive even in the championship but surely it would be better to reduce ticket prices than have empty seats. And the club must work hard to become a community club again. ME has trashed the clubs reputation and MM has behaved appallingly. Its pathetic to hear a big ugly Yorkshire man whining like a little girl after every match about the fans who have on the whole been right in their criticisms.

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Northstandveteran added 10:45 - Dec 17 Agreed. I remember Barry Fry talking about England games after fans weren't turning up at Wembley. "Reduce prices, make it free for kids, sell some burgers, sell some programmes, get people spending in the stadium." Surely it would be better to have a full ground with young fans coming through. These youngsters will be the financial future of the club.
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heathen66 added 10:51 - Dec 17 Crowds will come back if we keep winning...eventually As I have said in previous posts many have been putting up with Micks turgid tactics and poor entertainment for 2-3 years and have finally had enough, and although are still supporters of the club, have found other entertaining things to do on a Saturday afternoon. I am sure they are not there waiting for us to have a good game and all will be forgiven. Yes the football style has improved this season (however not all season), but in all honesty it only had one way to go when the entertainment was at rock bottom. Mick to his credit has made some good signings in Garner, Waghorn and Celina. Add to that the emergence of Connelly and things look a bit more rosy. However parking 6 across the back and 2 holding midfielders will not bring the fans flooding back. 2 -0 down at Boro but still persevering with the defensive formation will not get fans flooding back. Having a go at the fans who pay their hard earned cash whenever we win will not get the fans flooding back. Yes, there is an improvement and Mick deserves credit for that, however there is a long way to go and bridges need building if you want to see 16k+ on a regular basis. It is not just results (although please don't get me wrong it is very important), it is about belonging,pulling together, all being part of ITFC, but at the moment it still seems it is very much divided...and that needs to change !!!

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fents71 added 10:51 - Dec 17 Think it's fair to say yesterday felt like a smash and grab. We barely touched the ball or strung any passes together yet still managed to score 2 and keep a clean sheet. Don't get me wrong, I'm chuffed to bits that we are scoring more freely, playing better generally and currently in with a shout of play offs. Having said that, we are still be outplayed for large chunks of many games and the better opposition will probably get the better of us as our defence is for me frail! One or two additions in January would be nice, in particular someone who will but their foot on the ball and actually look to pick out a pass instead of the hit and hope policy we've become accustomed to in recent seasons. It does gets frustrating paying £30 per game to watch the other team play football. I feel that is part of the reason many fans have stopped going. Yesterdays attendance was painfully low, I assume Christmas shopping won that battle. Our football club has to figure out a way to get those stay away fans back. Overall things have improved but there is still an awful lot more work to be done. #itfc

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Rensham added 11:08 - Dec 17 Doesn't MM's job include having a good relationship with fans and encourage them to get involved and not to slag them off at every possible opportunity. ITFC are patient loyal and knowledgeable. He should show them much more respect and apologise. Then perhaps we could all move forward together.
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backwaywhen added 11:34 - Dec 17 I'm afraid the cost debate is down to one factor and one only ...players wages ! ....unfortunataly that will never change now , they are all millionaires and some don't even work hard for it ,this is where football at below Premier level is slowly drowning .
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heathen66 added 11:57 - Dec 17 I agree that the price of STs and especially match day tickets are far too high, however I believe it is more fundamental than just pricing. Throughout a season there are probably 3 or 4 games that I cannot attend, and therefore I am happy to 'give' my ticket away to friends and family that may want to go...and here is the problem. Sometimes it is difficult to give the ticket away for free...no one wants to go and sit in a half empty cold stadium watching what has been turgid, back to the wall displays with long aimless hoofing. Many os my friends are previous ST holders and still realised why they gave it up in the first place...no entertainment and a manager that 'says what he likes and likes what he says' even if it does mean having a go at those who part with their hard earned cash !!!

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Spanishblueblood added 12:29 - Dec 17 Rensham, Agree totally with what you are saying regarding MM, an apogy would go a long way but i think hell will freeze over before that happens!
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pragmatic added 12:40 - Dec 17 Hutch itfc valid points which those of us accused & abused of being “happy clappers” fully condone as I hav posted before we should support the team irrespective of our split sentiments of manager/owner etc!
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braveblue added 13:04 - Dec 17 How to get about 1500 back? Reverse the dreadful over 60s decision. Easy. But out top team won't do it.
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Seasider added 17:48 - Dec 17 Mick McCarthy was pleased with the performance,and delighted with result against Reading which was played before the lowest attendance for nearly 20 years. Geddis78 wonders why it is so low,and how this can be increased ? I feel there are several reasons,one of which is the Manager himself.He hasn't stopped me going;but is the reason why there are only 2 of us going regularly now instead of 4 season ticket holders 2 years ago. Improved results,and higher league position will bring some back;but a lot will stay away until a new manager is appointed,which could be some way off. There are others who complain about the style of football even when we win.When the low attendance was mentioned to him Mick said "If they want to come and watch MY TEAM play then ok;but if the don't there is owt I can do about that" Well in over half a century at Portman Rd,I can never remember my team having only a quarter of the play at home,and winning;but MM has made it clear many times that entertainment is not his priority.However he has signed some decent players recently,and the performances are better to watch;but his defensive outlook has meant that he has removed the 'play it out from the back 'qualities that Webster had when he first came here,and he never comes over the halfway line in open play anymore.McCarthy's teams never keep pressing so much once they get two goals ahead. This will always be his way,whether us fans like it or not;as he will never change. Another factor in the' stay away fans mystery are the prices.There have been some movement like the dropping of matchday surcharge of £2.50;but the retrospective increase in the age concession has also turned fans away,as mentioned at the AGM I am afraid Geddis 78 that there is nothing we can do but continue to support the Town.and hope that the current upturn continues,however realising that the more successful Ipswich are this season,the less the chance of McCarthy moving on becomes. Hmm tricky !!!

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Northstandveteran added 19:47 - Dec 17 Heathen66. I did smile at your comment. A friend of mine and his son ( both season ticket holders) couldn't attend a game a few weeks ago because of family commitments. I believe it was the Preston game. He offered 2 seats free of charge to everyone he knew that was an Ipswich fan and not one person wanted to go.
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