McCarthy: Result We Needed to Get Fans Back On Side
Saturday, 13th Jan 2018 18:38 Boss Mick McCarthy felt the Blues played really well and was really pleased with the win as Town beat 10-man Leeds United 1-0 at Portman Road, a result he admitted was needed to get the fans back on side. Bersant Celina won it with what McCarthy described as a “bit of magic” in the 67th minute.
“I thought it was a really tough game against a team that’s in good form, they’ve got good players,” he said.
“I haven’t seen the sending off, somebody says he’s head-butted him. If that’s the case he deserves to be sent off.
“But that doesn’t make it easy, we’ve scrapped away. We needed a result over and above everything because we’ve had three defeats on the bounce and we needed to get our fans back on side here.
“I think their fans have helped more than anything else to get them back on side because they were brilliant, they’ve created an atmosphere that was brilliant to play in and manage in.
“But they’re a good side and we’ve had to scrap it out. We’ve played well, I’m really pleased.”
Regarding Celina’s brilliant winner, he added: “That’s risk and reward. I did say, ‘Thank goodness you did’ because sometimes he was causing us as many problems as he was causing them, losing it.
“But that’s Santie, that’s what you get with him. He works his socks off, he is a proper little character on the pitch. He kept trying to stay wide and him and Myles linked up a bit.
“I said to him and Didzy in the first half, it wasn’t happening for them. They’re the magic really for us, if they’re going to create something.
“Maybe it wasn’t the game for them, I don’t know, and I’m being me, having a dig at them, but perhaps it wasn’t the game, it was a tough game. But that one bit of magic in the second half wins us the game, which is great.”
If it had gone into Row Z might he have had words with the on-loan Manchester City man? “No, I’d have said well done. That doesn’t matter, does it? That’s hypothetical that because it didn’t.
“We kept encouraging him to get the ball and take them on. He had a couple of crosses to the far post, he went over Dom twice and cut back.
“But that’s him. And it’s not easy to be that little magician in a game like that, it’s tough and it wasn’t easy for their good players either. But if you find that one bit at the end which wins the game then brilliant.”
He says that’s why Celina is in his team: “Of course, and we had Tom Lawrence last year and had the wee man Ryan Fraser who also managed to produce those kind of things for us. What we really need is one that’s ours!”
Dean Gerken made his first league start since April 2017 in goal and impressed his manager: “Remarkable really because he hadn’t trained up until the beginning of this week. He’s had a great week’s training.
“I said to him, ‘If that’s you injured, I’d like to be injured’ because he was fabulous. Bart’s got a calf strain and, to be fair, I think he was still hoping he could play but I told him he wasn’t playing.
“It was 19-to-one, I thought - play one game, get injured. Gerks has done what he’s always done when he’s played, he’s played well and remarkably he’s had a clean sheet out of it.”
Inevitably Bartosz Bialkowski’s absence led to conspiracy theories suggesting the Pole, who until recently was interesting Crystal Palace, is on the verge of departing, but McCarthy dismissed such claims.
“It’s funny, somebody reminded me of a quote of mine at Leeds when we drew one-all. Somebody said to me it was the funniest quote he’d ever heard and I couldn’t remember saying it, but then I did,” he recalled.
“It was when we were at Leeds and we drew one-all and we gave a penalty away. We’d murdered them, we should have won and somebody said, ‘Some people might think that’s two points dropped’ and I said, ‘Some people can f*** off!’.
“So, those some people can think Bart was out the team because he wasn’t injured - similarly! Does that answer the question?”
McCarthy, who has added young French defender Chris Goteni to his squad, says he’ll continue the search for further additions in the week ahead.
“Of course, as always plates are spinning, that’s probably the same with everybody else and we’ll see which ones fall on whose head. I hope it’s not mine.”
Leeds manager Thomas Christiansen said: “I am disappointed about the result and sorry for my players that we didn’t take something positive from the game.
“I have spoken to Eunan [about the red card] and he has said that the opponent [Jonas Knudsen] went to him and they touched each other.
“But the one that went down, it was him who provoked. There was no sign that he [O’Kane] goes to reply. The one who goes to the ground is the one who stayed on the pitch.
“I believe my player and I have also seen a video — that is where I take my conclusion.
“I was happy with the way they responded and at half-time my message was that we still wanted to take the three points and I believed we could.
“If we had played 11 against 11 I believe we would have taken the three points, for sure.
“I hope we will appeal the decision. There is no evidence that he [O’Kane] goes to him [Knudsen]. He just faced him and when there’s a contact it was provocation and the referee fell for it.”
He added: “It has been a really tough week but like the players in the second half we are warriors and we want to fight back.
“I am proud of my players because of the effort that they showed and everyone in the stadium also recognises it was not right that we lost this game."
Regarding Celina's winner, he said: "It was a nice goal but perhaps we could have defended it better."
Photo: TWTD
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yorkshire added 21:17 - Jan 13
Those slagging off MM do know that he signed Celina, and Lawrence, and Fraser and Johnny Williams - not to mention Connelly as well - every year he has managed to pic us up a little gem in the loan market |  | |
KiwiBlue2 added 21:44 - Jan 13
Yes I give him full credit for those loans and for the financial side of some of his transfer deals. I do not however give him any credit for his often negative tactics and the grossly offensive remark he made with regard to supporters today. Many of those supporters have been going to games for decades and grew up watching teams whose deeds made Town a real force in the game. Obviously MM finds it much easier to make offensive comments about them than to consider the criticism in a mature and constructive way. Could you imagine Sir Alf or Sir Bobby going out of their way to make childish comments about long time supporters who may have had different views to themselves. | | |
syntaxerror added 21:54 - Jan 13
Is that the same Sir Bobby who called fans ' Zombies', Kiwi?
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1RWR added 22:01 - Jan 13
I'm not going to slag MM off, just great to get three points.
Wasn't a bad game, their fans made the atmosphere good.
Full marks to Leeds fans for clapping Ted Phillips, nice touch lads.
Enjoyed the banter between SBR Stand & Leeds fans, nobody still likes them lol! |  | |
Dissboyitfc added 22:02 - Jan 13
Yes Yorkshire, he did and he deserves credit for it!!
But i am still all for MM leaving asap!!
MM out !!!!!!!!!!! |  | |
Rensham added 22:04 - Jan 13
Its such a shame. If Mick had slightly changed his attitude and tactics and listened to the fans just a little, things could and should have been so much better.
A bit less stubborn and listened to the fans and he could have had a great time at Ipswich and could possibly achieved promotion with his name being chanted all round PR.
Just a little less stubborn and little bit more pro Ipswich and Ipswich Town.
What a shame.... |  | |
pragmatic added 22:13 - Jan 13
Good points 1RWR, makes a change from the tedious boring comments from mick outers, support the team if you think you are supporters & see who we get end of season. Always assuming of course that Mick does leave!! Expecting bile & mark downs for voicing my OPINION 😂😂 | | |
NITFC added 22:21 - Jan 13
Can't believe the negativity on here. For the record I have had a really enjoyable day watching us beat horrible opponents washed down by a few beers
We are not likely to become Man City any time soon so enjoy the good days when you can lads
Jeez |  | |
blue75 added 22:27 - Jan 13
Pragmatic did you hear us all support our team the best atmosphere I've heard in a long while!! I don't think anyone there watching town failed to support their team!!! But McCarthy didn't hear him mentioned once!!! You can support our team but not the c u next tuesday that's our manager!!! If you think he won that game today you're his child O'kane Started it for us and Celina did what he does scores just to stick the bird up too mccarthy!! #MCCARTHYOUT | | |
warktheline added 22:53 - Jan 13
The only thing boring is the gang of 'happy chappies' more than satisfied with below par Championship football and a manager with a foul mouth! Oh the joys of negative football and supporters petrified of a future without ' mid table Mick '. Hope I haven't 'hurt' feelings! TWTD will rescue you if I have!!!! |  | |
Blue_Moses added 23:25 - Jan 13
I thought we were poor and even with 10 men Leeds had more organisation and cutting edge. Two players played well today, both loanees. | | |
Cakeman added 10:34 - Jan 14
Well I am glad you thought the Leeds fans were brilliant Mr McCarthy.
Vocal yes but brilliant in costing the club a lot of money for replacing seats and no doubt much more damage to the Cobbals stand. Also brilliant for the extra policing costs and for the fear created to families wanting to enter and exit the stadium safely.
Well I for one hope the club revisit the decision to allow a massive increase of away support numbers in the future.
Leeds fans are certainly NOT brilliant! |  | |
algarvefan added 10:46 - Jan 14
We have what we have, a team which is suffering a number of high profile injuries, a complete lack of investment and still a crippling debt. How we have stayed in this league is beyond me. However with a fully fit side, we are a match for anyone on the day.
Do I hanker for the football of Robson and Burley, of course I do, but circumstances dictate that is not possible currently. I think Mick has done an OK job under circumstances that I'm sure other , less experienced managers would have walked out under.
I think he should leave at the end of the season and his contract, but be careful what you wish for, it may not be what you want.
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blackcat added 11:26 - Jan 14
Another pop at the fans!
No way were we off side... Come on line o 😂😂 | | |
Seasider added 12:46 - Jan 14
Did comments about match previously;so wont repeat.
Additionally thought it was nice to see majority of Leeds fans applauding before the match for dear old Ted.
Turning to above,he never criticises Gerken Skues Chambers or Knudsen;but even after the winning goal from Bersant,has to balance his praise with implied criticism.Said he thought 'Gerks' was fabulous,well he made two mistakes ,one in each half,which could have resulted in goals,most players including the above 'proper blokes'do;so why when commenting on Bersant don't you just compliment him?
Had to bring in a quote he had made from previous Leeds game when he used the 'F' word in replying,presumably to a journo's reasonable question;saying that somebody reminded him about it saying it was the funniest thing he had ever heard!!!
As I said previously,entertaining game in which all Ipswich players did ok,especially back two,and front two;and Bersant of course.Liked the way we played ball out from the back.
But on the subject of 'Old Big Head'do hope O'Neil gets the Stoke job with Mick going back to Eire. | | |
Warkys_Tash added 13:08 - Jan 14
For all McCarthys faults and there are a few, you have to give the man credit for finding Fraser, Lawrence and Celina.
If most ITFC fans are honest there were little heard of players until they came here and they have all ripped it up.
Where McCarthy lets himself down, is not playing these players and trusting these players a bit more. Every successful team needs a magician and sometime you have to take the good with the bad but in the end how many points has Celina won us this season?
I would love Evans to give the fans a present and sign this guy end of season - but we all know he won't try and win back the stay away fans with a Marquee signing.
If McCarthy does go in the summer, then I would like to see Lee Johnson or the Cowley brothers down here next season - Come on Evans wake up and give the fans the club back. Just by default the gates would go up by 4,000-5,000. |  | |
jas0999 added 14:12 - Jan 14
Their manager is deluded! I hope they do appeal and get another games ban! Blatant sending off. Ref won't have an easier decision all year! | | |
SheptonMalletBlue added 08:57 - Jan 15
McCarthy gets out of jail again!!!! I'm utterly sick of this man at our club.
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BlueBlood90 added 09:13 - Jan 15
Sorry Mick, but you'll never get the fans back on side. Please leave. |  | |
roytheboy added 14:30 - Jan 15
It was a head butt, I saw it as clear as day, unfortunately the video does not show it properly as it was filmed at a distance and from the wrong direction, the Leeds manager would not have seen it either from where he stood, however it was a very clear violent and vicious head butt. | | |
roytheboy added 14:37 - Jan 15
If Bart does leave this month and I certainly hope that he doesn't, I wonder if Mick will regret his F*** o** comment to those who have experienced this type of thing in the past at ITFC we simply want this club's owners to have the same ambitions as us supporters.
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