Town boss Mick McCarthy denied that he told the Blues’ travelling support to "f*** off" when celebrating skipper Luke Chambers’s goal during the 1-1 derby draw against Norwich City at Carrow Road.

TV footage appeared to show McCarthy gesture and shout towards the away fans in the Jarrold Stand after Chambers had given the Blues the lead in the 89th minute. Timm Klose equalised for the home side in the fifth minute of injury time.

Earlier fans had been chanting, "Mick McCarthy, your football is s***" following a 79th minute substitution.

Asked whether his reaction was aimed towards supporters, he dismissed the suggestion: “Just celebrating the goal.”

Pressed further on it looking like he was telling fans to ‘f*** off’, he added: “You’re putting words in my mouth. No, just the game, celebrating the [goal].”

So it wasn’t a reaction to fans’ earlier chants aimed towards him? “A reaction to the game, I want to win the game and we didn’t.”

Was he frustrated by the fans’ chants when he swapped Dominic Iorfa for Jordan Spence rather than making a more attacking change?

Safe to say Mick McCarthy enjoyed that goal.... pic.twitter.com/ZGoFMr4r7q– Irish Football Pics (@irish_pics) February 18, 2018

“Jordan Spence came on because Dominic Iorfa was cramping up,” he said. “That’s my tactical substitution and making the subs we have to make, I do my job as I see fit.”

Does he think fans didn’t appreciate the situation of needing a defensive replacement at that point?

“Well, it’s funny that I’m answering questions like that. If we’d come off and we’d won instead of them equalising it would have been so different, wouldn’t it? It’s sad that you’re having to ask me those questions. I’m not bothered, I do my job as I see fit I think and I do it particularly well actually.”

Asked whether he is concerned that his relationship with supporters is permanently fractured, he added: “Not really, no. I keep doing my job and doing it as best as I possibly can.”

But once a rift of that type appears it’s difficult to turn around, isn’t it? “Winning games overcomes it, so we’ll see what Wednesday [and the home game with Cardiff] brings, shall we?”

Asked again whether he told the fans to f*** off, he reiterated: “Just emotions at the game.”

As for the game itself, McCarthy was pleased with the display if not conceding the late, late equaliser: “I thought we did well. It was a really good performance and we’ve just let our guard down in the 95th minute, wherever they came from.

“Of course [the goal] could have been prevented. We might have blocked the ball in the box, we might have won the first header, we might have followed him out instead of Bart following him, I think that was just a bit of confusion.

“That’s how goals come about. I’m sure they’ll look at ours and think somebody should have been marking Chambo closer, no pun intended.”

Did the game go to plan? “I thought it was a really good performance in the first half as an attacking threat, as an offensive threat.

“And I thought in the second half when it got really tough those players were blocking and tackling and working hard, and Bart made a couple of saves. And I knew that would be the case. I was delighted with my team’s performance today.”

Reflecting further, he added: “I was pleased with the team’s performance, all of them. Stephen Gleeson has not played that much football so that’s why he was replaced with Lukey Hyam who, to be fair, has probably got more legs than he has and we needed that in the midfield. I was pleased with them all, I think they played well.”

He was pleased with the way Cole Skuse too care of James Maddison in the first half, although the Canaries youngster made more of an impression after the break.

“I thought in the first half certainly,’ McCarthy added. “Second half, he’s a very good player and you’ve got to take care of him.

“And pretty much we did, he had two freekicks he hit the target with but overall, up until the 95th minute, a job well done.”

Regarding the change to a 3-5-2 system, he said: “It was for today, might be for Wednesday and it might be for Saturday, but the system and the tactical changes worked today.”

The switch allowed him to get both Adam Webster and Cameron Carter-Vickers into side but equally means other players have to miss out.

“It does but it gets Santie out and it gets somebody else out, so there are the dilemmas. You can’t play everybody.”

Despite the criticism aimed towards him by Town fans, it was pointed out that the Blues are still ahead of Norwich on goal difference.

“We are, I think if I’d been given £100 million over the last three years I think I could have been languishing in 13th as well,” he added.

Norwich manager Daniel Farke felt the match was “a typical derby”.

He said: “Much aggressiveness, many duels. Some crazy things happened and then a lot of emotions with conceding what looked a determining goal and then the celebration in the 95th minute. There was an explosion at Carrow Road.

“To be honest, after this second half normally it is ridiculous to have one point. I thought it was a close first half but in the second half we had 75 per cent possession, we had 13 shots on goal to their one shot, one header that went in for them.

“We had James Maddison with two freekicks, Nelson Oliveira with three shooting chances, Timm was two metres out and missed his kick. Normally you must be sad just to have a draw.

“Sometimes small things make the difference. We gave away a freekick in the 88th minute with a young player who was a bit naïve. Ipswich is the best team on set pieces in the league. From the freekick came the corner and from the corner the goal.

“I just can’t praise the reaction and the mentality of my boys enough. It feels like a bit of a winner. So important for our club and supporters and us as a group.”

Photo: TWTD

thechangingman added 17:17 - Feb 18 I totally agree with you Dissboyitfc - both those posts were, IMHO, spot on.
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alfromcol added 17:18 - Feb 18 McCarthy already knows he is going at the end of the season. The discussion has already taken place with Evans and agreement has been reached. McCarthy is now in demob mode and knows he can get away with damaging the IT product still further. If Evans had any balls he would pay him off and get the new man in before the end of the season. Several thousand more fans through the turnstiles would go a long way to paying off any money due to McCarthy. Hopefully Evans will sort it as soon as mathematically can't make the playoffs.

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maninashed added 17:19 - Feb 18 This no money thing is a bit thin. Bobby Robson, George Burley and Joe Royle to name but three had to sell to buy and all produced far better teams than our current manager. The Cobbolds put time into the club but in truth little money. I will always be grateful for Mick saving us from the drop but has not moved forward since.
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Henz10 added 17:31 - Feb 18 I saw it live on TV. Crystal clear to anyone watching what he said and who it was aimed towards. I felt the first half we were the better side, got dominated in the second, from the 50th - 85th minute nothing but aimless hoofs to no one. The season will now peter out and hopefully we can beat Norwich next year. COYB.
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blueboy1981 added 17:31 - Feb 18 ...... he's not the man he portrays he is - if he was he would own up. To show such disrespect for what I consider to be some, if not the very best, travelling fans in the Country is totally unacceptable, and would never be tolerated at any other Club - that I am sure of. He HAS to go - before every single bridge is burned, and with so many other things to do with ones time - the Club may never recover from such a catastrophe. Ever single supporter needs to stop, think, and understand just how TOXIC the relationship, and resultant damage, has indeed become - and unfortunately continues.

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Lukeybluey added 17:36 - Feb 18 I always want any manager to do well when managing ITFC, they always get my support. I wanted so much for Mick to succeed, however, what Mick done today is inexcusable. When I watched it live when I saw him do that I first thought has he aimed that at the carrot crunchers? Then I realised our supporters were in that direction. Not good. On another note I thought our 1st half performance was good, second half, under the cosh for 45 mins pretty much. Skuse did good man marking on Maddison in the 1st half but didnt seem to do it as much 2nd half.

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Felstow1978 added 17:36 - Feb 18 There are those on this forum who's index fingers seem to be glued to the down vote button as soon as any criticism of MM is raised. There are those, too, who clearly seek to take any opportunity that arises to condemn him and call for his dismissal. Somewhere between these two contrasting and irreconcilable sets of opinions there is a more balanced perspective that acknowledges the work that MM has done to generally maintain Town in a secure mid-table position, but which also concludes that both for his sake and for that of the club and the fans, his tenure has reached a natural point of departure.

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blueboy1981 added 17:39 - Feb 18 How can a sane mind condone such behaviour and abuse ? Answer : IT CANNOT .......... the rest doesn't need to be said.
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Wicksy added 17:45 - Feb 18 "Not trying to sound over the top but the club is becoming unrecognisable from the one I grew up supporting." Lightningboy - couldn't agree more
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norfolkbluey added 17:50 - Feb 18 I have been supporting the club for since 1961 and have never seen any manager mouthing off as Dino did today. The man has no dignity or sense of propriety. There are many children and young people in the ground. There is nothing wrong with passion but there are boundaries which should not be crossed. I am appalled at what I saw on the video whether it was directed at the away or home fans. I still don't like his tactics but he almost got it right today on a shoestring budget. Sad for the players and fans not to get a win today. It has been so long since we have managed a win at Carrow Road and it won't happen until MM has gone and possibly ME who appears anonymous and disinterested.

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Mcarthyout added 17:58 - Feb 18 How about fuc* off McCarthy? About time now surely . Wake up ME
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buryblue77 added 17:58 - Feb 18 I'm appalled by this, if it truly was aimed at our travelling fans then his situation at the club should be untenable, Evans should initiate a full investigation into this at least but in reality he should be sacked. I've not been an outright Mick outer before because despite the contempt for the fans at times which is clearly brought on by negative football and poor tactics he has done a good job in keeping us at least mid table when you consider our budget, however for me this is the final straw. Go now McCarthy, you are no longer wanted at this club!

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LWNR2013 added 18:02 - Feb 18 SHAMEFUL .. UNBELIEVABLY SO. Wonder what his employer thinks of it? NASTY in the extreme.
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wayway added 18:03 - Feb 18 This foul mouth comment will have no effect on Evans PLC who probably didn't even know there was a game on today. I will just say one thing, can you imagine Sir Alf or Sir Bobby doing this? How much further can this once great club fall
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Geddis78 added 18:07 - Feb 18 Well done Mick. It shows you still have some passion for the club as all of us on here do. Bear in mind his previous substitution was met with a lot of abuse, I really can't blame him. I would like to think that most on here like me have played the game. In the heat of the moment such as a goal, all of us here will have done something we regretted after the game. Mick knows he shouldn't have done it, but cut the man some slack. And as for anyone here taking offence at the fact he swore, come on guys, this is football. Back to the game, we were incredibly lucky to get a draw and the second half we were dreadful. But credit to them, they all wore the shirt with pride and kept going to the end. Worry for the rest of the season though with nothing to play for.

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runningout added 18:08 - Feb 18 Can't believe how surprised and sensitive some people are
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Lower_North added 18:13 - Feb 18 Disgusting absolutely disgusting.What will be done about it? Nothing,completely rock all . Well done Mr Evans, clap clap clap ..
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chatty added 18:16 - Feb 18 On the current budget he has done ok, I do get fed up of the people saying be careful what you wish for because this team can play more attacking football than we do now. Mccarthys football is pants. Unfortunately i saw this coming after the last game at Portman rd. The substitutions were baffling, carayol and Celina for iorfa and Garna to keep Norwich on the back foot. But no he tried to nick it or stick with a point. Far too Negative. The owner is also to blame, for not re-investing the 12 million on the last 2 players sold in players like lawrence. When ipswich used to sell their best players under other managers the money was always used to improve the squad. MICK OUT NOW, time for a change.

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OriginalMarkyP added 18:20 - Feb 18 I must admit I am a bit embarrassed by the amount of 'shrinking violets' on here. Did he swear at the fans? Did he swear with relief? I don't really care. He cared. At that moment. He wanted to win. Which is what we want as fans right? And if you can't take a 'eff you' aimed in your direction when all you do is moan and boo...well, eff you.
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Cakeman added 18:22 - Feb 18 McCarthy just go!
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thechangingman added 18:22 - Feb 18 Whether he was directing his, ahem, 'comments' at the Town fans or not I can't help thinking that Mick's relationship with the club is irrevocably broken. Instead of trying to apportion blame, or make sense of it all, I am afraid there comes a point when, for everybody's sake, a divorce has to happen. It's painful, it'll come at a cost, but in the long-term it's the only way that things can move forward positively. Personally, I think this needs to happen sooner rather than later...

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blues1 added 18:22 - Feb 18 44not out. Yes, Korea had to come off. But in a game even McCarthy had said a draw was no good to either team surely he should just gone 4-4-2 And brought on either celina or carayol? That's why he got stick from some fans. Ok. He almost got away with it but can be no excuses for his outburst.
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Rimsy added 18:26 - Feb 18 I don't normally bother to comment, but this behaviour is just not Ipswich is it. Surely he must be shown the door after embarrassing himself and more importantly, the Town, after that petulent display. Please Evans, do the right thing.
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Swn98 added 18:28 - Feb 18 Sack him now then the schmucks can get what they deserve.
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44_not_out added 18:30 - Feb 18 Blues1, to go 4-4-2, who would've gone right back? I'm guessing Chambers, which would have caused further melt down from the Snowflakes.
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