Hotshot Joe gets Mick off the boos
IPSWICH manager Mick McCarthy had been expecting boos – but came away delighted with three points.
McCarthy praised his team for their spirit and singled out match-winner Joe Garner for praise – his £1million summer signing from Rangers.
After a poor campaign last time out, McCarthy knew his men needed to hit the ground running.
“For me it was vital we won and played well,” he said.
“I’ve had lovely support but there would have been an element waiting for me to fail and I wouldn’t blame them. “We were rubbish last year. “Somebody asked me about my ambition and that is to build a team and win games.
“I’ve had lovely support from everybody at the club and the fans. They turned up and it humbles me.
“It was nice to repay it with a good performance and a win.”
But there was some concern about England Under-19s midfielder Andre Dozell who was carried off and needed oxygen.
“It was a perfect first day really apart from Andre’s injury,” said McCarthy.
“I’m worried it might be a cruciate ligament so we’ll find out on Monday. I can’t confirm or deny that until then.
“It was a good goal and I think we played really well and think that overall we deserved to win.
“It’s lovely when it goes our way but we defended well.”
On the goal, he added: “Grant Ward was brilliant and continued his run and released Jonas Knudsen who put a really good ball in and Garner came from a wide position and had a look over his shoulder and scored.
“It was a good quality goal.” Birmingham manager Harry Redknapp failed to attend the after-match press conference but did confess pitchside that Town were the better side and it was about “fine margins”.
City nearly took the lead when a throw-in from Marc Roberts was headed goalwards by Michael Morrison, who beat Tommy Smith in the air but keeper Bartosz Bialkowksi held the ball on the line.