MICK LICKS LIPS AT DERBY DRAW
Norwich will face Ipswich in play-offs
IPSWICH set up a tantalising East Anglian play-off derby against Norwich despite defeat to Blackburn – but Tractor Boys boss Mick McCarthy is adamant his side won’t be underdogs.
Daryl Murphy gave Ipswich an early lead before Jordan Rhodes and Craig Conway hit back for Rovers, while Rudy Gestede added a third and Murphy netted a late penalty.
But that didn’t matter, as defeat for Derby at the hands of Reading saw them drop out of the top six and the Tractor Boys slip into the final play-off place.
That set up a two-legged clash with rivals Norwich – with a trip Wembley on offer to the victors – and McCarthy revealed his relief after the final whistle at Ewood Park.
“That’s an unbelievable tie. I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “I actually don’t think there is an underdog in a two-legged tie, really.
“They’ve finished third, we’ve finished sixth – there’s not many points between us over a season and I’m not going to try and portray myself as the underdog now.
“I would imagine that as they’ve beaten us twice, they’ll be some thinking it’s going to be an easy turnover but I guess anybody who knows anything about it know that won’t be the case.”
“It’s relief but delight as well. We kind of had to remind ourselves in the dressing room that we’re in the play-offs and deservedly so.
“I think everybody’s seen what we’re made of and we weren't great today but we still kept going and could have got back into it.”
Ipswich took a second-minute lead when Jay Tabb’s left-wing corner was met by Championship top scorer Murphy who peeled away and buried an exquisite volley past David Raya.
But Rhodes and Conway combined expertly to equalise after the striker outmuscled Tommy Smith to clinically nod in the winger’s 36th minute free-kick.
And six minutes later Gestede headed on Tommy Spurr’s throwin to an unmarked Conway at the back post who fired past a helpless Bartosz Bialkowski.
Markus Olsson’s burst of pace down the left and inswinging cross found Rhodes who eluded Tyrone Mings and forced Bialkowski into a close-range 50th minute stop.
Rovers scored a third in fortuitous circumstances when Mings’ 58th minute headed clearance from Conway’s cross came back off Ed Bishop to Gestede who finished from close range.
Ipswich should have grabbed one back when Raya pushed Mings’ header into Freddie Sears’ path but the former West Ham prodigy snatched at the 74th minute effort and shot over.
Josh King nearly scored a spectacular 78th minute goal after his volley from outside the area rattled off the underside of the bar with Bialkowski beaten.
And Ipswich struck back after Spurr brought down Bishop after an 82nd minute jinking run and Murphy coolly slotted home the resulting penalty.
Rovers boss Gary Bowyer paid tribute to the departing David Dunn – who received a standing ovation – but admitted his frustration at missing out on the play-offs.
“I’m delighted we’ve won the game for him. I think it’s a fabulous send-off for him,” he said. “You saw some absolute fantastic bits of skill that only he can do.
“I think that it’s frustrating that you’ve seen the performance that we’ve produced against a team that’s finished in the play-offs and we’re not there ourselves.
“We’ve got to work very hard this summer and come back looking to build on the two years of stability and progression that we’ve made.
“This year’s been another year for them to gain that experience. Next year, they can’t be classed as a young team.”