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Fulham 1-2 Ipswich: Mick McCarthy and Stuart Gray reaction

Brett Pitman of Ipswich celebrates scoring a goal
Image: Brett Pitman of Ipswich celebrates scoring the winning goal

Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy hailed Brett Pitman after the striker netted the winner at Fulham despite undergoing emergency dental treatment prior to the game.

The former Bournemouth player was in agony but was deemed fit to play and helped his side claim a fourth consecutive away victory.

"Brett deserves all the credit as he has not trained since Saturday," McCarthy after the 2-1 win at Craven Cottage, which kept the Tractor Boys in the Sky Bet Championship's top six. "He's had root canal treatment and travelled on the bus with a splitting headache and toothache.

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"He's had difficulty sleeping. But he epitomised my team's performance with the way he went about things."

Ipswich had scored after just 16 seconds, Freddie Sears taking advantage of some poor home defending straight from a kick-off that Fulham had taken, before Ross McCormack's 14th-minute free-kick levelled matters.

Pitman's winner arrived on 57 minutes as he converted a Sears cross from the left to leave McCarthy happy with a convincing display.

"It was a great away performance," he said. "We played very well, deserved to win but we let them off the hook a bit.

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"It was a fabulous finish by Freddie for the first as he was at full pelt so to be as calm as he was and find his finish was great. It would take most people more than 16 seconds to run the length of the pitch. He's been terrific all season has Freddie.

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Highlights of Ipswich's 2-1 win over Fulham in the Sky Bet Championship

"We've drawn a load at home so have to win them away. It's a case of needs must but we don't have any master plans."

This was more despair for Fulham, whose supporters voiced their disapproval at the finish with new senior coach Stuart Gray unable to expand on the current managerial situation after a seventh game without a win.

"We can't control the decision upstairs. Our focus is on winning games," he said. "I can't fault their application.

"At the moment nothing has been said. I will be preparing the players until told otherwise.

"What has been happening at this club far too often this season is going a goal down. You don't expect to concede after 16 seconds. Sears just went straight through them as if they were not there.

"That was disappointing as we had to chase it. Then after McCormack had scored it was a case of marking in the box.

"Ipswich have played to their strengths and we're not marking correctly in the box.

"We look okay with the ball but we're not getting that second goal or putting them under the pressure by getting our own noses in front.

"We need to work hard on the training ground. The players know they let themselves down."

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