Mick McCarthy thrilled by 'outstanding' Ipswich performance at Rotherham
Saturday 7 November 2015 20:23, UK
Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy reflected on a superb performance as his side ran riot in a 5-2 win at rock-bottom Rotherham which was inspired by Daryl Murphy's hat-trick.
The striker, who won the division's golden boot last season with 27 goals, had failed to scale those heights again so far this season, but he found his range in South Yorkshire with a maiden career treble in English football.
His first goals of the season were added to by Brett Pitman and Jonathan Douglas as McCarthy's men hammered the Millers, stretching their unbeaten run to four games.
McCarthy said: "It was a great game for us, it should have been better, but I don't know how better a 5-2 victory away from home gets.
"Overall, it was an outstanding performance, we put five in and we could have put another three or four in. We were running riot in the first half.
"I'll enjoy the result and performance, but their two goals could have cost us. I don't like that, we should have been more secure than that."
Rotherham had briefly threatened a comeback by scoring two goals in three minutes when 4-0 down before Murphy's third made sure of the game.
And McCarthy was pleased his main man in attack found his form, especially with the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2016 play-off with Bosnia and Herzegovina coming up.
"Everyone is for delighted for him," he added. "It's lovely to have him back playing. I am delighted for him.
"Form is temporary, class is permanent, I hope that rule fits for him. I was certain he was going to get the goals after the last three performances when he works hard. He gets chances when he plays like that.
"I would imagine he has put himself in (Republic manager) Martin O'Neill's mind, I don't pick anyone's side for them, though. It came at a nice time."
Rotherham boss Neil Redfearn, in contrast, saw little reason for optimism. Even though his side briefly threatened a comeback through goals from Brandon Barker and Matt Derbyshire, they looked a team destined for the drop, with five defeats from their last six games.
And Redfearn was bitterly disappointed with how his side played.
"It started in the first minute, really tentative, nervous, I don't understand why we needed to play like that," he said.
"We have been to Middlesbrough where you have got a reason to be nervous against a top side and defended well.
"We were really negative in midfield, we didn't get close to them, we didn't work hard enough, we didn't do the ugly stuff well.
"It must have been the 35th minute before we had a centre-half win a header, Murphy had his own way too much, but we just looked like we were going to concede.
"The biggest thing for me is the bare minimum the supporters can expect is the effort, the endeavour and whoever comes to play is in a game.
"If we're a little bit short and they're better then you can't get round that. But the goals are so easy, Ipswich haven't had to work hard for their goals."
