Tuesday 10 April 2018 23:06, UK
Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy has quit his post four games early following his side's 1-0 home win over his former club Barnsley.
The 59-year-old had been due to leave the Championship outfit at the end of the season but instead quit after Jonas Knudsen's 54th-minute goal left the team 12th in the table and above rivals Norwich on goal difference.
McCarthy had been linked with becoming Barnsley's manager earlier in the season after Paul Heckingbottom left Oakwell to manage Leeds.
In the first attack of the game Barnsley forward Brad Potts fired wide of the left hand post from outside the penalty area and in the third minute a raid down the right by Barry Cotter, making his first team debut for the home side, ended in a foul on the full-back.
Ipswich defender Jordan Spence then fouled Oliver McBurnie outside the penalty area and Andy Yiadom's free kick was deflected over the bar for a corner.
From there Adam Hamilll's kick was headed onto the bar by former Ipswich player and Barnsley striker Kieffer Moore and cleared to safety.
In the 11th minute good build-up play by Town resulted in a shot at goal by Bersant Celina which was comfortably gathered by Barnsley keeper Adam Davies.
A minute later a cross shot from Hammill was palmed to safety by Ipswich keeper Bartosz Bialkowski as the game went from end to end.
A through ball from Barnsley midfielder Gary Gardner to Potts, midway through the first half, almost broke the deadlock as the striker's shot hit the side netting.
In the 31st minute great play from Mustapha Carayol wide right set Martyn Waghorn free on the outside of the penalty area and his square pass to Celina left him with just the Barnsley keeper to beat but he blazed his shot over the bar.
The visitors had the ball in the net in the 38th minute when a free kick found the head of Moore and onto Lloyd Isgrove who was adjudged to be offside.
A minute later Cotter's powerful shot from outside the penalty area, following a darting run by Carayol, went just over the bar.
A great headed ball forward by Moore in the 48th minute found McBurnie free on goal but his shot sailed narrowly wide.
Ipswich then took the lead in the 54th minute following a corner by Carayol and a near post header by Knudsen which found the right hand corner of the goal.
In the 71st minute a foul on Barnsley substitute Tom Bradshaw by Knudsen led to a free kick just outside the penalty area which was cleared up field into the visitors' half only for Waghorn to drag his shot wide.
In the 79th minute Waghorn headed just over the bar and with time running out the same player found himself unmarked in the penalty area but blazed the ball over.
A goalmouth scramble in the Ipswich penalty area in 89th minute led to the ball being cleared as the home side held on for the points.
Mick McCarthy: "I spoke with Marcus (Evans, owner) at the weekend and we agreed that it was in the best interests for me, the players and the club that I move on now,. I said I would see the season out but it's been a new experience and it's not one I have been enjoying to be honest.
"I have continued to do my job to the best of my ability but there is something missing and I'm not comfortable with that. I have had a great time here and worked with some great people and to all those who have given me wonderful support over the last five and a half years - and there are many - I want to put on record my personal thanks. The players here can look forward to a new challenge with whoever comes in and I want to wish them, the staff and the club the best of fortunes."
Jose Morais: "It's a defeat and there's nothing more than to move on. All the games are big games and must-win games and we expected this game to be a must-win game. It was a difficult game, I don't expect it to be easy, but I expect us to have the ability to win.
"We created chances and we had the chances to lead the game and the confidence still exists in the team."
