Huddersfield v Ipswich: Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy hailed his players’ never-say-die spirit after their 2-0 win at Huddersfield Town kept the play-off dream very much alive.

First-half goals from Paul Anderson and Daryl Murphy set the impressive Blues on the way to a comfortable victory against the struggling Terriers.

It means that Town have followed up their five defeats with victories, last night’s success putting them back to within two points of sixth-place Reading heading into the final five matches of the Championship campaign.

“I think it shows what a good team spirit and work ethic we’ve got,” said McCarthy. “We get beaten away at Blackburn (2-0 last Saturday), have to travel back (from Lancashire) and then travel back up again (to Yorkshire).

“If you’ve not got something about you then there’s a very grave danger of you getting a slapping when you come here. It was a really top class response from the lads.”

With Town flying out the blocks and taking a sixth-minute lead through Anderson’s stunning left-foot strike, McCarthy said: “I think everybody tries to get on the front foot; sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. I was a little bit surprised by their shape, playing 3-5-2 to start with because we’d planned for 4-1-4-1. We can go to 4-3-3 fairly quickly off our 4-4-1-1 though and I think that caused them problems.”

He continued: “I’d left Ando (Anderson) out in the previous game and he responded in the right way. We’ve been nipping his ears to be more positive. He does a really good job Ando, but he’s got more in him.

“Chambo (Luke Chambers) is just laughing in there saying he could play to 38 if Ando plays in front of him because he works so hard and blocks balls going down the line. I’d sooner Chambo only plays to 36 though and Ando gets a few more goals by being positive.”

On the top-six dream still being alive, the Blues boss said: “I did say on Monday that if we come here and win and Bournemouth beat Reading (which they did, 3-1 victors) then everything changes again.

“I still think it’s effectively a three point gap because of goal difference, but we’re still there. It’s great, it’s lovely.”

Elsewhere, Brighton won 4-1 at table-toppers Leicester to also keep pace with Ipswich and Bournemouth. Nottingham Forest drew 3-3 at home to Sheffield Wednesday.

Meanwhile, McCarthy said left-back Aaron Cresswell was withdrawn with a tight groin in the second half. He said: “He had a tight groin. He’ll get assessed tomorrow and we’ll see, but I’m not worried because I’ve got Ty (Tyrone Mings) to play.”