GALLERY & REACTION: Wigan Athletic 1 Ipswich Town 2

The ball breaks kindly for Connor Sammon giving him a simple tap-in for Ipswich's second at Wigan (Image: PAGEPIX LTD 07976 935738)

Hyam scored just his third-ever goal for the club with a neat 20th-minute finish but showed tenacity and guile throughout and justified his manager’s decision to recall him in place of Jay Tabb, who had an illness but would have missed out anyway.

Conor Sammon scored Town’s second on the hour, against his former club, to net his first goal in Ipswich colours, before Martyn Waghorn set up a grandstand finish, which included Latics’ striker Oriel Riera’s shot hitting the post, eight minutes from time.

Anything but a victory would have been harsh on Town though who were by far the better team in the first half and then soaked up pressure before counter-attacking well in the second half.

The visitors’ charge was led by Hyam who has been criticised in the past for his lack of goals.

“He’s such a good professional and has proved that with his performance,” said McCarthy.

“He has scored too and that’s one of the reasons he was maybe left out as we have not had enough goals from midfield.

“I did not see how well he finished but I will have a look.”

As for Sammon, he played in attack with Daryl Murphy and David McGoldrick and never gave the home defence a minute and deservedly grabbed his goal in the second half, his first goal since December 2013.

“I thought he grew into the game, He has not played a lot and has been sub a lot at Derby,” added McCarthy.

“You need to ply your trade a bit to do it properly and let’s hope he is going to do that on a regular basis.”

Sammon celebrated when he scored the goal, bucking the trend of players scoring against their former clubs in recent weeks.

“I think that’s rubbish that,” added McCarthy.

“I think it’s the biggest load of nonsense ever. Are you ever going to go back to that club?

“My club is Ipswich, I have had a few, but if we win, I will be giving it large let me tell you.”