LADY luck is smiling on Ipswich Town at just the right moment – and manager Mick McCarthy believes it’s about time his side had some breaks.

Not so long ago, it seemed as though every run of the ball and contentious refereeing decision was going against the Blues.

Town completed a classic smash-and-grab in their 1-0 win at Derby on Saturday though when Carlos Edwards netted a fantastic winner deep into stoppage-time, while fortune also favoured the Suffolk side at times in their 3-0 home win over Leeds and goalless draw at Millwall too.

“We got lucky,” admitted McCarthy, Scott Loach having saved a Jamie Ward penalty, with the Rams also hitting the post, seeing one goal contentiously ruled out and a strong penalty appeal turned down.

“I think it does even itself out over the season though. It’s easy to sit here and say that when we’ve won, but I have said that when we’ve lost as well. It’s not like I’m sat here being smart now.

“I did say when it we lost at Bristol City (2-1) and played ever so well that we didn’t get any luck, I said the same after Nottingham Forest (Town having two sent-off in a 1-0 loss). That had to change at some point.”

With a host of draws for the sides in the bottom half over the weekend, spirited Town – having now kept five successive clean sheets – have climbed to 14th in the Championship table. Six points clear of the drop zone, they are now just two points behind ninth-place Middlesbrough.

One more victory from the remaining five matches should ensure safety, with promotion-chasing Hull City and Crystal Palace coming to Portman Road on Saturday and next Tuesday respectively.

– See today’s EADT and Ipswich Star for match comment and analysis from writers Stuart Watson and Chris Brammer.