THE Mick McCarthy era at Portman Road has started with a bang.

But the no-nonsense new man didn’t have to produce fireworks to ignite Ipswich to their first win in 13 matches.

Instead McCarthy, right, went back to basics as DJ Campbell’s eighth minute goal and a resolute backs-to-the-wall performance gave Town a 1-0 win at Birmingham City.

Starting with a 4-4-2 formation, something that would have pleased most supporters, McCarthy admitted he would have been delighted by a goalless draw.

But he got all three points thanks to Campbell’s cracker while a solid-looking Town were indebted in the end to brilliant goal-saving blocks from Danny Higginbotham and Luke Chambers.

Campbell said: “We are all in this together – that is what the manager has installed in us.

“The gaffer has so much experience and has done so much in football.

“He has got the pedigree. He just wants us to be hard-to-beat with everyone working 110%. We also have the players to punish teams as well.

“As you see towards the end, blocking tackles and throwing their bodies at the ball, the lads showed how much they wanted it.”

The feel-good factor since McCarthy’s appointment on Thursday got the perfect tonic on the pitch.

But the new Blues boss was typically straight-forward with his new side still bottom of the Championship – though cutting the gap to just one point.

McCarthy said: “I gave them a pat on the back, but I also told them they should be embarrassed to be bottom of the league.”