Winning the Manager-of-the-Month award is often labelled a ‘curse’, the recipient doomed ahead of their next outing.

There’s actually very little statistical evidence to back-up that footballing cliché and straight-talking Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy is certainly not one for superstitions.

“People say ‘you’ve won Manager of the Month – are you worried you’ll get beat now?’” said the man who was named the Championship’s best boss for September, speaking ahead of this afternoon’s clash with Blackburn Rovers at Portman Road.

“And everyone always asked, ‘you’ve had an international break, what happens if you get beat when you come back?’

“I just don’t get all that negative nonsense that goes on. I’d sooner have four wins, three draws, Manager of the Month, then have a break and get beat, than lose three, draw four, not win Manager-of-the-Month, have a break… and still get beat!”

Town could knock rivals Norwich City off the top spot this afternoon if they extend their seven-game unbeaten run with a victory and results go against the five teams above them – all of whom are away from home.

McCarthy continued: “Manager of the Month, I’ve got it, that was great, now we’re playing Blackburn and we’ll try and win.

“It’s just ridiculous all this ‘ooh, urr, all these spooky things’. It’s like Halloween. It’s bonkers.”

The Blues will be without six-goal leading scorer Daryl Murphy after he suffered an Achilles injury while away representing the Republic of Ireland, while Luke Hyam has been ruled out with the hip injury he sustained in the 2-2 draw at Nottingham Forest last time out.

Loanee midfielder Jonny Williams will undergo a late fitness test after he took a knock to his ankle during international duty with Wales last weekend.

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