Former Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy covered the first game of the Paul Hurst era for Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday. Here’s the full transcript.

3.05pm

Jeff Stelling: What a start for new Ipswich Town manager Paul Hurst! His side are in front within the first five minutes, Mick…

Mick McCarthy: Yeah, a great bit of play by Skusey there and Flynn Downes, he’s put it out wide and Edwards has come in from the far post. Jonas Knudsen’s put it on, Freddie Sears has come inside on his right foot and put a great cross in. Edwards has come and met it at the far stick and it’s in the top corner.

It’s a brilliant start for them.

Flynn Downes and Skusey are playing further forward, Skusey’s in the box causing mayhem and actually he’s taken two defenders away and they’ve scored. Great goal.

3.15pm

JS: So Ipswich are a goal to the good but Blackburn had a lot of goals in them last season. How have they responded Mick?

MM: Not very well at the moment – Ipswich are dominating this game I have to say. I’m impressed with the signings they’ve made.

East Anglian Daily Times: Mick McCarthy covered Ipswich's game with Blackburn for Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday show. Picture: SKY SPORTSMick McCarthy covered Ipswich's game with Blackburn for Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday show. Picture: SKY SPORTS (Image: Archant)

Ellis Harrison is a real handful up front, they play it up to him and he’s winning most of the balls. Trevoh Chalobah in the middle of the pitch is doing really well and of course Gwion Edwards has scored. And Donacien has not had a lot to do yet but what he has had to do he’s done fine.

Those four players have fitted into that team and, at the moment, they’ve dominated it. Blackburn are finding it hard to get out of their half at the moment.

3.20pm

MM: Goal here!

JS: A shout from Mick McCarthy and there’s been a second goal, Mick.

MM: Yes and it’s from Blackburn who have had nothing really. It’s a soft free-kick, a delivery into the far post and they’ve not really marked well. Bart couldn’t get hold of it and Danny Graham did what he does. It’s dropped to him in the box and he’s bashed it in the bottom corner.

But they’re not marking properly and will be disappointed with that. They’ve not defended well at that free-kick and they’ve controlled the game so far. Ipswich have been excellent.

3.29pm

East Anglian Daily Times: Mick McCarthy covered Ipswich's game with Blackburn for Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday show. Picture: SKY SPORTSMick McCarthy covered Ipswich's game with Blackburn for Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday show. Picture: SKY SPORTS (Image: Archant)

MM: Goal, another one!

JS: Let’s go back to Mick McCarthy who’s watching the game at Portman Road. Who’s in front Mick?

MM: It’s gone to Blackburn. A great bit of play here and Bradley Dack’s got in the box and scored.

Ipswich have been dispossessed in the final third and Graham’s put it in behind, Williams puts a great cross in and Bradley Dack is arriving completely unmarked to side foot it into the middle of the goal.

Poor play, they lost the ball in a poor area and they’ve broken on them and scored. 2-1 Blackburn.

3.36pm

JS: Ipswich threatening an equaliser Mick?

MM: No, not really. Ellis Harrison is becoming a bit of a lone figure up front. Matt Byard the physio is on for Jordan Spence who’s had a blow to the head and looks uncomfortable. I think he might be departing. He’s certainly going to have to go off to get some treatment and I think they might need to make a change.

East Anglian Daily Times: Mick McCarthy covered Ipswich's game with Blackburn for Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday show. Picture: SKY SPORTSMick McCarthy covered Ipswich's game with Blackburn for Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday show. Picture: SKY SPORTS (Image: Archant)

Blackburn, since scoring the goal, have controlled the game and Ellis Harrison has been left alone having to chase on his own.

Blackburn controlling it for the minute.

3.47pm

JS: Still playing in the game at Portman Road, is there any hint Ipswich might get level, Mick?

MM: No, there was a slight chance there and I thought Ellis Harrison was going to get on the end of a sloppy backpass. But the keeper came and took it off the top of his head but it was flagged offside.

They’ve settled the game down and Ipswich have actually got into the game and are slightly the better side but no chances as such.

Gwion Edwards has impressed a couple of times, taken his full-back in but not got any crosses in.

Still 2-1 Blackburn.

4.08pm

JS: How’s the second half started Mick?

MM: Er, not a lot has happened so far. Blackburn have started well and got into the final third but Ipswich have settled down.

It’s just starting Jeff. I can’t say anything about the game so far.

4.21pm

JS: What can Ipswich and Paul Hurst do about the deficit, Mick?

MM: Well, they’ve tried and made the first substitution and Tayo Edun has come on. He’s on the break now, has the ball so let’s see what he does.

Ipswich had to do something because Blackburn were comfortable in the game. Blackburn have brought on Kasey Palmer so that will help.

4.34pm.

JS: Who looks the most threatening, Mick?

MM: Well, they’ve got a free-kick now Blackburn and it’s Mulgrew over it. I think he’s too far out to have a strike but he’s got a wand of a left foot, Charlie. It was a poor tackle from Chambo… he says he got the ball but I’m not so sure.

Anyway, he’s going to deliver it and he’s put it over the bar. Disappointing.

4.42pm

JS: Chances have come and gone at Portman Road, Mick.

MM: Yeah, Ben Morris has just got in there with a chance and he scores goals if he gets chances. He’s threatened to shoot on his right foot, cut in on his left and the goalkeeper’s made a good save.

Five or six minutes ago, Dack’s got to the byline and Palmer’s not really hit it. It was blocked on the line by Woolfenden. Chances, it’s opened up a bit.

4.46pm

MM: Excellent bit of play!

JS: Mick McCarthy has his head in his hands again. What’s happened, Mick?

MM: Gwion Edwards has picked the ball up just inside his own half. He’s flicked the ball over Derrick Williams, got past him, tried to take it up the inside but went outside and his shot’s been blocked for a corner.

A great bit of skill. They’ll be loving him.

4.50pm

JS: things are getting nervy at Portman Road. Has there been any nervous moments for Blackburn?

MM: Ben Morris and Gwion Edwards have made it wide open. It will be if someone makes a mistake.

Blackburn have been fairly solid since getting in front and have managed the game well. I do think Edun who came on has made a real impression and I’ve been impressed by him.

Blackburn have put some good subs on and have managed the game so far. It would be a surprise if they did (get an equaliser) but they’ve got a free-kick now and it’s going in the box.

4.51pm

JS: There is a fourth goal, there is late drama at Portman Road. What’s happened Mick?

MM: Well it’s a free-kick that I said was going in the box but they didn’t. They gave it to Gwion Edwards. He looked like he was going to cross it but he turned back on his left foot, it came out to Edun who put a ball in. It’s gone right in the far corner. It’s a cross/shot, it’s beaten everybody and it’s ended up in the far corner.

It’s a goal on his debut and he’s impressed.

4.55pm

JS: Could there yet be a winner at Portman Road, Mick McCarthy?

MM: There could and, if it is, it’s going to be Ipswich by the looks of things. They’ve had a good last couple of minutes and Gwion Edwards has been a different class. He and Edun have scored on their debuts and have been excellent.

Blackburn looked like they were managing but if there was going to be a winner it would have been Ipswich.

But it’s finished 2-2.

5.04pm - FULL-TIME

JS: It was a day to remember for young Tayo Edun of Ipswich, who snatched an equalising goal against Blackburn. Do you know much about him, Mick?

MM: Not really, no. I’m they will have scouted him. We look at all the Under 23 teams, especially those who have players in the England set-up.

But he came on and instantly looked comfortable on the ball although he did give it away a couple of times, I have to say. The league is so quick compared to what he’s been playing but he did look comfortable.

It was a cross he put in but it’s in the net but it’s a 2-2 draw and nobody will be bothered. He impressed me there.

But it was Gwion Edwards who different class. He will have impressed everybody with some great stuff. He’s sent Charlie Mulgrew for a loaf of bread and everything.

Excellent performance from him and I think Ipswich deserved it there for the last 10, 15 minutes.