Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy hopes supporters are enjoying watching the Blues play again.

It wasn’t so much last season’s 16th place Championship finish which grated, but more the forgettable football fare which was dished up. As a result, around 2,000 season ticket holders chose not to renew their seats.

There is, however, a sense of fresh beginnings following an encouraging start to the campaign.

- Re-live Mick’s press conference

Back-to-back wins – 1-0 at home against Birmingham on the opening weekend of the new Championship season and 2-0 at League Two side Luton Town in the first round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night – have provided plenty of evidence that the Blues will be far easier on the eye.

Homegrown teenage trio Flynn Downes, Tristan Nydam and Andre Dozzell have all impressed, the latter sadly injured for the season, while new signings Joe Garner, Bersant Celina and Dominic Iorfa have all added spark.

“I’ve been more honest than any manager who has ever sat here before I would imagine,” said McCarthy, speaking ahead of today’s Championship game at Barnsley. “I was honest about how we played last season. It wasn’t pretty but it was a means to an end.

“Fans do come to the game to be entertained. They don’t want to be entertained and for their team to get relegated I might add, but they do come to watch good players play good football. And we didn’t do that last year.

“It was important that we got them back on side early this season. I wanted them to enjoy watching us play again and I think over the last two games they have.”

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He added: “It’s a much nicer feeling winning games. We’ve played well and I think, overall, we’ve deserved to win both games.

“We’ve had a horrible time in the League Cup previously, so it was nice to win on Tuesday. There is a nice feel about the place at the moment, but we’re only two games in. Only 45 league games to go, hey?!”

Town now have back-to-back away games against two teams among the favourites for relegation – Barnsley today and Millwall on Tuesday night.

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“Two draws and still unbeaten would suit me fine,” said McCarthy. “I’d sooner win one and lose one though. If you gave me the choice it would be difficult with them both being former clubs mind!”