Ipswich Town v Middlesbrough: Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy says starlet Teddy Bishop is at the very best place to progress his career, the teenage midfielder playing a starring role in this afternoon’s 2-0 home win over fellow Championship high-fliers Middlesbrough.

The 18-year-old academy graduate produced a fine reverse ball in the lead up to Daryl Murphy’s 25th opener and delivered a pin-point cross for Jay Tabb’s headed second just before half-time.

Boro boss Aitor Karanka called him ‘the best player on the pitch’ and said the youngster, who brilliantly danced his way out of a tight spot at one stage, had ‘joked’ with his players.

McCarthy hailed the Cambridge-born youngster as ‘Premier League quality’ last week, but says it’s too early for him to be making a move to the top-flight.

With his side back up to second in the Championship table, the Blues boss said: “Of course (clubs are looking at him), but I think he’s on about a four year contract (deal runs out in 2017).

“He should play his football here. When they start doing well everyone wants to get them out the door; ‘let’s sell them off to a big Premier League club’. They can do that and end up not playing though.

“He’s here thriving in a team that’s doing well and getting all the rave reviews. We had a young lad called Mark Kennedy at Millwall (now Town’s Under-21 coach), we had to sell him to Liverpool and he barely ever played for them. He started the first game, hit the crossbar and was then left out.

“Bish doesn’t want that and I don’t want it for him because he’s a really talented lad. Let’s see if he can get to the Premier League with us. I don’t know if it will happen, but we’ve got a chance where we are now.”

On the game, McCarthy reflected: “It was a hard game against a very good team of good players. Two little bits of quality came from us that ended up being goals.”

With several opposition bosses calling Town ‘physical and direct’ this season, the Blues boss continued: “People like putting labels on things don’t they? Especially when they’ve been beat.

“The two little bit bits of quality in the game was the football leading up to the two goals. Tabby’s was just awesome; the bit before it and his finish. Put it in the box for the big man hey? The long ball game!

“We had a discussion about Tabby last week when I was waxing lyrical about him. He just seems to flourish and keep getting better and better. I’ve made them all back themselves in a little sweepstake – within the club, not in the betting agencies before you all start – and if they don’t hit their goal target then 100 quid goes to charity. He only needs another seven!

“I thought the build-up play prior to that goal was excellent. The interchange between Didz (McGoldrick), Bish and Chambo (Chambers).”

Asked how tall Tabb was, the diminutive midfielder outjumping two players for his headed goal, McCarthy joked: “Well he’s just walked under here (the table) with a top hat on! He gets stick for it every day. He is excellent in the air though. I’ll say he’s 5ft 7in. I’m sure he’ll be delighted with that!”

With Aitor Karanka slamming his players’ attitude, McCarthy said: “I would hope that he wouldn’t be so disingenuous and say that it was just because his side didn’t play well. When I come in here after we lose or draw I’ll say the opposition played well.

“Maybe they didn’t play as well as they have been, but you can only play as well as the opposition will allow you.

“We’ve certainly played well. We defended well against a really good team with good players. They’ll be in the top six all season long.

“They work as a unit and a team, but we managed to breach them a couple of times and they’ve not done it against us.”

With this Town’s eighth home win of the season, the Blues boss added: “I keep saying we’re geographically challenged. It’s a long trip everywhere we have to go. It took us six hours up to Bolton. They all have to come here though. It’s not the easiest place to get to, it’s a long time on the bus, and then they face a half decent team when they get here – which is nice.”

Boro boss Karanka said: “It was our worst performance of the season. Today is difficult for me to understand. There was one team who wanted to win the game.

“One week ago we were flying – on the pitch and off the pitch – but we were thinking we were a Premier League team or a Champions League team. This is the Championship.

“I think we needed a game like today. We needed an alarm to wake up. We have to keep our feet on the ground.

“The first ball Murphy touched was a goal, because we weren’t concentrating. Bishop was the best on the pitch, he was joking with our players. Tabb is 5ft 5in and he scores with his head because he wanted it more than us.

“Today is the first day I have been angry with my players’ attitude. It’s impossible to take anything good from today.”

– See Monday’s EADT and Ipswich Star for match analysis, comment and more reaction.