Brentford v Ipswich: Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy praised his side’s ruthless finishing following this afternoon’s 4-2 win at fellow Championship high-fliers Brentford.

Daryl Murphy lashed home after just 18 seconds and added another in the 21st minute, out-muscling and out-pacing his marker before rounding the keeper, to take his tally for the season to 16.

Paul Anderson tapped home Jay Tabb’s cross on the half hour, with centre-back Tommy Smith producing a striker’s finish in the closing stages just as it looked as though the Bees – whose two goals came late on – might stage a late comeback.

“I think that early goal changed the dynamic of the game,” said McCarthy, whose side, temporarily at least, move to the top of the Championship table following a 10-game unbeaten run. “If you score a goal after 18 seconds, against a team who’s been really dominant here, it gives you an advantage.

“Brentford are a really good team, a good footballing team. They tried to get back in the game, they started taking chances, but as soon as you leave Murph one-v-one you’ve got a problem.

“I think we capitalised on the fact we got an early goal, they pressed to get back in it and we punished them. We were clinical today, whereas other days we’ve not been.

“Tommy’s not known for chopping it back and bending it in the top corner, that’s for sure! He does contribute with goals, normally they’re with his head though. That one was great because it could have been a nervy finish otherwise.”

Brentford had started the day third in the table, off the back of seven wins from eight, but, for all their possession, they couldn’t handle Town’s direct, physical and quick pressing approach.

“We planned on pressing them – it’s risk versus reward that,” said McCarthy. “We don’t play any different away from home. We came and played 4-4-2 against their shape (4-2-3-1) and thankfully ours has won over today.”

Asked about some of the ‘football snobbery’ which has surrounded his side’s style of play this season, the Blues boss replied: “I just don’t subscribe to that. There’s all sorts of ways of playing football and all different types of footballers. I think we’re a good team because we’re at the top of the league at the moment.

“I’m not really interested in what people think. I respect what everyone else is doing, I respect Bournemouth and what they’re doing and I certainly respect Mark (Warburton) and what he’s doing here.”

Warburton said: “We dominated possession, but it’s goal stats that win games. They had six shots and scored four goals – that tells you everything. We’re a goal behind after a minute and three behind at half-time because of three errors. We were uncharacteristically sloppy in certain areas. That gave us a mountain to climb against a very good team.

“They’ve scored four but I can’t think of another save (David) Button’s had to make. We created chances, but never really put them under pressure.

“We’re disappointed, because we realised the significance of the game. Maybe that early goal unnerved a couple of our players.”