Mick McCarthy turned the air blue to express his relief at Ipswich Town getting back to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers at Portman Road tonight.

The Blues produced a polished performance to end a seven-game winless streak, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Brett Pitman scoring in either half, and move back up to 10th in the Championship table ahead of Saturday’s game at rock-bottom Rotherham.

“I’ve got a headline for you – thank f*** for that!” was McCarthy’s opening line his post-match press conference. “Excuse my language, I do apologise, but I think it’s appropriate.”

He continued: “I’m delighted with the performance. We played well at Forest, played well on Saturday (against Cardiff) but not had the results, so there is a bit of relief to finally get a win after seven games.

“I’d have taken a scruffy shinner, an own goal, I’d have taken anything to get back to winning ways, but in the end it was a really good performance. It was 2-0 and could have been even more.

“Their keeper was outstanding and Brett’s been denied several times.

“We had a tough spell in the first half when they had a good bit of possession and we weathered that storm. The clean sheet is a team effort.

“And some of the play from the front lads was terrific. I thought it was an all-round outstanding performance to be honest with you.”

On the impressive displays of front men Pitman, Freddie Sears and Daryl Murphy, he said: “Daryl was back in his pomp and it was lovely to hear his name being sung because I haven’t heard that for a while. How he’s not scored a goal tonight I don’t know, he must have killed an albatross or something! He was great and played really well. He fought his corner, ran his hard yards and that was him from last season. If he continues to do that the goals will come.

“Freddie’s been great. He’s played wide right, wide left, up front and he’s never complained. Yesterday he was asking me where he should be when we’re out of possession and things like that. He’s a great lad and a great professional.

“And I thought Brett played really well. He had one hooked off the line which he thinks went in, so he thinks we won 3-0! He had one blocked too. And he hit his goal so clean. It was a great goal.”

Asked is his side enjoyed a good bit of fortune when Jonas Knudsen was only shown a yellow card in the 26th minute for tripping Max Clayton just he was about to burst clear into the box, McCarthy replied: “Was he past him? Honestly I haven’t seen it back. He’s gone for the tackle with the wrong foot. I don’t know if there was anybody else around. Let me tell you, if that’s my bit of good luck it’s been a ******* long time coming.

“Hallelujah, fan-*******-tastic! We’ve conceded late goals, had some blocked on the line and I always said that stuff like that turns around. If that’s my bit of luck then happy days.”

Meanwhile, the Blues boss revealed that Maitland-Niles went off with a foot injury. He said: “He’s got a bruised metatarsal. I asked if it’s cracked and he said ‘no’.”