Ipswich Town midfielder Luke Hyam hopes supporters show outgoing manager Mick McCarthy ‘more respect’ at Portman Road tonight.
It was recently announced that McCarthy would be leaving the club, following five-and-a-half years in charge, when his contract expires next season.
There was a positive atmosphere for Easter Monday’s entertaining 2-2 home draw with Millwall, but McCarthy faced some unpleasant abuse during Saturday’s 1-0 loss at Brentford.
“The players like and respect the manager so much, so to hear him get the stick he’s getting is not nice,” said Hyam.
“It shouldn’t be happening really. They should give him a lot more respect in terms of what he’s done for the club.
“It would be nice if they give him a good send off, but they are always entitled to their own opinion.”
Town face McCarthy’s hometown club Barnsley under the Portman Road lights tonight, with the Tykes battling to avoid the drop.
A consortium including a Chinese billionaire and Billy Beane, the baseball boss who inspired the Hollywood film ‘Moneyball’, took control of the South Yorkshire club back in December.
And after manager Paul Heckingbottom moved to Leeds in February, they appointed Jose Morais as boss – the former assistant to his Portuguese countryman Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Chelsea.
Saturday’s topsy-turvy 3-2 win against Sheffield United was the South Yorkshire club’s first victory at Oakwell since early November. It moved them to within two points of safety with a game-in-hand.
“I want see it as a turning point,” said Morais. “This moment gave us the feeling that there is no reason not to believe that, at home, we can win all the games. The people love us and they will always stand behind us.
“It was something that the players wanted, not for themselves, but for their families and for the fans who love the club. We always thought that we are here for something special and remarkable. This is what we are working for every day, for the fans to find happiness.
“I wanted to give this smile to the people the whole time but I was holding it in and I now I can’t hold it in anymore.”
Ipswich Town team news
- Captain Luke Chambers is out after cracking a rib, fracturing his sternum and dislocating his shoulder at Brentford on Saturday.
- Adam Webster could also miss out after injuring his hamstring in training yesterday
- Cole Skuse could return to action after suffering a bang to the head in the 2-2 home draw with Millwall on Easter Monday.
- Mick McCarthy could bring the likes of Myles Kenlock, Stephen Gleeson, Bersant Celina and Mustapha Carayol back into the team after dropping them at the weekend.
- Young trio Barry Cotter, Ben Morris and Ben Folami were all left out of the Under-23 side that faced Hull City at Playford Road yesterday lunchtime and could be involved tonight.
-Dean Gerken, Dominic Iorfa, Emyr Huws, Tom Adeyemi, Teddy Bishop, Andre Dozzell, David McGoldrick and Joe Garner remain sidelined.
Barnsley team news
- Forward players Adam Hammill and Tom Bradshaw after pushing for starts after making an impact off the bench in Saturday’s 3-2 home win against Sheffiled United.
- Mamadou Thiam, Matt Mills and Nick Townsend all remain sidelined for the Tykes.
Key opposition man- Kieffer Moore
Signed by Town for £10k from Forest Green Rovers and then sold to Barnsley for £750k just 12 months later following a prolific loan spell at League One Rotherham. Big striker will have a point to prove.
Odds
Ipswich Town - 19/10
Draw - 27/11
Barnsley -9/5
Referee - James Linington (Newport)
Games: 36, Yellows: 127, Reds: 5
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