In an interview with the Green’Un24, Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy says he doesn’t fear the sack from owner Marcus Evans, despite a below-par start to the Championship season. They have gone five straight matches without scoring a single goal, and welcome Burton Albion to Portman Road tonight.
Although the Tractor Boys may possess the joint-best defensive record in the league, it is fair to say it is down the other end of the pitch where they are having some big issues. A section of Ipswich fans are starting to question the future of McCarthy, who has twice won promotion into the Premier League during his managerial career.
The likes of David McGoldrick is nearing a return from injury and should be involved with the first-team this weekend. Brett Pitman is still out of action for a number of weeks, meaning they are short on options in the final third. Despite their poor form, McCarthy says he doesn’t feel under any additional pressure from the owner after recent results,
“Do you know something I don’t? (Owner) Marcus (Evans), as I’ve said to you before, is always very, very supportive in what I’ve done and what I do.
“I think – no, actually I know – that he believes I make far more good decisions than bad ones. That’s why we’ve been 14th, ninth, sixth and seventh.
“We’ve had a fair bit of success in the transfer market when you consider that as well.
“I don’t worry about my job. If people start wanting me out the door, well there’s nothing I can do about that apart from keep working hard on the training field with the players.”
Failure to pick up the three points, and a failure to score again, versus the Brewers tonight would certainly increase the pressure on McCarthy.