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Sky Bet Championship: Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy hails David McGoldrick after win

Image: Mick McCarthy: Hailed his talisman McGoldrick

Mick McCarthy paid tribute to David McGoldrick after his marksman set Ipswich on the way to a 2-0 win over Millwall.

McGoldrick, who was close to joining Leicester City for a reported £8million on transfer deadline day, broke the deadlock at Portman Road just before half-time. And a 2-0 victory was secured when his strike partner Daryl Murphy poked home from close range in the 63rd minute.

After withstanding early pressure, with Jermaine Easter crashing a shot against the bar for Millwall. McCarthy was delighted with his side - and his top scorer especially.

The Ipswich boss said: "David McGoldrick played properly despite the disappointment.

"He has trained really well and that performance proves it - he was excellent again.

"They were the better team for the opening 30 minutes but it was a very good win against a very good team. We grew into the game and we were by far the better team in the second half."

McCarthy also paid particular praise to 18-year-old Teddy Bishop who starred in the centre of midfield just 48 hours after signing a new deal at Portman Road.

McCarthy joked: "I wouldn't have played him had he not signed a new contract.

"We have good young players and scouts come and watch. I needed to tie him down."

Millwall should have gone in front on nine minutes when Martyn Woolford's close-range effort was saved by the legs of Ipswich keeper Dean Gerken and Easter could only fire the rebound against the woodwork.

A dour game finally burst into life on the stroke of half-time with Woolford firing a shot into the side-netting and Murphy denied by David Forde before McGoldrick broke the deadlock - albeit via a deflection off the unfortunate Mark Beevers.

Millwall never really recovered, much to manager Ian Holloway's verbal disappointment, and Ipswich doubled their lead after Murphy netted from Christophe Berra's header.

The home side coasted to the three points although Scott McDonald was only denied a goal when his free-kick was kept out by a flying save from Dean Gerken.

Holloway claimed his side's response to the opening goal "let him down".

He added: "Sometimes it's about how you lose games and to be honest we didn't look like getting back into it.

"The best team won. The longer it went on, the worse we got and I am surprised by that.

"Since I have been here, we have got people to stand up and have confidence. To keep going and keep going but we didn't do that today.

"When a goal goes in, it is like you have been shot - and that first one was a fatal wound. You can see why they kept hold of McGoldrick - one chance and bang."

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