' It Worked Against Us '

Varney: Sending Off Worked Against Us


Monday, 12th Dec 2016


Town goalscorer Luke Varney agreed with manager Mick McCarthy that Cardiff having been reduced to 10 men following Sol Bamba’s red card worked against the Blues during Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with the Bluebirds.


Bamba, 31, was dismissed in the 70th minute following an extraordinary meltdown at a point in the game when Town were on top after Varney’s 52nd minute goal had restored parity after Aron Gunnarsson’s goal on 38 for the visitors.

“The sending off worked against us really because we were on a bit of a roll then but that slowed the game down,” Varney said. “It’s a shame because with a bit of quality we might have won the game.

“He really lost it though, at one point he came for me but I just said ‘It’s nothing to do with me’ and pointed at Douglas and said it was him.

“I saw him with the fourth official and we know you can’t go to the referee or anyone and have a go like that. He will have to pay the price with a punishment now.”

Reflecting on the match prior to Bamba's dismissal, he added: “The game had a bit of everything. We started well and had a couple of chances.

“Then we got hit by a goal out of nothing really. That seems to be an ongoing thing for us at the moment.

“Bart was player of the season last year, the best keeper in the Championship and I bet he will not be far of that this season.

“He made some excellent saves but unfortunately dropped one in the rain. We have nothing but admiration for Bart and that was just one of those unfortunate things.

“We had a good chat among ourselves at half-time and we came back to get a point out of the game, on another day we might have got more.

“It was almost more difficult for us once they went down to 10 men. I know what it is like, I have been on the other side of it when you get a bit of a siege mentality.”

Regarding his third goal of the season, his second in successive home games, the 34-year-old said: “To add to my tally is pleasing but I’m just concentrating on trying to help the team as much as possible.”

Despite the disappointment of not claiming the win, Varney hopes the Blues can build on the point at St Andrew’s in midweek.

“That is four points from two home games and we have another tough game at Birmingham on Tuesday,” he continued

“This is a difficult period with so many games. That said, I quite enjoy this time of year with so many games coming thick and fast because you can pick up points quickly and move up the table.

“This could prove to be a good point as we go away with confidence, whereas if we had lost it could have proved difficult.”

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Mick McCarthy Explains Sub Decisions


Monday, 12th Dec 2016

Manager Mick McCarthy has outlined why Jonny Williams wasn’t one of the players he introduced as a substitute during the second half of Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Cardiff City at Portman Road.


The Blues boss was already switching goalscorer Luke Varney and Grant Ward for Brett Pitman and Freddie Sears prior to Sol Bamba’s sending off, a swap which took place as the Bluebirds defender made his way towards the tunnel.

McCarthy then waited to see how the game developed for eight more minutes before replacing Jonathan Douglas with the more attacking Teddy Bishop with Williams one of those left unused.

Having made the earlier two earlier changes, McCarthy felt Bishop was a better fit as a replacement for Douglas than Williams, who he views more as a number 10 than a central midfield player per se.

“We had a physical threat with Brett, Freddie’s gone and played wide and Bish is Bish and we saw what he was capable of [with his run which led to a freekick just outside the box],” he said.

“It was a toss-up between that and then I’m not going to take Dougie off and put Jonny on in the centre of the park because he’s not really a central midfield player. That was just my choice.”

Since returning to fitness having rejoined the Blues for his fourth loan spell from Crystal Palace while he was recovering from an ankle injury suffered with the Eagles in pre-season, the 23-year-old Wales international has made six sub appearances but is yet to start a game.

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