Town boss Mick McCarthy has challenged 21-goal Championship top scorer Daryl Murphy to hit and surpass the 30-goal mark during the remaining 15 games of the season. Murphy netted goals 20 and 21 during the first half of Saturday’s 2-1 win at Fulham.

“Let’s not be lauding over him for getting 21, let’s see if he can get 30 and get past that,” McCarthy said.

“To be fair to him, he’s not sitting on his laurels, he’s still working hard at it. It’s a great tally for him but we want more from him.”

The 31-year-old is the first Town player to score 20 league goals or more in a season since David Johnson netted 22 in the 1999/00 promotion campaign.

Murphy is the 11th Blues player to have scored 20 league goals in a season since Town joined the Football League, following Bill Jennings (1948/49 - 23), Sam McCrory (1950/51 - 21), Tom Garneys (1954/55 - 20), Tommy Parker (1955/56 - 30), Ted Phillips (1956/57 - 41, 1959/60 - 24, 1960/61 - 30, 1961/62 - 28), Ray Crawford (1958/59 - 24, 1960/61 - 40, 1961/62 - 33, 1962/63 - 25, 1966/67 - 21), Alan Brazil (1981/82 - 22), John Wark (1982/83 - 20), Kevin Wilson (1986/87 - 20) and David Johnson (1997/98 - 20, 1999/00 - 22).

Only Phillips, Crawford, Garneys and Parker have reached the 20-goal milestone faster than Murphy, the win at Fulham having been the Blues’ 31st league match of the season and the Irishman having featured in 29.

In the 1954/55 campaign Garneys hit his 20th league goal in only his 24th game of the season, Town’s 32nd.

Parker scored his 20th goal in the 28th league fixture of the 1955/56 season, having played in 26. Phillips reached 20 after 23 games of the 1956/57 campaign having appeared only 18 times, while Crawford’s 20th of 1958/59 came in Town’s 32nd league match but only his 22nd.

Crawford reached 20 after 21 matches of the 1960/61 Second Division championship season with Phillips netting his 20th goal in the 29th game.

In the 1961/62 First Division championship campaign, Phillips hit 20 with Town’s season only 19 games old with Crawford following him seven games later. Both legendary strikers had played every game of those two famous seasons up to the point where they hit the 20-goal mark.

Murphy’s 21 goals currently make up 42% of Town’s overall total of 50, equal to Crawford’s record percentage for a whole season achieved in 1962/63 when he scored 25 out of 59.

McCarthy added: “His all-round play has always been good. Every year he’s done that. What he’s done is added goals to it.

“Everyone thought ‘Murphy’s alright — he does this, he does that, he’ll get 10 goals a season’. Well he’s doubled that tally now.”

Photo: Action Images

iaintaylorx added 06:01 - Feb 16 huge credit to TC!
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Flewitt85 added 07:09 - Feb 16 No pressure then Murphy! Ha. He's already player of the season for me, he made that 2nd goal at Fulhamlook so easy! Great goal.
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BotesdaleBlue added 07:10 - Feb 16 Well done Murph. The only concern I have is our massive reliance on his goals this season - 42% of the total! We all know its the midfield where our goalscoring problem lies and this has been the case for at least three seasons. This is not a moan, as they are a hardworking bunch, just a real concern that has yet to be addressed. Just keep fit Daryl and keep those goals a coming!!

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Len_Brennan added 07:28 - Feb 16 The Glenn Murray link is interesting and as Botesdale says, the reliance on Murph is a concern. A broken nose didn't stop him on Saturday but it could have been worse & where would that leave us? It's no coincidence that our blip in form came when Murph & Didz picked up injuies, missed games or were playing while not really fit/sharp enough. Freddie has shown he can do the job of Didz to a reasonable level, but we couldn't recreate Murph's presence when he was out; Noel Hunt is more a poacher type striker. As for the goals from midfield problem; why doesn't TC just ignore the strikers for a couple of weeks & concentrate his ample skills on Skuse, Bishop, Bru & Tabb? They're the ones who in most need now .

4

MickMillsTash added 08:00 - Feb 16 Murphy was brilliant at Fulham- not many mention his touch but he is able to kill a hopeful long 'clods' up the pitch from the defence whilst holding off a defender - and still have the control and strength to turn and run or bring others into the game. Brilliant.
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Warkys_Tash added 08:11 - Feb 16 MMTash, yep agree - his ball control has improved massively this season & was on display at Fulham.
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warktheline added 08:22 - Feb 16 Top season thus far for Murphy, a real pity McGoldrick form hasn't reflected last seasons....wow imagine that combination!
2

brazil1981 added 08:39 - Feb 16 Fantastic effort from DM to reach 20 so early! Some of our best ever forwards not on this list...Whymark, David Johnson (mark 1), Mariner, Stewart, Bent (Darren not Marcus), Shefti, Mathie, Marshall! Thought Murph was unlucky not to be supporters Player of the Year last season, nailed on this year and in future will be listed with others mentioned! Great stuff!!!
4

Europablue added 10:33 - Feb 16 Can't help but think McCarthy and Murphy are not quite signing from the same hymn sheet. One saying 30 goals is the target, the other saying no target. :) They are both right in a way. 30 is more than achievable, but better only focus on one goal at a time!
1

walberswicks added 10:48 - Feb 16 Don't worry about DM, get someone else in to help him out. We need some more goals from the rest of the team.
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Bluetone added 11:28 - Feb 16 1960/61 Crawford and Phillips 70 between them fantastic.
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NoCanariesAllowed added 11:29 - Feb 16 So correct me if I'm reading this wrong, but just two more goals, and Daryl Murphy becomes Ipswich's most prolific goalscorer in a single season since Sir Alf was in charge? The highest season tally of any Town striker in more than fifty years? I don't think that can be overstated. Sounds to me like a hell of an accomplishment.
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Blue041273 added 11:45 - Feb 16 Sometimes we don't know what we have. Murphy has been brilliant all season. Super Mick has done the biz as well as amusing us along the way. This has been fantastic. Long may it continue! All you negatives clearly don't understand what supporting a club like ours is all about.
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Bluetone added 11:54 - Feb 16 The first 20+ player I saw was Bill Jennings (1948/49). Happy days.
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MathieandMarshall added 12:19 - Feb 16 and lets not forget that Murph is not our penalty taker so his goals have come from open play. Even more impressive!
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Bergholtblue added 12:20 - Feb 16 Ted Phillips's 20 goals in 18 appearances. What would that make him worth at today's inflated prices?
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78ShadesOfBlue added 12:35 - Feb 16 If you do the maths, he is due 31 goals by the end of the season on his rate so far...
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JWM added 13:19 - Feb 16 Didn't Johnny Wark get something like 36 goals for us in 1981/82 season or am I just dreaming it?
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Guthrum added 13:35 - Feb 16 JWM - In 1980-81 Wark scored 36 in total, but that included games in various cups, including Europe (18 of them were League goals). Ipswich played 66 games that season!
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bennyitfc added 13:56 - Feb 16 Unrelated but this makes for some nice reading http://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?topic=45852.0
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JWM added 14:10 - Feb 16 Cheers Guthrum! Amazing to think that he was a Midfielder! The media today wet themselves over Frank Lampards scoring record yet our Warky was doing it 30 years ago!
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distractored added 03:43 - Feb 17 Oh my, Ted Phillips and Ray Crawford. I'm having a TWTD moment.
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