Town boss Mick McCarthy was delighted with his second string side, despite their Capital One Cup third round tie against Manchester United at Old Trafford ending in a 3-0 defeat.

“Man United deserved to win, they dominated the first half,” McCarthy admitted. “Second half we started well, had our chances, didn’t score them. We gave a freekick away, cost us the second and it was probably a done deal then.”

But despite the result, he was pleased with his team, an entirely different XI to the one which drew with Birmingham on Friday including the likes of Jonny Parr and Kevin Bru on the way back from injury, recent signings Tommy Oar and Piotr Malarczyk, who are short of match fitness, and youngsters Josh Emmanuel and Josh Yorwerth.

“I’m delighted with them,” he continued. “It’s difficult when you come in and you’ve lost 3-0 and you’re saying ‘Well done lads, I’m pleased with you’.

“We’ve got Jonny Parr back playing, which I’m delighted with. All the back four, Josh Emmanuel, it’s a helluva learning curve for him.

“Kevin Bru’s back playing having missed a lot through injury. I thought Tommy Oar really did well in the game. So there were some real good pluses but we were beaten.

“I could have put any team out against that team and we’d probably still have been beaten. The bookies wouldn’t have been giving too many good odds on us whatever team we were playing.”

He says he was always going to stick with the players who had featured in the victories over Stevenage and Doncaster in the previous rounds.

“I said at Doncaster that I’d play the same team and then we were drawn with Manchester United and I said I might have to rethink it,” he added. “But that was never going to be the case, I was always going to play the same lads.

“I had to show faith in them as well, so when I do want them to play in the league that I’m not worried about playing them. I hope they get that feeling from that game.”

The Blues boss says he expected Louis van Gaal to pick a strong United team: “I didn’t expect him to tinker with it. They lost at the MK Dons last year through doing that. I think they need to win a trophy.

“I’d imagine a home tie against Ipswich, he wouldn’t want to see an upset to he made sure with a strong team.”

McCarthy says the performance and cup run has reinforced his view that he has strength in depth: “I know looking at them there are players I can play without any reservations at all.

“I knew that anyway but it’s added a few to it and I’m comfortable int he knowledge that I’ve got a strong squad going forward with the league games coming up.”

He says the likes of Oar and Malarczyk needed to play a match to get nearer to match fitness: “When do they get that game otherwise? I know it’s a big game and I know we’ve had loads of fans and they were brilliant and they were still brilliant at the end.

“I thought they saw a really good, spirited second half performance. But I’ve been to places like Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool with my best, full strength team and had a doing. I wanted to stick with the lads who got us here and they deserved to play.”

Regarding debutant Oar’s performance, he added: “Tommy’s only had one full competitive game since March and for him to come in and play at Old Trafford in the way he has done I’m really pleased with him, and his delivery from freekicks was excellent.

“We’ve got two outstanding wingers playing in the team, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Ryan Fraser, but neither of them are ours. So, I have got one and I’ve got high hopes for him. I’m delighted with him.”

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal said: "The result was great. We don’t have injuries. I brought in players, I rotated players. Phil Jones has played a lot of minutes. So I’m a happy coach."

Photo: Action Images

Kesgraveblue57 added 10:18 - Sep 24 Putting the site again last night unfit players kids leaning their trade it's one hell of a result we now have a squad can only lead to better things
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Kesgraveblue57 added 10:30 - Sep 24 Sorry about the spelling I'm in hospital it was meant to start putting the side out last night
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blueherts added 10:51 - Sep 24 I am more concerned about Reading Brighton and Birmingham games of late than last night. Big pressure now on team. Glad Bru is back and partner Skuse please not Douglas or Coke. Sears DIDS and Pittman ahead of Murphy as well at the moment. Oar sounds good player so a lot of width and pace now. Emmanuel is a talented player. Need a win Saturday and think we will.
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MattinLondon added 11:04 - Sep 24 I understand why some people are annoyed with the team that Mick selected — it is a long midweek trip and also quite expensive. But the league is much much more important than a cup game and I think most people realise this. My main concern is that we still hoof the ball far too often
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legoman added 13:23 - Sep 24 I couldnt put it any better Cromwell.
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Seasider added 14:04 - Sep 24 Wouldn't want Mick to completely change the team again on Saturday as thought Bru,Didsy,Bart and Parr all did well. However think he will unless Gerken not fit,probably saying that the others had a hard game on Wednesday.Worried about Murphs performances. Do hope Mr Mc Carthy is proved right as badly need a win against one of the lower region sides in Championship on Saturday to keep us in the promotion mix.

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wkj added 14:05 - Sep 24 I guess what I am struggling to get here, yes, People spent a lot of money to go last night to an iconic stadium against a high profile team and we didn't play our usual starting line up. I feel some people covertly expected a giant killing game last night which I honestly dont feel the choice XI would have had any greater chance of pulling off than a team of squad players who are too valuble cover to loan out, need proper competative games to excel and develop, and cant do this in U21 matches. Last night we learned Yorwerth is a viable choice for first team, Piotr is showing great signs of improving in the English game, and to me most importantly that Bart is getting stronger and stroger (and SHOULD BE the #1 keeper) - There were so many positive out of last night and I feel playing a full strength team would have inhibited some of the players who should be considered in taking first team starts from some of the players who are not as convincing in league games.

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bohslegend added 15:42 - Sep 24 Watched the game last night on the little river. Without doubt Man U had some serious quality on view on the pitch. Would the score have been any different if we'd played our starting 11 from the weekend?? I doubt it very much. MM must be given some credit for giving our fringe players (not reserves) the opportunity to play and increase their match fitness ahead of the real big games - eg Bristol City at the weekend. The fans in Old Trafford did us proud last night, noisy, supportive, boisterous throughout the game. They did pay good money to be there and deserved a performance. But I think they can be very happy with what they got. We were always longshots for a win, so I doubt anyone paid their money to travel there expecting us to beat Man U in their own back yard. If they did, I would suggest nothing that the manager could have done last night would satisfy them.

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neillrumsey added 17:16 - Sep 24 Agree with wkj I don't think it would have mattered what team MM fielded as ManU according to Alex Mathie appeared to be able to step it up as required. The worry for me is that despite the plethora of attacking options MM has this season we are still not scoring goals. Bristol is the important match so hopefully MM which pick an attack minded line up and recall Bart who sounded like he had a good game between the sticks.

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oldegold added 19:54 - Sep 24 Sep 1981 Man Utd 1 Ipswich Town 2 - Mar 1980 Ipswich 6 Man Utd 0 ( 3 penalties missed by Town ) - My, how the times have changed. Can't remember Sir Bobby, George Burley and BFJ saying that they were delighted with their players after losing 0-3 and hamstringing them by impeding them from getting a single shot on target. I find it unacceptable that we had nothing to lose by really going for a victory, when it would be so unexpected. We are a million miles from being a crack club and going back to being so professional in our outlook. MM has an appalling record in cups and play offs and with his negative outlook it's hardly surprising and the least he could have done was to go for a win...and muster at least a shot on target... I don't buy it as you go for a win in every game..

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battyblue added 05:48 - Sep 25 Agree oldegold completely with above post MM is happy to just meander along and be a mediocre achiever and i and a lot of genuine supporters are not happy with this second rate stile of his, we will not get promotion with this approach and if by any chance (very slim and no chance) we make top two this is the only way he will get us to the promised land because he cant win vital matches ie playoffs....that said good luck to all tomorrow inc Bart. predict back four....Chambers/smith/berra/knudson.

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oldegold added 10:52 - Sep 25 My sentiments entirely battyblue. I don't doubt for a second that MM has brought stability since Jewell's tenure but we really need to push on and I don't understand his negative attitude in style of play and towards the cups . We should be competing against and beating clubs like Stoke City, WBA, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, but instead we are lagging behind.All these plastic comments about being pleased and proud of his team..after a 0-3 defeat is beyond me. What was there to lose by giving our strongest team a run out against the mighty Man Utd..now that would have been the right baptism not sending out an inferior 11..what was there to lose? Anyway, hopefully 3 points against Bristol City..and my son will be a Ball boy so I'm chuffed !

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