Blues top scorer Martyn Waghorn was impressed with debutants Cameron Carter-Vickers and Stephen Gleeson during Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Bolton Wanderers.

Carter-Vickers, 20, who is on loan for the rest of the season from Spurs, started at the centre of the defence, while midfielder Gleeson, 29, a free signing from Birmingham, made a big impression having come off the bench at half-time for the injured Cole Skuse.

“Cam had a difficult time with the big man [Gary Madine], but I thought he handled it very well,” Waghorn said.

“He played a lot of games early on in the season with Sheffield United and now he’s here, which is right bonus for us. He’s a good strong defender and comfortable on the ball, which is pleasing for us.

“I think Glees came on and did a fantastic job. He got on the ball, started a lot of attacks, playing forward balls, which is crucial. Very pleasing and hopefully it shows good signs for the future.”

Waghorn came close to grabbing all three points for the Blues with a late strike which hit the bar. As well as handing Town three vital points he says he had another reason for hoping it found the net.

“I thought it maybe had a chance of dipping in,” he admitted. “When I first hit it, it was one of those things where you don’t really feel the connection, you know you’ve hit it quite sweetly.

“I know Ben [Alnwick] quite well in the Bolton nets and I’ve just seen him waving at that one. On another day it goes in, but I’m disappointed not to get three points.

“He’s another Sunderland boy and I know him and his brother, so that would have been a good bit of bragging rights!”

Overall, he says it was a frustrating afternoon, particularly before the break: “In the first half we were stuck between going long, playing short and getting on the ball.

“I think we caused [ourselves] a few problems, left ourselves vulnerable to counter-attacks and maybe didn’t stop their plan of getting the ball to the big man [Madine] up top and kind of played into their hands a bit with the way we were playing.

“The first half was disappointing and it was also disappointing in the way we conceded the goal - a long ball out wide and a ball into the box. We’re normally quite good at defending them and solid.

“So, frustrating but the reaction from the boys and the way we played the last 30 minutes was pleasing.”

After winning 1-0 at home to Leeds last week, did he feel it was an opportunity lost? “You always need to try and build on good victories at home and then come to places like this and pick up three points but it’s one of them which could have gone either way.

“The last 15 minutes was pleasing, we did have chances, we did have opportunities, but we needed to be a little bit more clinical. I think in these games as an away team you need to take the lead and let the home side come on to you.

“But there were a lot of positives to come from the second half and we showed for our goal the play that we can do and the chances that we can create with the quality that we’ve got.”

Having been one of the division’s higher scoring sides earlier in the season, Town as a team have found the net less frequently recently, while Waghorn himself is without a goal in nine matches having hit 10 so far since joining the Blues from Rangers for £250,000 in August.

“Personally for myself, goals have dried up a bit but the team are still getting results, we’re still winning, we’re still up and about there, which is the most important thing and what it’s about,” he reflected.

“Personally, I’d like to score more, obviously, I think every striker would admit that, but the boys are still in with a shout and that’s the main thing.”

But overall, having picked up seven assists in addition to his 10 goals, Waghorn has been happy with his form since joining Town.

“Yes, of course,” he added. “I’ve come here and the gaffer has got great belief in us and I’m enjoying my time here. The boys are a great set of lads, everything’s going well, I’m nice and settled and looking forward to hopefully having a good last part of the season.”

He says he enjoys the role he is playing in the trio behind lone out-and-out striker Joe Garner, along with Bersant Celina and David McGoldrick, which gives all three licence to roam.

“Of course, we’ve all got a good understanding of what needs to happen,” he continued. “If I go long, Garns or Didz or Santie fills in for us and vice versa.

“The gaffer gives us that that little bit of freedom in the final third, so the quality that we’ve got is also matched by our work-rate and I think that’s shown on a week-to-week basis.”

The 27-year-old believes the 12th-placed Blues remain in the play-off hunt, despite the weekend draw.

“Definitely, we’ve got to aim there, we’re only six points off it still and we’ve got a lot of good fixtures coming up,” he said.

“We play all the teams above us so we need to get points off them. But we’re very hopeful, pleased with the squad and with the quality that we have hopefully we can capitalise on that.”

Next up is a home game against leaders Wolves, who narrowly beat Town 1-0 at Molineux last month.

“We defended really well,” Waghorn recalled. “I think we had a good game plan, we restricted them and frustrated them and we’ve got to do more of the same at home on Saturday.

“We’ll have the same plan and try on capitalise on what we’ve got up top and try and get a goal.”

Following that, there’s a return to Sunderland, the South Shields-born frontman’s local club where he started his career.

“I’m looking forward to it, it’ll be the first time I’ve actually been back there,” he said. “They picked up a good result on Saturday [a 1-0 home victory over Hull City], so I’m looking forward to that one, going back and maybe seeing some family and friends.”

Would he celebrate a goal? “Oh yes! A goal’s a goal as a striker. Nothing against them or whatever, it’s just get the win, get the goal, that’s the most important thing.”

Former Blues loanee Jack Colback’s presence at the Derby County home game last month led to some speculation that midfielder, these days with Newcastle but firmly out of favour at St James' Park, might be in the way back to Portman Road.

However, as TWTD reported at the time, Waghorn says Colback was just in Suffolk to pay him a social visit.

“Jack’s my best friend, we grew up together since we were kids,” he explained. “He had Christmas off, nothing more than coming to stay with us and coming to watch the game with his family.”

Waghorn says Colback, then his team-mate at Sunderland, enjoyed his two loan spells with Town.

“We were both 18 when we first got sent out and he came to Ipswich to play under Roy Keane,” he added. “He loved it. We’re just good pals and it was nice to see his kids and have a nice time with some friends.”

Meanwhile, Town's U23s are in action against Sheffield United in the Premier League Cup at Portman Road this evening (KO 7pm).

The Blues have won their first two matches in the competition and are currently second in their group behind Aston Villa, who have played a game more, on goal difference.

The Blades are set to include striker Ched Evans in their side as the Wales international continues his comeback after an ankle operation.

Photos: TWTD/PagePix

dirtydingusmagee added 14:25 - Jan 22 popeye it may be Carters Vickersy,
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fifeblue added 14:44 - Jan 22 All this loan-player nonsense is ruining the game. Ipswich Town has effectively become a feeder or reserve team to Premier League clubs. Could you imagine Bobby Robson loaning other teams' reserve players rather than developing our own youngsters in the first team?
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Rensham added 15:07 - Jan 22 5 loanees out of eleven players. you're spoiling us Marcus.
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Sorry added 15:10 - Jan 22 My issue with McCarthy isn't generally the quality of player brought in. Considering the resources at his disposal I actually think the quality of individual brought in is comparatively high. It's the inability to get them playing with any discernible pattern of play whatsoever that's the problem.
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Seasider added 15:21 - Jan 22 Is A good player for us despite mini goal drought,so mustn't be too hard on Waggy. However to say team are getting results,and still winning ( 1 win in 7)without him scoring is stretching it a bit I think.During that time have only scored 4. Not that I am blaming him in any way;but the restricted type of play which eminates from McCarthy's teams. It is good to hear him say that the Gaffer gives them a bit of freedom in final 3rd

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Seasider added 15:28 - Jan 22 However it doesn't bode well for the Wolves game when Waghorn said they had a good game plan to restrict and frustrate them away;so will employ the same tactics on Saturday. Oh dear !!!Not what I want to hear. Using such tactics at home must make the players feel they are in a struggling side who must employ spoiling tactics to get anything from the game.Its enough to give them an inferiority complex,and drive even more fans away. Cant Evans see what it is doing to this club,mind you he is not the most dedicated of supporters leaving 15 min before the end at Bolton

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FromIpswichToPhoenix added 15:38 - Jan 22 "We're still winning, we're still up and about there, which is the most important thing and what it's about" Uh, you've won six in the last 20 games, you lost 10. That is not winning ways. At all. 12 wins, 12 losses, 12th place. It doesn't get anymore middle of the road, average, bland than that. Not going up. Not going down. Same story for 16 years. Yes, you're six points from playoffs, but of the 11 teams above us, we've played 15 games and won four. We're not going any higher. Stop pretending everything is roses. It isn't.

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jas0999 added 17:21 - Jan 22 There is no long term plan. Come the Summer, with all the loans gone and players departing once their contracts expire - add to that potential sales this window, we will be lucky to have ten first team players left. So, yet another season and summer of rebuilding with more loans and frees no doubt.
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Northstandveteran added 17:29 - Jan 22 Or, jas0999 trying to find a positive in this, opposed to the negativity those of us that aren't happy with the current situation get accused of. New manager? New players? Perhaps there is a long term plan?
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Sorry added 13:33 - Jan 23 Sad to say, the positive is probably that we're not in serious danger of relegation, we're not chucking good money after bad in pursuit of 6th and we'll probably get a change of manager in the Summer?
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norfolkbluey added 20:16 - Jan 23 Coming on this site only confirms to me that ITFC is in the doldrums. Negative comments from so many supporters. I cannot believe that many clubs would ignore their fan base as this one appears to do. These typical negative comments have been continuous for several years now. It is an expression of how our fans feel. They pay really high entry fees year after year. The fan base is clearly declining with fewer and fewer season ticket holders. This must indicate to ME that all is not well. HOW SAD. I gave up my season ticket five years ago because I saw how bad things were going. I have been proved right. There have been some good and bad signings but when it comes down to tactics and entertainment the bottom line is negativity hence the fans negativity.

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