Mick McCarthy: 'Playoff battle will go down to the end of the season'

Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy has admitted that his side have a lot of work to do this season to earn a place in the playoffs.

The Tractor Boys moved back into the playoff places courtesy of a 3-2 victory over Blackpool thanks to Christophe Berra's late goal in a tight contest at Portman Road.

McCarthy told Sky Sports News: "We deserved to win and at this moment in time it doesn't really matter how we get the three points. We had enough chances to win two matches. We would love to be sweeping everyone aside but we haven't done that all season.

"I knew Blackpool would be a tough nut to crack, they have some good players and they can take chances as they have nothing to lose. It took our centre-back (Berra) to be on the spot but it doesn't matter how we get it.

"We now have 71 points, my best total since I've been here, but we are still nowhere near clinching a top-six spot. It is nice being back in the top six but my mantra all season has been that it will go right to the end."

Ipswich play Cardiff City in their next Championship outing on Tuesday.