How the Irish fared: Ipswich missing Daryl Murphy

Daryl Murphy’s importance to the Ipswich cause was brought into sharp focus at the weekend.

With the striker absent through injury, the Tractor Boys were held to a scoreless draw by struggling Wigan.

Though still in fourth, the stalemate meant Ipswich lost ground on Bournemouth and Derby and manager Mick McCarthy admitted his side had missed Murphy, the league’s top scorer with 18 goals.