BY PHIL HAM

IPSWICH boss Mick McCarthy was more than happy with a point after his side twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at AFC Bournemouth.

Teddy Bishop and Daryl Murphy netted for the Blues, who conceded a superb Yann Kermorgant overhead kick in only the second minute.

“If you get a point away from home it’s a good point wherever you get it,” McCarthy said. “I’d take a point without getting on the bus, it suits me fine.”

Bournemouth winger Matt Ritchie had already hit the bar before Kermorgant put his side ahead by acrobatically volleying Simon Francis’ right-wing cross into the net from 12 yards.

It might have been 2-0 but for an outstanding double stop from Bartosz Bialkowski – given the nod ahead of the fit-again Dean Gerken – the Pole first saving down to his left from Kermorgant and then blocking from Ritchie. Murphy flicked a corner onto the bar on 21, but the Blues had to wait until five minutes after the restart to get on terms.

Tyrone Mings cut a low ball across from the left which Bishop steered into the corner of the net to claim his first senior goal.

But Bournemouth were back ahead within four minutes. Callum Wilson battled past Christophe Berra and Tommy Smith on the left of the box before finding Ritchie, who slammed home.

The Cherries were denied a penalty on 63 when sub Tokelo Rantie went to ground under pressure from Smith and Luke Chambers.

“I’ve seen it, it’s nowhere near a penalty,” insisted McCarthy. “Besides Rantie was about 10 yards offside.”

The luckless Rantie, who had only been on the field a minute, subsequently required lengthy treatment for a shoulder injury and was stretchered off.

Town’s equaliser, which returned them to fourth in the Championship, came with 14 minutes – plus 12 minutes additional time largely for Rantie’s injury – remaining.

The recalled Paul Anderson sent over a free-kick from the left and Murphy nodded in his 11th goal of the season to make him the joint top-scorer in the Championship with Nottingham Forest’s Britt Assombalonga.

McCarthy, whose side have now lost only once in 14, was pleased with the draw having been impressed by the second-placed Cherries. “They’ll be in the top six, they’ll be a promotion candidate,” he declared.

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe was adamant Rantie ought to have been awarded the spot-kick.

“I’ve seen it again and it’s a clear-cut penalty,” he said. “He came in between two players and he’s been brought down by a blue shirt. The referee is in a decent position and I’m very surprised he didn’t point to the spot.

“Credit to Ipswich, they dug in and I think from their perspective they’ve come away with something from a game when perhaps they didn’t deserve to.”

  • Blues midfielder Kevin Bru is facing up to a month on the sidelines after damaging ankle ligaments in the first half, while Tyrone Mings is a doubt for next week’s match at Charlton with a dead leg. Stephen Hunt should be back from a hamstring injury.