MICK McCarthy last night praised Michael Ingham for the way he dealt with the pressure of yesterday's crucial promotion clash at Ipswich - despite the rookie keeper being at fault for the home side's opening goal.

With injuries to Mart Poom and Thomas Myhre, Ingham pulled on the first-team gloves for only the second time this season at Portman Road yesterday.

His only other appearance this season came as a replacement for the injured Myhre in last week's home defeat to Reading.

And McCarthy lavished praise on the young Irishman, who has been told he can leave the Stadium of Light at the end of the season.

"It's a bloody tense situation to come in to and I thought Michael did very well to cope with it," said McCarthy. "We're talking about millions of pounds and Premiership football at stake.

"He's been told he's released, so to come in and do the job he's done is fantastic. I'm delighted for the lad."

Ingham failed to hold Darren Currie's corner which led to Richard Naylor bundling home in the 66th minute, but refused to let the slip affect his game afterwards.

"He knows he could have done better about the goal, but overall I thought his handling was very good," added McCarthy.

Yesterday's draw means the Black Cats remain five points clear of Ipswich in the automatic promotion places. However, McCarthy was disappointed that the gap was not extended to eight points after Darren Bent's 88th minute equaliser.

"I was pleased with the way we played and I thought we'd done enough to win the game," said McCarthy. "We missed a penalty, hit the cross-bar and broke on them constantly in the second half.

"We really should have finished the game off and I thought we let them off the hook."

But despite Bent's late leveller, McCarthy believes the performance has given him every reason to remain upbeat.

He said: "I think the players deserve credit for the in which they have played against a very good Ipswich side."

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