Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy has admitted that his side's quest for promotion to the Premier League is going to be "nervy".

The Tractor Boys are currently one point adrift of the playoff places following last night's narrow 1-0 win over Bolton Wanderers.

McCarthy remains hopeful that his team can secure a top-six finish, but the former Republic of Ireland manager concedes that they will not always be playing attractive football in order to do so.

"I was anxious and apprehensive watching - I'm sure most Ipswich fans were," he told BBC Sport. "There are nine games left and we still have a chance of being promoted. It is not going to be silky, free-flowing football without nerves.

"They had a lot of chances, as did we, but they were profligate in front of goal and we score through [Jay Tabb], that's all that matters. I kept the same team and Bolton were no mugs. But we kept a clean sheet and we won."

Ipswich continue their bid for promotion on Saturday when they travel to table-topping Watford.