Skipper Luke Chambers insisted that Town will only get better under manager Mick McCarthy after Saturday’s play-off semi-final defeat to Norwich City at Carrow Road.

The 10-man Blues were beaten 3-1 on the day and 4-2 on aggregate to miss out on a place in next Monday’s final against Middlesbrough at Wembley.

“Under the manager we have we are only going to improve, he is experienced in this division and knows how to set teams up,” Chambers said.

“You have seen how he has galvanised this team, the whole town, everyone is together. The fans are coming back, they believe in the team and backed by the owner I’m sure the manager will make this team even stronger.”

Regarding next Monday's match, he added: “The final is wide open. None of the previous results will matter. I wish them all the best in the final but all I’m looking at is us getting there or going up automatically next season.”

Reflecting on Saturday’s game, the 29-year-old felt the match turned on the penalty incident which saw central defender Christophe Berra red-carded for handling Nathan Redmond’s goal-bound shot.

“The penalty and red card have changed the game,” he continued. “No one gave us a chance to get where we are at the beginning of the season but we did.

“Halfway through the season we were top two, we will look to at least make the play-offs next season and hopefully go one better. It has been an absolute pleasure to play with every one of those players in that dressing room.

“This is my sixth play-off and I have still to make the final. I thought this year was going to be different and felt we could win the game. Up until the penalty that never changed.

“I would say they got the rub of the green but they didn’t really because it was a penalty. We should not have given the ball away earlier in the passage of play to allow players of their quality do what they did.”

The Blues captain backed Scotland international Berra, despite his dismissal: “Christophe has been an absolute rock for us all season.

“It wasn’t his fault, it was an instinct. In hindsight you say let it in but who knows what any of us what do in that situation. We will never blame Christophe for this because he has been brilliant for us all season.”

He admits failing to reach the final is going to be hard to take but believes the Blues, who finished sixth this season, three positions better than last year, will continue to make progress.

“It is going to be a long week for us now,” he said. “We will only get stronger after this. I have said to the lads before we need to make the most of these opportunities, learn from them and grow.

“It doesn’t feel it right now but we should be proud of what we have done. Teams will not want to play us at Portman Road next season now."

Meanwhile, winger Stephen Hunt has expressed his frustration at the end of the campaign in his Irish Sunday Independent column, while he and several other Blues players commented on the play-off defeat and the end of the season on Twitter.

Proud of team mates today and fans deserve better,one thing we have is fight,feel for everybody at club and the town #proud #tractorboy– stephen hunt (@stephenhunt1010) May 16, 2015

Can only apologise2all the fans for gettin sent off!I didn't deliberately mean2hand the ball,was just a natural instinct tht i couldn't stop– Christophe Berra (@Cberra1985) May 16, 2015

Extremely proud to have been a tractor boy today. We can hold our heads up and focus on going further next year. Great support again 💙💙– Paul Anderson (@P18NDO) May 16, 2015

Been a pleasure to share a dressing room with lads this season, gutted for all the fans. Hopefully go one step further next season ⚽️#itfc– Luke Hyam (@LukeHyam19) May 16, 2015

Absolutely gutted 😔 Thank you to the fans who have been brilliant all season. 💙⚽️ #itfc– Ted bishop (@ted10bishop) May 16, 2015

Gutted is an understatement 😔 couldn't be more proud of the lads. We will build from this and give it a good crack again next season #itfc– Tommy Smith (@tommysmith1990) May 16, 2015

Thanks for all the nice tweets. I've read them all and appreciate every one of them. Time to rest and recover ready to come back firing– Tommy Smith (@tommysmith1990) May 16, 2015

Really proud to be a tractor boy!! Hope the next year gonna be full of success👊. Thanks everyone for an amazing support👏👏👏– Bartosz Bialkowski (@1BartMan1) May 16, 2015

Very proud of our lads today! Proud to say Im apart of this dressing room and football club! Fans outstanding, thank you for the support!😘😘😘– Noel Hunt (@boyhunt) May 16, 2015

Can't thank my team mates, fans and everyone involved with @Official_ITFC enough for all the efforts this season, been a pleasure #itfc– Tyrone Mings (@OfficialTM_3) May 16, 2015

Photo: Action Images

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 06:48 - May 18 I don't do Twitter, but in the (unlikely?) event that any of the players read this forum - and particularly C. Berra - I'd like to say how much more I've enjoyed this season than any of the previous 10 or so. Thanks to all the players who tried so hard and but for an unfortunate incident, nearly made it. And Christophe - absolutely no apology required: a natural reaction. You have been immense for us this season, and we hope for more of the same 2015/16. COYB!

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bluefeast added 07:22 - May 18 Its painful for us the fans ,the players , the manager ,the staff ,the owner. Ive seen all of our play off games and they are just a horrible way to end a season when you fail. Cant say anything other than our team gave their all ,their absolute blood and tears for the cause. We can be proud of that. Next season will be different ,whether its successful or not will depend on the players that leave and more importantly the new ones who arrive. Then throw in a bucket load of luck

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Dissboyitfc added 07:37 - May 18 I am going to face some smug people this morning. Norwich fans, really are the most arrogant supporters. Speaking to guy who used to be a mate( b4 the game) was petrified we would win and all he could say was Ipswich are a Sh!t team who don't deserve to be in play offs. But had we have bought our way out of the division he would have said we didn't win fairly we because we bought our way out???? Cant stand Ignorance or arrogance. Really proud of what we achieved, first 45 we were awesome and they didn't know how to handle us.And even with 10 we went at them, such a great spirit. Onwards and upwards.......Coyb

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PJH added 07:55 - May 18 It has been a mostly enjoyable journey. Thank you MM.TC and the players for taking us along with you. Along with the disappointment there should be feelings of pride,both on and off the pitch. The togetherness will still be there in August when we go again. COYB
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Mr_Evans added 08:00 - May 18 This season was always about building - we over exceeded, but what a squad MM has put together. Our 5 most valuable players: Murphy, McGoldrick, Bishop, Berra & Mings. The only two players I could possibly see other clubs come in for are McGoldrick & Berra. Next season I'd like to see a team built around a core of Berra, Bishop & Sears. As much as I do like Tommy Smith; it's obvious that he's just not quite got what it takes to be a promotion chasing regular CB - I'd like to see Chambers return to CB with Parr at RB - then have a CB cover of Smith and the ever improving Clarke. Skuse finished the season very well and sits in well in front of the back four - I'd like to see a centre pairing of Bishop and another new CM - I feel Bru, Tabb, Hyam are good enough cover. Think Ambrose may leave, possibly even Tabb & Hyam if MM wants to get a couple of new additions. I'd like to see us player with a front 3; McGoldrick and Murphy with Sears just off them - I feel that would be our strongest front line - and the Hunts would be sufficient cover, we then have the option of Anderson if we wanted to revert to a 442. Bart Parr - Chambers - Berra - Mings Skuse Bishop - new singing* McGoldrick - Murphy Sears Sub: Gerken Anderson Smith Clarke N Hunt S Hunt Bru

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itfcserbia added 08:01 - May 18 I think even statistically Berra has been the best CB in the Championship this season. Just saying... Well done lads, onwards and upwards.
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itfcserbia added 08:04 - May 18 Oh, and I just wanted to ask - has anyone else noticed just how much more comfortable Smith was once he got over to the left of CB pair after Christophe was sent off? And I mean both on and off the ball.
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DurhamTownFan added 08:17 - May 18 Yes I did notice that itfcserbia. Just a thought: will Berra be suspense first game of next season? I so then MM has to play smith and Chambo in the middle and if he does that and we play well, then I hope that makes his decision for him to move Chambo into the middle. He's a great defender but not a very skilful FB. I think Bru, Bish and Skuse did well over the two legs, and the formation uses suggests MM might try to get it on the deck a bit more next year. Do to that though I think we need at least one very good winger/forward in place of Anderson (with him as back up). Obviously everyone always says we need a RB, and I still agree. I think if Parr was the man then MM would have picked him more already. With our playing style you need a big lad good inthe air but who can also play a bit going forward. Not easy to find!

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itfcserbia added 08:29 - May 18 DurhamTownFan - what about three CBs and wing backs? I thought Anderson did well covering the RB slot. Mings, Parr, Anderson, that's some nice WB potential right there.
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RaymondovicBlue added 08:40 - May 18 Connolly will come of age this year. He is (according to Mick's own reviews) just what we've been lacking pace-wise. Shame he got injured when he did our we might have seen him already. Great season with our squad. We CAN do even better next COYB
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RaymondovicBlue added 08:46 - May 18 Anderson as a right back?? Now that might just work really well..... His pace will get him out of and trouble his inexperience there may cause..... If Chambers can get MOM out of position then why not Anderson. I still don't get why Mick plays Berra on left and Smith in right...... Surely Berra should be the one good enough to pay on the wrong side...... But I think smiths performances "out of position" have been commendable...... And if LOVE to see him back in the left for us next year..... He played an excellent half after Berra went off

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MickMillsTash added 08:53 - May 18 McGoldricks 20mins on saturday showed what we were missing in the last 3 months of the season. If he stays fit no one will want to face our front 3, we would be a massively different team with him playing and fit Need quality on the ball at right back if we are going to change Chambers- Parr gives energy but can he create when teams come to Portman Road and park the bus ?

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RaymondovicBlue added 08:55 - May 18 Bart Chambers Berra Smith Anderson Skuse Bishop Mings mcGoldrick Murphy Sears Garden, Parr, Connolly, N Hunt, Hyam 2 others! Game plan..... To dominate from the start getting pace moving forward.... Defending in their half by keeping them on the back foot fearing what WE are doing with the ball at our feet. See how many more corners and penalties we will be awarded of wet pay like that..., and how many more goals we will score. Top two a very real possibility

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Moscow_Blue added 09:02 - May 18 The conundrum is the centre back pairing. Add to that a quality RB (Parr, whilst good at times, doesn't seem sufficiently motivated to me. Build the midfield around Skuse, Bishop and Bru and, if McGoldrick can prove his fitness we are strong in attack with Murphy and Sears. I think we say "many thanks and goodbye to Hunt (S and N), Tabb, Parr, Ambrose. Vardy costs us nothing until he proves his fitness (not surprised he couldn't get into Blackburn team with Gestede and Rhodes). Throw in the possible (but unlikely) exit of Mings. Mick will continue to surprise us with his signings, which I expect continue to be out of contract players for FFP reasons. Onwards and upwards (and come on 'boro).

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DurhamTownFan added 09:14 - May 18 I don't think we'd use 3 CBs over a whole season. On paper it looks good, but our game is built on direct balls into the channels, and for that you're best playing with proper widemen..? I you look at teams playing 3 at the back they're normally possession teams: van Gaals holland, Martinez at Wigan, Rodgers at Liverpool last year, and even us under burley. I actually think it suits the current squad very well, lets us to play to the strengths of our 3 good CBs, pack the midfield and keep two up top. I just don't think MM would play it every week.

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Akaroablue added 09:56 - May 18 Have a look at Bournemouth, there midfield scored 44 goals according to a news report I read, we scored about 8 from midfield, I am not sure that there goals were in all comp, but we need goal scoring mid field players plus a good right back, a decent keeper, plus 2 decent wide men in my view. Tommy Smith is not good enough so we need better cover there too. Our strike force is very capable but good buying in the midfield dept is essential to go up!!

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bluefeast added 10:14 - May 18 The stats show that 14 of Murphys 27 goals were self made ,i.e. not on the end of crosses in open play where the last touch is his into the back of the net ,just shows what a monster he has been for us this season and also what could he do with say brentfords midfield or watfords for example. Outside of that our midfield one the most tackles in the league ,ran the furthest and created the least amount. Possession and pressure is part of football in equal measure ,we've got the pressure bit correct ,sadly those possession stats prove the issues.

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bugledog123 added 10:18 - May 18 Proud of the team. Always a blue but a bit blue this morning! COYB!
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goat_man added 10:21 - May 18 Best signing we can make over the summer will be to bring in a new goalkeeping coach.
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essexbluey added 10:30 - May 18 Iam still proud and iam still getting my season ticket. My daughter's boyfriend got me a surprise he bought me a ticket to wembley to see his team southend. I may as well try and enjoy the day out at wembley. COYB.
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jabberjackson added 10:40 - May 18 In my opinion the one player that we - as a bunch of supporters - would be most worried and gutted about leaving would be Luke Chambers The way that the team performs and fights is a reflection of his personality, we would miss his leadership immensely, probably more than any one player Let's not take him for granted - if I was Bournemouth, Watford or Boro, I would want him in my dressing room¬

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tractorboybig added 10:41 - May 18 this squad has played above its self and cant improve. there is good basis but some major introductions are required.. goal keeper -left and right back,creative mid field (ers)and can poor old murphy do the same again?
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jabberjackson added 10:50 - May 18 No Tractorboybig, Murphy almost certainly will not score anywhere near as many goals, but Sears Murphy and McGoldrick can score a hatful more between them than last season...no big issues up front IMHO
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runningout added 10:52 - May 18 improvement a obvious must... To be honest, we got in the play-off by default. Must visit the Czech and Bosnian market for a couple of new signings sharpish
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itsonlyme added 10:56 - May 18 Very proud of the lads and such a shame. Hey ho there is always next season! Just one thought, are we all sure that Mings and Bishop in particular, will be with us next season - I have my doubts!
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