Blues top scorer Tom Lawrence praised Town's "great" fans for the standing ovation they gave him as he left the field during the second half of Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, his last appearance for the Blues at Portman Road. The 23-year-old Wales international, who has spent the season on loan from Leicester, was replaced in the 64th minute having suffered an ankle injury.

“It was a very nice touch from the fans. They have been great,” 11-goal Lawrence said. “I wouldn’t say I was getting emotional because my ankle was too sore for that.”

Town boss Mick McCarthy has repeatedly dismissed the chances of the Blues re-signing the former Manchester United trainee next season, believing Lawrence will be playing in the Premier League.

“It’s tough one, because I don’t know what my future holds and I have a lot to think about over the summer,” Lawrence admitted.

“There is a possibility of many things. I have a lot of discussions to be had and I have to be patient.

“I’m a much better player than I was a year ago. This has been a good season for me.

“Having a full season and not a few months here and there has made a big difference.”

Lawrence, who finished second behind Bartosz Bialkowski in this season’s Player of the Year voting, has scored some memorable goals during his spell with the Blues but feels the strike at QPR at the start of January was the best.

Reflecting on the wider situation at Town, with a section of fans again calling on manager McCarthy to move on during Saturday’s match, Lawrence added: “This is a good group of lads and a manager and assistant manager working really hard.

“The fans need to look at what the manager has done since he came in the door. It was not nice to hear but they are disgruntled because it has not been a good season.

“They need to keep the faith. It showed against Newcastle that when the fans are behind the team they play better.

“It went wrong [on Saturday] because Sheffield Wednesday had something to play for and we didn’t. They are a good team so we shouldn’t take anything away from them.”

Saturday’s result confirmed Wednesday’s place in the top six and goalscorer Kieran Lee says the Owls squad is in good spirits having won six matches on the trot.

“Confidence is high going into the play-offs and it is a massive thing to have the momentum,” he said. “We need to keep that going now and go one better than we did last year.”

Regarding his goal, his third at Portman Road for the Owls in four seasons, the 28-year-old added: “I’m so happy to have scored after being out so long. A lot of my goals seem to come like that when I make that late, darting run into he area.

“Obviously it was a great pull back from Dan [Pudil] and I was able to turn it in.

“I don’t know what it is about Portman Road, it is just one of those grounds where I seem to score. I did think about it before the game and wondered if I could get another here.”

Photo: TWTD

distractored added 06:57 - May 1 I wish him the luck to go on to a big future. But this club can't afford to keep loanees from such giants as Leicester.
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jas0999 added 07:40 - May 1 Good luck to him. Excellent season and his goals, along with Barts saves have kept us in the league. Only negative of this piece is the PR spin offensive which mentions the Newcastle game at every opportunity. Yes it was good. But clearly an exception - not the norm. The latter is Sheffield and Rotherham sadly.
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prebsa added 08:04 - May 1 Fantastic player! Will go to somewhere with more quality than us but more importantly somewhere that is willing to pay to get somewhere in football!
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megamoth added 08:23 - May 1 "A lot of my goals seem to come like that when I make that late, darting run into he area..." hmmm
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Terry_Nutkins added 09:04 - May 1 Jas whether it is the norm or the exeception is irrelivent to his point. Actually if anything it strengthens his point. When we're behind the team we lift the team. Not enough of it this season. It works both ways of course because the results and performances were not brilliant this season. The point is if we stick with the team we will do better. Start of next season, whatever happens we need to back the team. Supporting your club should not come with a caveat of 'only when we are winning'. If disgruntled and dont want to pay to watch that is one thing, never understood paying to boo!

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Cloddyseedbed added 09:18 - May 1 Good luck for the future Tom and thanks. Without your goals up front and Barts keeping at the back we would have been down. We'll probably start next season without either. For me keeping Bart will be a good start.
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cat added 09:44 - May 1 Lawrence and Bart have been the stand out players this season with out a shadow of doubt, next season without these 2, assuming Bart moves on, could be a tricky one to say the least. If the Dino goes however, that will do it for me (on its own), whatever else does or does not happen!! next season a ST will definitely be purchased by myself. If he stay though, then I will be one of those looking for alteravive pursuits to get me through what will undoubtably be another 'dreaded' season.

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patrickswell added 09:49 - May 1 Lawrence tells us to keep the faith; at the end of last season, Milne told us to stick with them. Enough with the empty rhetoric, guys. Let's see some action!
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Mark added 10:54 - May 1 Thanks Tom. We appreciate your efforts and enjoyed watching you bring some excitement to the team. It is a shame for you that the timing of your loan here was during one of the worst seasons in club history under the ownership of Evans and leadership of Milne and Mccarthy. Best of luck for your future.
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SouperJim added 11:09 - May 1 Absolutely furious that Mick and now the players are saying we lost because Wednesday had something to play for and we didn't. Whose fault is that! What about a bit of pride, or repaying the fans for their incredible patience this season, given that our football has been utter toilet for the vast majority of it? Utterly pathetic, we really have lost our way and Mick is only staying to look after himself. So fed up with the negative mentality and approach evident throughout the club, which starts with the owner, is mirrored by his manager and bleeds through to the players. It's like a plague. A few extra quid in the transfer market won't fix this, Mick has to go NOW and we need someone with a bit of bloody ambition beyond packing the defence and midfield and playing for a draw every week.

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martin587 added 11:21 - May 1 Wherever Tom goes he will be a major asset.A true committed professional who give 100% every game.What a shame we cannot afford him,then again would he want to stay here.!,🤔🤔
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blue75 added 11:59 - May 1 Terry Nutkins you ask us to support what ever is going on that was how I used to think until a couple of years ago. McCarthy has us playing horrendous football with drains the life out of me I can't remember the last full game I watched even the Newcastle game (the best this season) I didn't watch it all, before you slate me I was at old Trafford for all 9 goals and didn't stop singing all game!!!

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Sam added 13:03 - May 1 I certainly stood up. Hope Tom will have a great future of premiership football. A fabulous player who will be remembered as an ITFC legend.
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cat added 15:08 - May 1 blue75 well said, what these 'happy bunch' need to understand is it's not all about the results. I have followed Town 40+ years and like most are well used to the limited success, and that's ok because it is what it is. It's about the ENTERTAINMENT VALUE!! and our DINO ain't in to that.
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therein61 added 16:29 - May 1 Wish you well Tom many thanks for(with Bart) keeping us up.
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Seasider added 16:35 - May 1 Have to say I am inclined to agree with JAS, blue 75 and CAT. Have been supporting Town since 1962, just like the supporter of 56 years who left the ground in tears on Saturday,after giving up his season ticket(Radio Suffolk). He has been caught in the 60-64 age group who Milne/Evans has hit with a huge increase(some £150 odd I believe),larger than the total cost of a season ticket at Bradford. One of our group, which has already reduced from 9 to 6 is losing another s/t holder for next season,although the rest of us are renewing. None of us are however satisfied with entertainment,manager etc which I am surprised you are. I wish Tom all the best in the future;but like JAS think he was putting out 'the party line'as MM had already said something similar.

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armchaircritic59 added 17:35 - May 1 Excuse me if i'm wrong here, but players always have at least two things to play for. Their large (and sometimes obscene) wages, and those of you (i havn't been for some time) who shell out a not inconsiderable amount of money for the "privilege" of watching them!
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Steelmonkey added 07:00 - May 2 Thanks Tom Lawrence for what you have done for the club this season. But I disagree with you saying that we had nothing to play for on Saturday, I think that's been half the trouble this season. Nothing to play for so why bother. It rubs off onto the fans, nothing to watch nothing to cheer about. Good luck in your career.
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