Boss Paul Jewell paid tribute to his players’ outstanding effort, workrate and energy during their 3-0 Carling Cup semi-final second leg defeat at Arsenal. The Blues were a goal up from the first leg but despite hanging on to their lead for an hour eventually succumbed to Arsene Wenger’s side.
Jewell said: "For an hour we held them, we rode our luck a little bit and you could have written the possession stats before the game kicked off. You knew they were going to have all the ball and we were going to try and sit back and soak it up and make it difficult for them, which we did.
"We had a little bit of luck, but I think we earned that and for an hour, as far as conceding was concerned, we looked all right.
"Obviously going forward it was difficult because they worked us so hard when they had the ball. The manner of the goals was disappointing, certainly the second one as it was a set piece.
"I can’t fault the players’ effort, they were outstanding and I couldn’t ask for more in terms of workrate and energy. They put so much into the game when Arsenal had the ball that it was difficult when we had the ball to try and create.”
The Blues manager says his players were downbeat in the dressing room afterwards despite performing so well against the Premier League side: "They’re disappointed because we knew we were massive underdogs, but once it got to an hour [you start to believe].
"I hate it when you come to places and people tap you on the head and say ‘Well done, unlucky, your players did great’ after they’ve just beaten you.
"But the players were great but they lacked that little bit of belief when we had the ball to go on and think we could actually score.
"But it’s very difficult coming here, we know we’re going to be under the cosh and I’ve got to give the players every credit because they worked tirelessly.
"The players weren’t disgraced over two games. They have given a brilliant team a right good run for their money as far as making it difficult for Arsenal is concerned.”
Arsene Wenger said his side needed keep their composure to overcome the Blues: "The players were really up for it, focused and at the end we needed to be patient.
"We have to give credit to Ipswich over the two games. They defended with great attitude, great spirit and we needed tonight to be mature, calm and patient and not to concede a goal.
"The fact that we have stabilised our defensive record helped us to qualify [for the final]. It meant a lot to the squad and the team and they deserved to be rewarded because they have an outstanding attitude and spirit and are on a natural development process.”
Wenger says a lesser side wouldn’t have gone through against Town: "An average team against Ipswich 1-0 down tonight wouldn’t have qualified.
"We have played Leeds and Ipswich and, in fairness, the Championship has improved a lot in the last five or six years because just physically they don’t weaken at all, they keep going.
"When we analyse the physical performance of Ipswich they are at the level of the Premier League without any problem.”