Town boss Mick McCarthy was happy to take a point from the Blues’ 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday, although was keen to hear from anyone who could show him a statistic which confirms his side’s Championship status for another season.
McCarthy felt the draw was a fair result: "There isn’t a bad away point. We played well enough to be in front by more in the first half, but then Dave will argue that they had the better of the second.
"I think he said they had a goal disallowed. No they didn’t, there was one that went in the net that was offside, it’s not a goal. And we had one that we thought went over the line [from Nouble] and if it didn’t, then it’s not a goal.
"So, probably honours even in terms of playing and result. We shouldn’t have even bothered, I’d have taken a point before we started. Instead of kicking the s--- out of each other we just could have just stayed at home.”
Despite the point taking the 14th-placed Blues to 57, Town’s Championship status still isn’t quite confirmed, much to McCarthy’s chagrin: "There must be some equation somewhere.
"Somebody come up with one so I can go and enjoy a glass of something tonight and not think ‘If this happen or that happens’.
"There must be because Peterborough have got to play Wednesday and Palace, and Barnsley have got Huddersfield and Hull. They’re all playing one another so there must be. Somebody come up with the equation and print it so I can enjoy my Sunday!”
Although not confirmation that Town are safe, one stats site puts the probability of the Blues going down at 0.3%.
The Town boss says right-back Richard Stearman is a doubt for next week’s final home game against Birmingham: "He’s got a hamstring strain, grade one, apparently, whatever that means. I’m never quite sure if three’s the worst or one’s the worst.
"I don’t think we’ll be seeing him again for the games. We might do, we’ll find out on Monday, I’m being a bit premature ruling him out. It’ll give Elliott Hewitt a chance to play because he deserves an opportunity.”
Grade one is the least severe type of hamstring injury, so Stearman, who is on loan from Wolves, may be seen again in the final two games.
Owls boss Dave Jones thought first-half sub Steve Howard made a huge impact: "We didn’t really get going in the first half. I think bringing Stevie on changed the game for us because we needed a focal point and a target man.
"Ipswich’s intention was to get it forward and feed off the two big brutes up there and they did it well in the first half.
"In the second half, we were probably the better team. I don’t know whether [Leroy Lita’s disallowed goal] was offside, it doesn’t look it. But, some you get, some you don’t.”
He was less than impressed with the way his side conceded Jay Tabb's goal: "It was a terrible goal because we spoke about it but if people don’t do what you tell them sometimes or if they’re not listening then it happens.”