Boss Mick McCarthy was pleased with his team’s performance, despite the Blues’ 1-0 defeat at Burnley ending their hopes of reaching the play-offs.
"I thought it was very good, until conceding the goal and then when we got a bit loose, but I thought we played very well,” he said.
"I thought they started well, we didn’t. I thought we grew into the game and got better when the first half settled down and it was fairly even.
"I thought we started the second half better than them and were on top when we conceded. We missed one tackle and it ended up in the back of the net because they’ve got Johnny-on-the-spot. Goals change the course of games. I thought we played well, I was really pleased with my team.”
McCarthy defended not throwing the kitchen sink at the already-promoted Clarets from the start.
"I’ve just spoken to the TV because they ask bonkers questions. It’s as if I should have started with four or five centre-forwards and two left wingers and two right wingers because we must win it.
"How do you win a game? You win a game with a team effort and I thought we had a really good team effort up and until the goal. They got a bit of good fortune I thought, just in terms of missing the tackle.
"I thought our performance was really good. But a ‘must-win game’. It’s interesting that. What do you do, throw all your principles and everything out the window to change it and do something different?
"If I could do that I would have done that at Reading in the first game of the season and we would have pissed the league and been up.”
The Blues boss said there was an inevitability that it was Michael Kightly, one of his players at Wolves, who scored the game’s only goal.
"It’s always somebody I’ve had who scores against us,” he added. "It’s been like that throughout my career. If I could keep them all, I’d be all right, wouldn’t I?
"He’s a good player, Kights, he’s got his je ne sais quoi or whatever it might be. He had so many injuries.
"If he hadn’t been injured like he was at Wolves, he would have been a top player in a top team throughout. I’m really delighted for him that he’s back playing at that level because he’s a great kid.”
McCarthy says Burnley fully deserve their promotion, which they celebrated on the pitch after the game.
"Without a doubt, outstandingly good value,” he said. "We went toe to toe with them at Portman Road and it was a really good game.
"Tough, hard-fought, both teams worked very hard but they just had the guy on the spot that day and it was a bit the same today.
"They’ve deserved it, they’ve had an outstandingly good season. Well done to them, enjoy it and don’t listen to all the doom and gloom-mongers. Enjoy it and I’m sure they will.”
Burnley manager Sean Dyche was pleased that his players put in another top performance despite having nothing left to play for.
"I spoke before the game and I felt it was very important to go about our business in the correct manner,” he said.
"I never doubted it for a second, if I’m honest. I believe in the way the players work on a daily basis. I’ve mentioned it a hundred times and my belief is that if you do it right all the time you don’t need to flick that switch and try and turn it on."
The Town boss had hoped that the Clarets might be off their game having confirmed their place in the Premier League and Dyche was well aware of that danger.
"Mick’s been down this road before so he’s wise enough to know that it can happen where a team don’t quite retain that edge. I’m pleased that our focus was clear today.
"It was important to show signs of what we’re about and what we’ve been about all season. My mentality is that winning is key, whatever you’re winning for. And I thought that was on show again today for the group.”