Town boss Mick McCarthy was pleased with the Blues’ performance as they ended their 2015/16 campaign with a 1-0 win at Derby.
"It was a good away performance,” he said. "They had some half-chances, a lot of shots from distance and crosses in the box, a lot of possession but Bart’s not been diving all over making saves, although he made a couple of good ‘uns. A good performance by us, I thought.”
The game was won when Teddy Bishop was fouled and David McGoldrick netted from the spot, both players who have spent much of the season on the sidelines injured.
"We’ve missed them,” he said. "I haven’t bemoaned that but it’s highlighted it even more when they’re coming back in fit what good quality players they are anyone would miss them.”
Regarding Bishop, he added: "When he came on the scene we all knew he was a good player and last season he had some brilliant games and we have missed him. He’s barely played for a year, you know.
"Let’s hope he gets through the close season, he comes back and has a good pre-season and we get to see the best of him next year.
"Didz is a quality player, he again has missed two huge parts of two seasons and I’m delighted for him now he’s on top form because if anyone’s watching today from Ireland they must have been very, very pleased with him. I hope he gets to play because he’s got the quality to play at that level.”
McCarthy had praise for Myles Kenlock at left-back, and also midfielder Adam McDonnell, who was making his league debut: "I thought he was excellent.”
Asked whether he would have liked a few more games to continue looking at the club’s promising young players, he admitted: "I’m delighted it’s finished, I’m going on holiday, we’ve finished on a high.
"We’ve been out of the play-offs, there’s nothing we can do, you play 46 games, that’s it. There’s no point in wishing, hoping, it’s just daft. I’m not like that, that’s not me. I don't live in fairyland. The reality is we weren’t good enough to get in the play-offs.”
Delighted to make my championship debut today, what an experience playing infront of 30,000💪🻠great way to end the season🔵..– adam mc donnell (@AdamMcDonnell97) May 7, 2016
Derby head coach Darren Wassall was disappointed with Jonathan Douglas’s challenge which led to George Thorne suffering a suspected fracture of the right shin.
"If you see the tackle, I think it was a little bit of a naughty tackle,”he insisted. "I’m not very pleased with the tackle.”
Nice 1-0 win to finish off the season. Fans were great 👊🽖 Myles Kenlock (@myleskenlock) May 7, 2016
Regarding the game, he added: "We didn’t really get going, in the first five minutes I thought we started brightly, Craig Bryson got in a shot.
"But we didn’t quite hit the heights that we have over the last few weeks. The penalty knocked the stuffing out of us.
"In the second half I thought we were a bit better, we came out of the blocks quite sharply, we created a few opportunities but nothing really clinical.”
He said he had no complaints about the penalty which won the game: "I don’t think so, the referee gave it. From what I’ve been told it was a penalty. We take it on the chin, it’s a penalty.”
Been such a tough season but thanks to @Official_ITFC I got through it, thanks to the fans and the players, coaching staff & the manager 🚜🚜
— maitland-niles (@Ains_7) May 7, 2016
Blues goalscorer David McGoldrick said he felt Town continued to take the right attitude even when it became clear they weren't going to make the top six, winning two and drawing three of their last five games.
"Since we found out we won’t be in the play-offs I think we have done all of the right things,” he told Ipswich Player HD.
"We’ve gone out and still competed like we normally do. We’ve come to Derby who have been on a good unbeaten run and won 1-0 so it’s a good way to end the season.
"Over the past month or so, our home form should have been better, but we’ve come away to some tough games: Sheffield Wednesday, Middlesbrough and now Derby and picked up some points so I think we can be pleased with that.
"It was nice to get a goal last week, again this week, and with them both being wins that makes it even better, so hopefully I can carry that on to next season.
"I’m not 100% yet but I’m getting there slowly. I don’t know when the Ireland squad gets picked but I’m going to try and stay fit until I find out so hopefully I’ll be in it.
"The fans were shouting and screaming my name today so I’m thankful for them because they could have not come with there being nothing to play for, so fair play to them for coming and we’ve given them a victory to send off with.”