x

Burley Expects Return - Ipswich Town News

Town manager George Burley says he is confident that his side can make a swift return to the Premiership. Burley felt that Town's finishing let them down against Liverpool and again bemoaned poor defending, as he has had to throughout the season.

Burley said: "I'm very confident we can bounce straight back. We're a great club, we're determined to learn lessons from this season and we will certainly be going for it from the start of next season.

"We've let everybody down this season but the fans appreciate all the hard work that's been put in over the years.

"There will be changes, we've been in the First Division before and had to sell players to balance the books, so it won't be any different."

Burley added: "We have been relegated because we played great stuff but missed chances. If you miss chances and concede goals as we did here, you go down.

"I couldn't believe we were two down at the break after the way we played in the first half. But they had world class finishing and a world class team.

"We showed we had quality and I believe we can come straight back. We have a good squad of players and although we will have to listen to some offers and some may want to stay in the Premiership, there will not be wholesale changes. That's reality."

Town skipper Matt Holland, not expected to be amongst the summer leavers, says the players have to take the blame: "The whole season has been disappointing and we have to hold our hands up and say individually and collectively we have not done enough. Hopefully we can come back stronger.

"The first half of the season let us down, 12 points at Christmas is not enough.

"Hopefully we will learn from our mistakes, keep everyone together and come back a stronger team."

What to read next:

McAteer: A Big Step, But a Good Move to an Aspiring Club
Town winger Kasey McAteer has reflected on his summer move to Portman Road from fellow Championship promotion hopefuls Leicester City.
[Podcast] The Naked Football Show - Listen Again
This week's Naked Football Show is now available online.
Ipswich Town 1-1 Watford - Highlights
Highlights of last night’s 1-1 home draw with Watford.
Gracia: Happy With the Performance and the Point
Watford head coach Javi Gracia was happy with his side’s performance and the Hornets’ third away point of the season following their 1-1 draw at Portman Road.
Furlong: Opportunity Missed
Town defender Darnell Furlong admitted that the Blues’ 1-1 home draw with Watford at Portman Road felt like a missed opportunity.
McKenna: More Than Enough Chances to Win the Game
Frustrated Kieran McKenna felt his team created more than enough chances to have beaten Watford, the game having ended 1-1 after the Blues failed to take a number of late second-half opportunities.
McKenna: Davis Injury Not Serious
Town boss Kieran McKenna says he would be surprised if left-back Leif Davis isn’t ready to make his return after the international break and hasn’t ruled him out for Saturday’s trip to Swansea, the 25-year-old having missed this evening’s 1-1 draw with Watford.
Ipswich Town 1-1 Watford - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
Ipswich Town 1-1 Watford - Match Report
Town spurned a succession of second-half chances as they drew 1-1 with Watford at Portman Road. Imran Louza gave the Hornets the lead in the 16th minute but the Blues hit back through Jaden Philogene five minutes later. While chances had been few and far between in the first half, Town had plenty in a second period they dominated but failed to find what would have been a deserved winner.
Ipswich Town 1-1 Watford - Half-Time
Jaden Philogene’s sixth goal of the season equalised Imran Louza’s opener for Watford, leaving the scoreline 1-1 between the Blues and Hornets at half-time at Portman Road.