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.”

Photo: Action Images

TractorBoy666 added 18:54 - Apr 20 We aren't even on Sky bet to go down now so I think we are okay. Would have liked a win today, which would have got us in the top half! However the turn around Mick has achieved is amazing. Would never have thought we'd be in this kind of position before Mick came in. Lets get a nice win for our last home game now!
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bluemingood added 18:58 - Apr 20 I'm older than you uncle Mick. But you are still my favourite uncle. Thank you so much for NOW and the future!
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bluemikey100 added 19:03 - Apr 20 birmingham were safe last week on 57 points so surely we r with only 2 games left
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Ipswichbusiness added 19:04 - Apr 20 Both Birmingham at home and Burnley away are quite winnable. I would like to see a couple of the younger players (e.g. Hewitt and Lawrence) given both of the last two games to show their worth; remember that a large chunk of our squad could be leaving in the summer (due to loans/short term deals expiring and contracts ending) so it's important to look at the younger permanent players.

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NorthSTANDER_ITFC added 19:16 - Apr 20 Only one place off 15th though!
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Talbs77 added 19:29 - Apr 20 Its another point and thats all that matters. Hope we have a real go at Birmingham and Burnley, try and express ourselves a bit more. Looking forward to seeing Hewitt play on Saturday as when I have seen his cameos so far this season, he impressed.
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AbujaBlue added 19:35 - Apr 20 When the 'statastic' comes that will be fantastic :)
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NSL added 19:56 - Apr 20 You'll have to wait until next weekend to see that £1m in your bank account I'm afraid Mick!
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bluefeast added 20:15 - Apr 20 if any two of Barnsley Peterborough wolves and Huddersfield don't win next week we are statistically safe even if we lose.I THINK erm blimey its a tough stat for sure
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bluefeast added 20:18 - Apr 20 if any two of Barnsley Peterborough wolves and Huddersfield don't win next week we are statistically safe even if we lose. Barnsley are 3 worse off than us on goal diff. Basically two of the sides above lose or draw next games we are safe even with no more points. What a season
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riley26 added 20:29 - Apr 20 I think it is safe to say we will be a Championship side next term. If I were a fan of one of the other the clubs, looking from their perspective I'd be thinking, Ipswich are clearly safe. Next two games are winnable, can't see us getting beaten twice, Mick won't allow standards to drop.
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warktheline added 21:02 - Apr 20 We've been safe the moment ME appointed MM and TC.I've been banging on that we would not go down under Mick, for a long time and have, been called a day dreamer and told, I was living in cuckoo land.Very lucky to have this managerial team,top football men MM and TC.
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stoofer added 21:17 - Apr 20 I know its been said before but without m m we would be gone probably not to return for some time, take time to remember how far we have fallen ,that a club like Ipswich are delighted to just survive by the skin of our pants ,I know we are still not safe but it cant be glossed over what a fantastic job big mick has done, must be the luck of the irish how different next season could of been,

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JWM added 21:37 - Apr 20 Stoofer luck of the Irish? He's from Yorkshire!
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Paulc added 23:10 - Apr 20 All this uncertainty is killing me. At least under PJ we would have known our fate for definate months ago if he was still here!
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kiwiblue added 23:40 - Apr 20 Skin of our teeth or seat of our pants...... both probably. But not the luck of the Irish he left two years ago.
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martleshamitfc added 00:12 - Apr 21 If every single result goes against Ipswich, then yes we we will go down on goal difference - very unlikely!! two winnable games left anyway and then a good season to look forward to with a good chance of play-offs at least... now that's a first for a while! exciting times ahead :)
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Lord_Mac added 00:39 - Apr 21 Here's your equation Mick. Being stuck on a train from Sheffield (sound familiar?) has given me time to work on relegation prospects. This is what would have to happen it's (A) AND (B1 OR B2), where (A) Town must lose both of their remaining fixtures AND (B1) At least TWO of these THREE things (a), (b) and (c) must happen - ie (a)+(b), (a)+(c) or (b)+(c). Each of the (a), (b) or (c) shuld it fail to happen will result in a team finishing below us. (a) (a1) Barnsley to beat Hull (H) AND Huddersfield (A) AND (a2) Huddersfield to beat Bristol City (A) by enough goals to overcome a goal difference of at least 10 with Ipswich (less whatever we lose our last two games by) (b) Wolves to beat Burnley (H) and Brighton (A) (c) (c1) Peterborough to beat Weds (H) and Palace (A) AND (c2) Wednesday to beat Middlesborough (H) on the last day OR (the dog's chance) (B2) (a) In the event that two of the B1 scenarios above happen, at least one of the three scenarios below MUST NOT happen (b) In the event that all three of the B1 scenarios above happen, at least two of the three scenarios below MUST NOT happen (i) Blackburn to get at least 4 points from their 3 games against Millwall (A), Palace (H) and Birmingham (A) (ii) Millwall to get at least 2 points from their 4 games against Blackburn (H), Forest (H), Palace (H) and Derby (A) (iii) Blackpool to get at least 2 points from their two games against Derby (H) and Bolton (A) All in all, pretty unlikely I think....I reckon it equates to roughly 1 in 8000 chance of going down.

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walberswick added 00:51 - Apr 21 we'll lose the two games and that means we'll be relying on other teams
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ajs83 added 02:14 - Apr 21 Lord Mac - wow I take my hat off to you! Must have been a long train journey. Hopefully this is a slightly simpler explanation (although I admit it's still complicated). H'field (3 points behind)/Barnsley (6 points behind). Barnsley have to win at H'field on the last day and both have to win next weekend. Forget about goal difference - it's still mathematically possible. Posh (6 behind)/Sheff Wed (2 behind). Posh need to beat Sheff Wed next weekend and both have to win on the last day. Wolves (6 behind)/Burnley (2 behind). Wolves need to beat Burnley next weekend and both have to win on the last day. Blackburn have 3 games left and Milwall have 4 so the fact that they have to play each other is irrelevant whilst Blackpool are only 2 behind with 6 to play for so they can easily catch us. Of course Ipswich would have to lose both games as well. All of this means that Ipswich could theoretically still finish second bottom as all of the teams below can overtake us except Bristol City. An important point to note is that none of the teams that are 6 points below us (Barnsley, Posh and Wolves) have to play each other whereas H'field, Sheff Wed and Burnley can win one and lose one and still overtake us.

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wkj added 05:12 - Apr 21 although your equations and problem solving are fantastic- and I don't mean that sarcastically- you've put on paper what most of us probably tried to bend our heads around all afternoon- one simple key fact makes it much simpler; We're Ipswich Town: and We're back with a manager who kicks bottom! COYB
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StowTractorBoy added 07:33 - Apr 21 I sat in the early hours of this morning and tried to work out all the scenarios and to cut things short we could still finish 2nd from bottom but it will take an incredible set of results for that to happen. The simplest equation is we get one point and we are safe end of.
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brittaniaman added 08:57 - Apr 21 It is a great shame that Mick and TC were not appointed earlier in the season ???? Surely Marcus Evans like all of us could see earlier Jewellio was getting nowhere ??? I mean 7pts out of 39pts was absolutely ridiculous situation to be in ???? August September and October completely wasted ?????.
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Lord_Mac added 09:08 - Apr 21 StowTractorBoy: Yes of course. Get one point and we are safe - that's covered in my first line (A) We have to lose both games for there to be any problem The rest of it is all about what happens if we don't get a point from the next two games. ajs83 - Huddersfield can indeed win one and lose one and still overtake us, but to do that they'd also have to do something about their goal difference. That's B1(a2) in my scenario. It's almost impossible to think they could make up 10, given that they are going to lose a game (otherwise they sink Barnsley), so that leaves them one game and us two games to settle a net difference of 10 goals - eg 0-4, 0-3, 3-0 or 0-2, 0-4, 4-0. It can be done, but it's very unlikely with our current defensive record. Maybe if Stearman is injured? I'm very hopeful that this will all be sorted next Saturday.

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jas0999 added 09:15 - Apr 21 A decent result. One more point will do the trick.
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