Tommy Smith and Paul Green were on target as Town ended their season with a 2-1 home victory over Sheffield Wednesday. Smith stabbed home from close range in the 37th minute, Kieran Lee equalised for the visitors 10 minutes after the break but Green nodded in Stephen Hunt’s freekick in the 67th minute.

Anthony Wordsworth and Frank Nouble came into an otherwise unchanged starting XI for Hunt, who dropped to the bench, and the injured Cole Skuse.

Skipper Luke Chambers, Christophe Berra and Smith lined-up in a three-man central defence with Aaron Cresswell as the left wing-back and Frazer Richardson on the right.

Jonny Williams was between central midfielders Wordsworth and Green and strikers Nouble and Daryl Murphy. Former Blues academy scholar Caolan Lavery started for the Owls.

Wednesday had the better of a rather understated for 10 minutes but two blocked Michail Antonio shots were the nearest they came to testing Town keeper Dean Gerken. On 12 on-loan Chelsea man Sam Hutchinson headed wide from a corner.

Town began to get more into it and on 17 Green fed Williams inside the area, but the Wales international was solidly challenged by Glenn Loovens as he looked to shoot. Moments later, Atdhe Nuhiu nodded wide for the visitors from a cross from the right.

After cutting out a Wednesday break just outside his own area, Green broke forward before playing Nouble into space on the left. The striker took the ball into the Owls box but Hutchinson got back to tackle as he tried to cut inside.

Lavery, who turned down the offer of a pro contract with the Blues after his scholarship, saw an effort blocked, as did Antonio.

Richardson had a decent chance in the 35th minute after Williams had taken a freekick quickly to Nouble on the left. The striker over-hit his cross but the ball fell perfectly for Richardson, however, the on-loan Boro man screwed his volley well wide. Soon after Owls defender Oguchi Onyewu was booked for a foul on Williams.

On 37 Williams started the move which led to Town taking the lead. The on-loan Palace man crossed from the left, the ball falling to Smith, who stabbed it back to Wordsworth, who left it for Green on the edge of the box.

The Leeds loanee found Murphy on the right of the box and the Irish striker curled a shot which Owls keeper Damian Martinez could only palm out to Smith, who stabbed home his sixth goal of the season.

Hutchinson just got in ahead of Nouble to nod back to Martinez as the Blues frontman chased a ball down the middle on 38 as Town went looking for a second.

Within a minute Murphy was within a whisker of adding his 14th goal of the season when he cut in from the right and hit a shot which beat Martinez but struck the post.

In the final scheduled minute of the half Gerken did well to get across to his right to save Lavery’s shot from the edge of the box, then from the resultant corner made an even better stop. Oguchi Onyewu headed down Chris Maguire’s corner from the left and Gerken reacted superbly to block Antonio’s goalbound effort from close range.

The referee’s whistle followed soon afterwards to end a half which had taken a while to get going with neither keeper having to make a save until Martinez’s stop from Murphy which led to Smith’s goal.

Town had the better of it from there with Murphy unfortunate not to add to his total for the season, while only an excellent late save from Gerken prevented the visitors from getting back on terms.

Six minutes after the restart Murphy went close again, diverting Cresswell’s powerful left-wing cross over at the near post.

Nuhiu headed over from a right-wing cross on 53, but two minutes later the Owls were on terms. Joe Mattock crossed low from the left, Lavery miskicked his shot on the edge of the six-yard box, but the ball fell kindly for Lee, who hit a low effort across Gerken and into the corner of the net for his first ever Wednesday goal.

Gerken saved Maguire’s low strike with Wednesday having been on top since their goal. On the hour, Smith was booked for a foul on Giles Coke.

Town switched Smith and Williams — warmly applauded off in the final game of his loan spell from Crystal Palace — for Paul Taylor and Stephen Hunt in the 63rd minute. The Blues were by now in a flat back four with a three-man attack.

A minute later, sub Hunt, who is out of contract and is yet to be offered new terms, created the Blues’ second goal.

The winger whipped over a freekick from the right and an unmarked Green — also yet to be offered a deal for next year with his contract at parent club Leeds up this summer — nodded home the second goal of his loan spell, the previous one having come in Town’s last home game.

Maguire shot wide from distance for the Owls, then Martinez punched away another Hunt freekick from the right which was just too far in front of Murphy. Wednesday subsequently broke but Antonio scuffed weakly wide.

Owls sub Maghoma shot low from 20 yards in the 83rd minute, then moments later Nouble was harshly penalised when he caught Onyewu in possession midway inside the Wednesday half.

On 86, much to the delight of the Sir Bobby Robson Stand who had been chanting his name to the tune of a well-known rugby anthem for much of the half, young striker Jack Marriott, recently returned from his successful loan spell at Woking, replaced Nouble.

Neither side threatened in the closing stages and the final whistle confirmed three points for Town on the final day of the season.

While the game lacked the intensity of a match with something riding on it, after a slow start it had its moments and Town deserved the win.

The victory and results elsewhere see the Blues end the campaign in ninth on 68 points, four points from sixth. A late winner grabbed the final play-off place for Brighton at Nottingham Forest, while Birmingham netted a last-gasp equaliser to draw 2-2 at Bolton and climb above Doncaster, who took the final relegation spot.

Town: Gerken, Chambers (c), Smith (Taylor 63), Berra, Cresswell, Richardson, Green, Wordsworth, Nouble (Marriott 86), Williams (Hunt 63), Murphy. Unused: Loach, Mings, Tabb, Henshall.

Sheffield Wednesday: Martinez, Mattock (Helan 75), Onyewu, Loovens, Lee, Coke (Maghoma 80), Hutchinson, Maguire, Lavery, Antonio, Nuhiu (Best 61). Unused: Kirkland, McCabe, Llera, Stobbs. Referee: Carl Boyeson (East Yorkshire). Att: 20,862 (Wednesday: 2,080).

Photo: Action Images

ozzy_itfc added 17:04 - May 3 In raltion to taylor perhpas he was putting him in the shop window?
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50yearsablue added 17:21 - May 3 Shocking early on; we couldn't pass and they couldn't shoot. Gradually we got used to the 3 at the back system but didn't use Cresswell effectively. You could see that Green and Richardson were playing for their futures. Green is much better in the centre and had a decent game (I thought he was our best player at Burnley) and Richardson was better in a back 4. Murphy was too isolated. Nouble was shocking and was fortunate to get to 86 mins. I can't see why he has cult status because he is an impact sub at best. MoM for me was Gerkin. Disappointed not to make the play-offs in a mediocre league but, frankly, we were not quite good enough. It's progress but I'd like to see us get some pace into the attack and excite us because we have been tediously effective. I don't think the teams coming down will frighten us but I think Wolves might

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SorrentoBlue added 17:27 - May 3 Just how poor was Nouble today !!!
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jas0999 added 18:08 - May 3 A good win to finish an encouraging season, which will hopefully serve as a stepping stone for bigger and better things next year. Of course we will need to add pace and regular goals to the midfield, whilst once again without McGoldrick I thought we looked average/ poor up front. Nouble was sadly very disappointing - we certainly need better than him. A word on the travelling support today. Two thousand for a game with little meaning. Very impressive. Compared to the Jewell and Keane eras this season has been better and a ninth place finish is definitely better than past few seasons. Need to add quality to this hard working side now.

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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 18:21 - May 3 Billblue - yeah but your book is not really worth the read.
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TractorBoy666 added 19:02 - May 3 We played one up front in the end of a 4-4-1-1 with a game with very little meaning? Taylor gets put on when transfer listed and wins us the free kick which leads to the winning goal. Progress on last season of course, but it's going to be a big season for Mick next year and if we don't at least get into the play-offs with this boring hoof ball, then what? Magilton gets the sack for finishing 9th playing attractive football, that decision I'll never understand and of course I'm not asking for Mick to be sacked for finishing 9th after last season. The two bits of entertainment we are most likely going to get next season is the return of the good old local derby, cannot wait! The scum are going down!! COYB

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BlueLight added 19:06 - May 3 9th. I will settle for that. Lets hope Mick stays and we can improve again next season. Should be a good one, with 2 games against the scum. Already looking forward to it.
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Hiltzkooler added 20:20 - May 3 ....Spot on Mick!.....you bring on Taylor who you've put up for sale (shop window, my a***!) and Marriott for four minutes...and experimenting with a formation?!...hah!....but as many observe, highest in six seasons, with limited cash (not no cash as loan players cost, for all those mithering about the support from ME)...progression on last season.....no room for negativity is there because Mick the Mercenary has delivered.....

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WashbrookBlue added 20:53 - May 3 Congratulations to the team and the management over the course of a long season. We have undoubtedly punched above our weight. 8 more points than last year and our highest finish for many years is undoubtedly progress. How substantial that progress is and the extent to which it can be sustained is more open to question. MM can rightly say that the finishing position with a limited squad (and a big injury to our leading scorer) is vindication of his strategy and approach. His loyalty to mediocre favourites and his inflexibility does leave him open to criticism and it will be really interesting to see what type of player he brings in and to which positions. I found his substitutions today totally bizarre. You leave Taylor out of the side or unused on the bench all year long and then bring him on the day after you've said publicly he's not your type of player and will not play for club again?? And you leave the utterly ineffective Nouble who has shown so so little in all his 16 starts and 22 sub appearances on for 85 minutes before giving Jack five minutes?? His rationale that Marriott was too small and that they might therefore score from a set piece just says everything about his defensive mindset. So, Frank would be different when defending our own box eh Mick? He never one a header or a tackle all day long. That boy has either got some photos or knows where all the bodies are buried. MM love of Nouble rant aside, a positive year, lets hope we can keep on improving next.

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BillBlue added 21:20 - May 3 Bobblehat - Funny, the last three testimonials I have received say such things as: 'It is a must read' (J.P. Andover), 'Sat up all night to finish it' (M.McD Chelmsford) and 'I couldn't put it down' (F.M. Lancs) so which bits didn't you like?
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AbujaBlue added 21:35 - May 3 It has to be the case that some people here hated Mick before he joined us, and stubbornly continue that dislike and disregard all the facts about how he has turned things around before them. But when someone makes comments like "Mick the Mercenary" then it is trolling, pure and simple.
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rollercoastertown added 21:40 - May 3 Well that's that then. Personally I am happy with the progress and still believe the current management are taking us in the right direction under our current financial circumstances. I know not everyone agrees, and that's fair enough, because I know when push comes to shove, they will be supporting the boys again as we all will through whatever next season brings. Happy Summer to you all, and look on the bright side, we could be spending the summer supporting a team just been relegated, with no manager, most of our players believing they are too good for the championship and wanting away, a "celebrity" chef as the face of our club and spending the whole summer trying to clean all that egg of our faces.

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Hegansheroes added 22:27 - May 3 Lightningboy-couldn't agree more, MM is pre dinosaur' I think Eddie Waring must have been his coach
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ITFCRealist added 00:18 - May 4 End of another failure of a season, time to reflect. Only one thing springs to mind. With a better manager we would be where Brighton is now. What I want to see now - get rid of the dinosaur Hoofball Mick. Build a team around Tayls, Woody and Marriot. Don't sell Cressie. Get a decent right fullback. Sell Chambers, Skuse, Gerkin and Anderson and give Nouble away. Marcus, open your cheque book and buy Williams, and a good RB. Play 4-4-2 with Didsy and Murphy with Marriot as back up. Get Fergie Jnr, Howe or a another decent young attacking manager in. Loachy in goal, Berra and Tommy in Central defence, Cressers and a decent Right full back. Williams on one wing, Tayls on the other, Hyam and Woody in the middle, Didsy and Murphy strikers. Next season, Top 2 - guaranteed. But no, Evans will keep clueless Mick on, and we will be top 10 again. And he will happily collect his million quid for keeping us away from relegation again. Simples.

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ITFCRealist added 00:26 - May 4 Whats your problem Abujablue, been sucking at the Mick teet for too long?
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AbujaBlue added 02:06 - May 4 ITFCRealist (or should that be Illusionist), I'd rather that than live in cloud cuckoo land living out my latest FIFA fantasies. Where Brighton is now? You mean 4 points ahead of us? Yes, lets sack MM for the sake of 4 points. You fit nicely into the Mick-hating clique of the comments section who apparently want to get rid of a manager that saved us from relegation and is turning us into a decent half club. YES, a decent top half club with a shot of promotion! We don't have the resources to be a top two team and it would be delusional to think otherwise. Now please tell me I haven't just wasted the last couple of minutes arguing with a WOTB troll? Very difficult to tell sometimes.

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Jimmy86 added 04:02 - May 4 Abujablue would you have said burnley were a top 2 side at the start of the season, based on resources?? They only really spent money on barnes in january and the rest were free signings. Whats the difference between them and us?? Bout 7 places, the 30 odd points we dropped from winning positions and a strike pairing that scored for fun. Mick has turned us around and its been a good season, but you cant deny is defensive in his mindset, despite saying to the contrary and also too negative at times

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sproughtonblue added 09:12 - May 4 @ ITFCRealist Given the time of your post had you just staggered in from your local watering hole.
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rachelsdad added 10:09 - May 4 good to finish with a win,Mick M and Terry Conner have done well with a small squad, limited budget and some average championship players.For me Murphy and Hyam have improved under this management.With financial support to MM and a good clean out we have something to look forward to.
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neillrumsey added 10:22 - May 4 This has been a very positive season in terms of improvement and finishing 9th is testament to this. There are some good points made on here regarding where we are as a team and how far MM wants the team to go. I would echo the posts regarding Marriott as we need to give youth a chance. MM must be ruthless in clearing out the dead wood of which there is too much. He's already made up his mind regarding Taylor and nobody is surprised albeit he has alot of ability. For me Nouble Tabb Hunt Green Anderson and Lee need to move on. I.m not going to slag any of them off as they have each contributed in some games but for me they aren't going to take this team forward. We need creativity and above all some pace in the side. A new GK is a must Gerken pulled off three great saves again yesterday but doesn't command his box so great back up. Any thoughts on MM approaching number 20 LEE at weds he looks a class act. Good season .but need reiforcements to get promoted imo

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bring_back_Wickham added 10:36 - May 4 He doesn't want to concede to a free kick so he brings on shorty Taylor?
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yorksblue added 10:39 - May 4 Nouble on for 86 mins. Bet that was exciting!
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Dissboyitfc added 11:05 - May 4 MM has made us a difficult to beat team, built around a defensive platform, micks philosophy is to concede less goals than the opposition, makes us rather boring, would prefer a manager a manager with the attitude of scoring more than the opposition, an attitude that was was applied by Mr Joe Royle who also had no money.How many exciting games do we witness under MM. One poster said we had a good season and that we punched above our weight? I for one dont want to celebrate finishing in 9th place in the second tier seeing that as an achievement. Finishing 9th in the premiership would be an achievement. dont keep comparing this season to the last two managers as though this is some kind of milestick. They were two awful managers, doesnt make where we are now acceptable. Football under MM is very uninspiring, i would like to see more excitement and feel more entertained.

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blue_moon09 added 11:06 - May 4 Most of what is posted on here is from complete muppets! Every true fan will have loved to be in this position after our situation this time last year. Ok were not the finished article yet but anyone who insists that progress has not been made this season simply have not been watching games. We have won games we probably didn't deserve to but equally we have lost points which we shouldn't. But fundamentally we have, whether winning or losing, been much more competitive this season. As a season ticket holder I have enjoyed this season more than any other in recent history and am more than happy with the progress made, playoffs were never realistic as the team is short in different areas hopefully the dead will be moved on and better players brought in over summer All the posters on here who do not actually attend the games and still consider themselves qualified to comment are merely trolls. We all know who you, enjoy your summer sitting in your bedsits , and try and get down to Portman Road when the season starts in August. BFN

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TimmyH added 11:15 - May 4 Nice post @Dissboy - not far from the truth. Well well @blue_moon is a season ticket holder...and a large % aren't on here? so that makes you more knowledgeable?...more absolute guff from you!
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