Central defender Christophe Berra says drawing too many games has been the Blues’ biggest problem during 2016/17.

Town, who are 17th, nine points off the bottom three with five to play, have drawn 16 times this season - 10 at Portman Road, more than anyone else at home in the Championship - including nine of their last 14 games. The record total of draws in a season was the 20 amassed in the 2009/10 campaign under Roy Keane.

“We’ve drawn too many games, that’s been our problem this season,” Berra told Ipswich Player HD following Saturday's 3-1 loss at Fulham.

“That’s only our second defeat in 12 games, which on paper isn’t a bad record but I think we’ve only won two and drawn eight.

“If we could start converting those draws into victories it would make a big difference. But usually we’re a tough team to beat.”

Reflecting on Saturday’s defeat, in which the 32-year-old netted his second goal of the season, he said: “It was a tough game, we know they’re a good team, they were probably the best team that’s come to Portman Road.

“They had chances and we had a lot of chances as well. It could have been anything, to be honest.”

He added: “It could have been 2-2 10 minutes into the second half, we had two great chances, or maybe three, and that’s football for you. Sometimes they go for you, sometimes they don’t.

“We’ve got to pick ourselves up, we’ve got five games to go and we’ve got to give our all.”

Berra had praise for the 2,500 Town fans who travelled to Craven Cottage: “It’s a great stadium to come to, especially with it being in London, I know with a lot of the other games there’s a lot of travelling involved, but this is one of the local ones.

“They came down, they cheered us on and the players really appreciate that. On another day we could have had three or four goals and it would have been worth their while.

“I think this is the first time I’ve come here and been beaten, I think the last two times we came here we’ve won, so two out of three’s not bad. We’re disappointed but we’ll pick ourselves up and will go again.”

Looking ahead to the Easter fixtures, Berra believes the Blues still have to be wary of getting involved in the relegation battle when they travel to Burton, who are 20th, five points off the drop zone, on Good Friday.

“Mathematically we’re all still in it, so it’s going to be a tough place,” he said. “It’s a small ground, a tight ground, fans will be on top. They’ll be up for it, they’re a good team.

“I know we beat them 2-0 earlier in the season but they played really well, they’ve got a lot of runners, they get people into the box, so we’re going to have to be on it and produce a performance to get the three points.”

Newcastle visit on Monday when Berra says former Blue Daryl Murphy and his team-mates might have something to celebrate.

“The game will maybe be when they seal their promotion,” he reflected. “They’re a big squad, they’ve spent a lot of money but Portman Road for the majority of the time I’ve been here has been a hard place to come to, so we’ve got to keep on making it like that.”

Meanwhile, Town’s U23s are in action away against Millwall at Dartford FC’s Princes Park this afternoon (KO 1pm).

Photo: TWTD

BrettenhamBlue added 06:02 - Apr 10 I don't think that's the only problem.
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yun added 06:28 - Apr 10 It's what happens when you make the genius move of selling your top scorer a week before the season starts and replacing him with Leon Worst who has predictably been exiled to who knows where. Without Tom Lawrence, who has masked our dismal lack of goal threat, we would already be down. It's not all doom and gloom, though. In many of the drawn games, we have comparative stats in terms of chances created and attempts. Finishing is the problem, and if we can invest in a proven goalscorer, more of those draws can be turned into wins. Time to get the wallet out, Marcus.

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Benters added 06:31 - Apr 10 On another day we would have scored 3 or 4 goals ? Really? How does that work if MM is always set up to draw 1.1 then ?
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cat added 07:06 - Apr 10 That may well be only our second defeat in 12, which sounds quite good on paper, but looking at it from another angle accounting for the two wins that's 14 points from a possible 36!!, and that's not so good. As for the to many draws, you "reap what you sow" MR MM!
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blue75 added 07:08 - Apr 10 You get what you play for and we never play to win!
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Suffolk_n_Good added 07:09 - Apr 10 **********STOP PRESS********** Revealed, "Town Draw to many games" SHOCK!!! We expose the real reason behind why IPSWICH TOWN draw so many games EXCLUSIVE!!! ..........Surely nothing to do with the manager playing 7 defensive minded players for the bullk of their season?!?!...... Oh yeah, that would explain it.....
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Penguinblue added 07:09 - Apr 10 The problem is McCarthy and everyone knows it. Being one of his proper blokes Berra's views are suspect. McCarthy OUT
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hoppy added 07:20 - Apr 10 In other news, "The world has been found to not be flat" and "McDonalds not thought to be the healthiest option to have daily"...
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muccletonjoe added 07:25 - Apr 10 Ahh. Never thought of that. Good point
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Ipswichtown4life added 07:55 - Apr 10 Berra for president... obviously knows whats going on... no shi* sherlock
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jas0999 added 08:07 - Apr 10 No, the problem is Evans sold our best striker, didn't reinvest the money into the playing squad. Ditto when he sold Mings. That year we made a profit of five million. Evans has no ambition. The manager is negative and thinks he's the best thing ever. The players are primarily made up of loans, frees or cheapies from non league. Two of our senior players haven't been offered new deals yet. It's a recipe for disaster.

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NoCanariesAllowed added 08:11 - Apr 10 Wait, I thought the problem was not enough wins? Oh, gosh, now I'm all confused...
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EuanTown added 08:12 - Apr 10 Back in the early 80's the number of points for a win was changed from 2 to 3 to encourage more attacking football. Hello Mick that was over 30 years ago.
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TimmyH added 08:31 - Apr 10 So what your saying is if most of these draws were converted into wins we'd be a lot further up the league? - if my sister was 5 stone lighter and had some cosmetic work she'd be Miss England! - too many if but's and maybe's. It's been a poor season no doubt.
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Bluebell added 08:32 - Apr 10 Nothing like stating the obvious is there Christophe? Don't you think the fans who have sat through all the games this season realise that? Maybe if the defence had tried a little bit harder we wouldn't have given away some easy goals and could have won more games. Just a thought.....................
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midastouch added 08:35 - Apr 10 These Mon morning PR Spin articles are becoming unBERRAble!
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surgery added 08:44 - Apr 10 Another Monday another Saturday's goal scorer on here spouting drivel
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Keaneish added 09:23 - Apr 10 I think the real story is that we've been lucky to draw most of them more than we've been likely to win though Christophe!
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Town4me added 09:27 - Apr 10 He seems to be insinuating that we should have converted the draws into wins. But if my memory serves me correctly, most of those draws we didn't really deserve!
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braveblue added 09:29 - Apr 10 Losing too many much more of an issue!!!
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OwainG1992 added 09:32 - Apr 10 I feel bad for the flack Berra is getting here. What is he meant to say? The manager is sh*t and if we attacked we might win? I'm sure he's thinking that but he's one of the dressing room leaders. He has to try be positive.
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weevil added 09:35 - Apr 10 Assuming we stay up, Tom Lawrence should be compensated with the money we would have lost. He singlehandedly saved this club from relegation. What a shocking state of affairs this club has come to where we are relying on Loan signings. Oh wait, we've been doing that for years. Trouble is this time it is a single person.
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H1960 added 09:40 - Apr 10 Looks like Berra is reading a script handed to him by McCarthy pre interview it's going to be a tough place,” he said. “It's a small ground, a tight ground, fans will be on top. They'll be up for it, they're a good team. God help us
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MicksZzzTactics added 09:41 - Apr 10 Ahhh! How refreshing to see someone, for once!, not spouting the usual ultra DELUDED drivel a la the "Blameshifter" aka The Dino McCarthy does, nearly every time he opens his chronically dirty Yorkshire mouth! Albeit imho the one & only reason Berra is "daring" to say this now (besides obviously us finally being as good as save from relegation) is simply because he very likely will not be here next year ... and if so thus probably feel close to 'over & done with' the otherwise strongly prevailing in-house a@s-kissing and accompanying immorally orchestrated Public Relations stunts! Still though whatever Berra's motives, this "TRUTH" of his is indeed a real refreshing contrast to MM's: "It's the fans fault!!" ...ohhhh wait I would like to **momentarily** change that to "It's the players' fault!!!" (I.E. them failing to score on their chances! which MM then quite unfathomable also has the deluded audacity to label: "The Tale of our Season"???!!! ...thus suddenly apparently 'forgetting' not only all about them previous number of games where we only had roughly a couple of shots-on-or-off-goal all bloody game, not to mention the overwhelming number of times King Bart has saved us, saved us both precious points but also saved us from utter embarrassing looking score-lines!). So dwelling a little further, predominantly sarcastically of course since it's yours truly :-) , on the aspect of finally finally unravelling or in this instance here being told the "TRUTH" ...by someone at our very sorry appearing club, ehmmm which one of these famous takes & quotes on this exact subject do you personally find to be the most ehmmm **appropriate** one seen from us (the on multiple fronts super starved ITFC fans) view?: 1) "And ye shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you FREE!" - John 8:32 or... 2) "And ye shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you MAD!" - Aldous Huxley LOL :-) smile :-) (My own choice? Well is definitely the venerable Mr.Huxley's one. Hands down!)

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Surco72 added 09:48 - Apr 10 Owain .... I would have more respect for Berra or any of the players to come out and say exactly that , rather than be all pat ourselves on the back and haven't we done well complacent attitude that the players and club has at present . They haven't done well , we are lucky to have as many points as we have as Derby and Villa both deserved to beat us , the team has no cohesion , no passion for the fight and clearly are all waiting to see what is happening in the summer and who will actually be here . It is a shambles with no direction and no honesty coming out of the club , we need change the sooner the better rather than the usual Monday morning nonsense interview stating the obvious

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