Town boss Paul Lambert admitted there was a huge gap between the Blues and all-but-promoted Sheffield United but was pleased his team never capitulated during their 2-0 defeat at Bramall Lane.

The win virtually guarantees the Blades Premier League football next season for the first time since 2007 with Leeds, who play Aston Villa tomorrow, needing results to go in their favour and an unlikely turnaround in goal difference to finish higher than their fellow Yorkshiremen.

“We hung in and hung in, we never capitulated,” Lambert reflected after the game. “I always knew it was going to be difficult with the atmosphere and them going for the promotion, so if Chris [Wilder] does it, congratulations to them.

“You can’t say anything other than to give them praise, they’ve had a fantastic season. Chris has done a great job. They’re a strong, strong side, the atmosphere in the stadium was great, but we never disgraced ourselves by capitulating.

“We’ve a lot of young lads, that will do them the world of good. I’ve just said them in there, ‘Remember this atmosphere. Hopefully in 12 months’ time you’ll get something like that’.”

Lambert felt the character his team showed against a rampant Blades team at a vibrant Bramall Lane was pleasing.

“It was,” he continued. “They’re entitled to have a lot of the ball because they’re the team they are. I thought they were the best team we played at Portman Road and my opinion’s not changed.

“I think they’re a really, really good side but we kept on at it and at it and everybody knows 1-0 is never enough.”

He says the scenes after the game whets his appetite for a successful Town campaign in League One next season.

“The young players have to bottle that up and make sure that they’ve got that next year,” he said.

“But I know this club is in a good place. You take your medicine at the minute, you rebuild it but Ipswich could be an absolutely fantastic place next year, that’s for sure.”

Promotion is the culmination of a number of years fighting back after several seasons in League One for the Blades.

“They were in League One for six years, that’s a long, long time,” he added. “You can just feel the stadium has moved, it’s had a lot of work done to it, the pitch was fabulous, everything about it is very, very good and the team has been maybe with each other for a few years. A lot of success here.”

Reflecting further on Town’s display, the Blues ended the game without any strikers with Will Keane having been forced off after eight minutes and Kayden Jackson in the second half.

“Will was really unfortunate and Kayden had some tightness and we couldn’t take a risk with Kayden so we had to bring him off and all of a sudden you’ve no strikers,” he said.

“But I can’t ask any more from the team, they gave me absolutely everything. To keep doing that, that’s all you can ask of people.”

Regarding Keane’s injury, he added: “It looks like [his hamstring again], it looks like the same sort of injury, maybe not as severe but it’s a hamstring, I think.”

Lambert hops Collin Quaner will be fit enough to play against Leeds: “Collin hopefully will be OK, we’ll see how he is, but I think he’ll be OK.

“And maybe Jon Nolan may be OK. I thought Flynn Downes did really well. I couldn’t ask any more, the effort was there.”

On Cole Skuse starting in a back three for the first time for Town, Lambert said: “I just think Cole’s a really good footballer and I think any position he can adapt to because he’s got a really good football brain and playing at the back, he’s comfortable with the ball, which we need in that aspect.

“I know he can do that role, I’ve never had problem with him, we worked on it during the week. He’s played that before, so it wasn’t new to him and I just felt him being as comfortable with the ball he could fit in there easily.”

He says he can see Skuse, now 33, playing that role again in the future: “I think he can, if we’re flexible, I know he can do it. That’s the beauty about him, I know he can play that role at the back because he is really comfortable with the ball.”

Lambert made no bones about the gulf between the teams: “You could see that, absolutely. I don’t think anybody should be deluded and say we’re near it, we’re not.

“We’ve not long come in, we have to rebuild the club. As I said before, this club, it feels really, really good and the way it’s going and it’s been a few years together, so it’s something we have to aspire to, the crowd has been really, really good with them, so this is what you want, this is the type of feeling you want yourself.”

He added: “It’s huge, we’ve got guys that are coming through the ranks of the football club. They haven’t been out on loan, OK, Flynn had a wee touch at Luton, Bish has not played much football, Myles Kenlock until last week played 17 games in a row for the first time in his career, that’s incredible.

“Toto’s first time [in the Championship], he’s getting better. There’s a lot of good things here but the gulf is really, really big.

“But effort-wise, I couldn’t ask any more. The lads gave me everything in their bodies. But we’ve got to start somewhere and, as I said before, it could be really, really good here.”

Next Sunday’s game at home to Leeds is now a dead rubber but Lambert wants to go out on a high note.

“It’s a massive game,” he said. “Obviously, depending on what happens tomorrow with Leeds and Aston Villa.

“It’s a huge game, a brilliant atmosphere and I’m looking forward to the game and looking forward to the break. I guess everybody is, our whole team, our whole club needs a break, supporters included.

“But again the supporters were brilliant. They come in numbers to watch is, they keep going and they keep going and I think them as well. We’ve got one more game and we’ll try and finish as strongly as we can.”

He says he has congratulated Chris Wilder on the Blades’ promotion: “Yes, I spoke to him before it as well and I’ll maybe see him before I go as long he’s not too busy.

“I’ve a lot of time for him, I think he’s done a fabulous job. He’s very humble, and congratulations to them if they do eventually get up.”

While the South Yorkshiremen are at the end of their journey, the Blues are at the start of theirs, Lambert added: “That’s it, and that’s what you aspire to, these seasons at the end of the day. As I said to the lads, ‘Just remember this because in 12 months you’ve got the chance to do it’.

“That’s the beauty of it, you’ve got the chance to have the feeling their lads are having. Don’t let that feeling go, that’s what you strive for.”

He says confirmation of relegation following the Birmingham game will have been difficult for the players to take.

“And they’re young as well, so they don’t know how to handle disappointment yet,” he reflected. “This has probably been the first major disappointment of their careers.

“There’s loads of factors, loads, disappointment with relegation, disappointment with the club going down, the older lads feel it as well, it’s the first time for some of them as well.

“It effects everybody and once it’s mathematically it’s done, that’s when reality creeps in. But again I can’t fault them. These have beaten better teams than us by four or five. But I can’t fault the lads for their effort.”

He says the earlier performances prior to that are those which should be taken into next season and been more typical of the Blues since he came to the club.

“Absolutely, that’s absolutely right,” he said. “We’ll come back and we’ll come out of the traps, that’s for sure. We’ll be fit, we’ll be ready to go. You can never guarantee anything but we’ll be ready to go, that’s for sure.”

He dismissed that the way today’s game went and the 4-0 Good Friday defeat at Preston might make him concerned ahead of next season.

“No, the good things make me excited,” he insisted. “But the Preston game, as I said before we’ve got a lot of young lads, they’ll love that, they’ll not feel it at the minute but the experience [will do them good].

“The great thing is, nobody was hiding from the ball and that was the beauty of it. It’s easy to hide when things aren’t going for you but the lads never hide and they keep taking the ball, which is great.”

Photo: TWTD

Bildestoned added 06:58 - Apr 28 Frankly I can't be arsed this morning to read any of our comments, but I will make one of my own. I didn't notice who got the MOTM award but......SKUSE!!!! What a terrific, nay OUTSTANDING performance. For more than two seasons folk here have griped about this fella despite his consistent inclusion by three successive managers. I hope the penny has now dropped.
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tractorboybig added 07:20 - Apr 28 does lambert have the worse record of all Ipswich managers?????
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brendenward35 added 07:44 - Apr 28 Lets be honest PL took over a team who were rock bottom not only in the table but with confidence. Air in the ground was toxic and fans were completely fed up with the club. 16 draws this season tells it all 16 time we have been as good as our opponents but lacked that big goal threat. We have been plagued with bad luck Walters, Sears, Ward all out for the whole season. Dozzell had to be brought in slowly we would have won more games had these been fit. Most of the loan players we got in were other teams rejects or had been injury prone and clubs just wanted them off the books or out to get them fit. Like PL has said loan players isn't the answer but thats all we could do in January. Most of the players we got in were from league one or two so we have got a chance next season if we have get the sick room sorted and get the likes of Sears, Huws back fit again. We also have good players out on loan for experience and fitness they should come back and make the team stronger. Crowds are coming back and enjoying games let try and be positive start next season fresh and see what the boys can do. Just remember Evans isn't going to buy a 4m million striker we have to make do, fingers cross new beginning and maybe we will see some good results. Good luck lads next season and let get behind PL not on his back his done ok since his been here especially with the hand he was given.

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Help added 08:07 - Apr 28 PL, that aint no Gap, it is a chasm, a gulf. Serious changes required again after this season closes and before next as the footballers we have are clearly not good enough for the Championship and that is where we want to be again. No good having PH's not good enough for league 1 or 2 footballers on the books, they got to go. You have to build a team for where you want to be, because sadly that is what we have now and that is why we are where we are in league 1 with personally very little hope for the future.

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barrystedmunds added 09:03 - Apr 28 I sat at Molineux almost 3 years ago to the day watching two bang average teams battle out an awful 0-0 draw. One team are now on the verge of european football the other, staring at oblivion! The gap doesn't get much bigger. Gotta believe......
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ChrisFelix added 09:38 - Apr 28 So Lambert plays 5 at the back. This leaves captain calamity to wander about like a stray dog. The bloke certainly can't read the game & importantly doesnt appear to be able to guide our youth. As for Gerken yet again he is unable to control his box & is poor at corners. The next 2 weeks are crucial in determining our team for next season. We badly need to see some movement of players. Don't want to reach August with a long injury list

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skankerman added 10:13 - Apr 28 All the talk of the owner investing in a decent squad are off the mark, he failed to back his manager when we were top in site of the premiership A change of strategy in Div 1 I fear not
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1RWR added 11:49 - Apr 28 Gap? it's a blooming gulf dear boy! I know we're all smarting over yesterday's 2 games [watching NCFC sees why they are promoted] but blooming heck, we were dire! I would dispense of both 'keepers & get someone else in [no idea who so don't ask] graze Chambers in a field opposite Humberdoucy Lane, I might even recommend Skuse to play in the back four as, to be honest, he didn't play a bad game. Steipperman [midfielder] has scored more goals than our strikers, has any midfielder scored for us yet? Where are the new Matt Holland, the new Jim Magiltons even the normally stagnate Ivan Campo scored some goals for us, we have literally nothing in midfield. I cannot even start on strikers........gosh I need a lie down........nurse......NURSE!

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Saxonblue74 added 11:56 - Apr 28 Brendenward35, couldn't agree more with your comments. Lambert is a manager who has achieved back to back promotions from lge1. If there were another manager out there and available who has achieved that there would be some on here calling for his appointment.....already! He took on a massive job when joining Town, a squad destroyed by Hurst in a matter of weeks. Call it blind faith if you like but from what I've seen recently I believe we will see the investment required for a quick return to the championship. Big changes coming in the close season, that's where Lamberts focus is already in my opinion.

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inghamspur added 11:57 - Apr 28 Premier League v League One, it's as simple as that. We did well to keep the score down. Was hopeful that we would be signing Keane for next season but should probably steer clear of that one now or will need a bigger treatment room. Really no idea how things will pan out next season but avoiding dropping it League Two would surely be top of the main concerns.
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ronnyd added 14:19 - Apr 28 PL states he replaced Jackson due to tiredness, blimey, we havn,t got another game until next Sunday. Our fitness levels must be chronic.
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Bildestoned added 17:38 - Apr 28 Gary Neville's comment today about David de Gea now really NEEDING the summer is almost certainly true of every Town player. This needs to be borne in mind. It is entirely possible we will see a totally rejuvenated squad playing to its strengths.
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sharpshooter added 21:15 - Apr 28 I gave my season ticket up of 16 years the year Mick joined, I made the decision based upon the type of football I knew would be played at Portman Road and the fact I didn't like him as a manager having listened to his drone and arrogance many times before. However, that's not to say I haven't been to watch the Blues, I may well have not renewed my ticket but how can any fan of a football team completely stay away. So I have picked games attended and some have been OK and some dire. For the last couple of years I have managed a team in the SIL so that restricted my attendance. The point of my post is this, we all have choices, do you renew your ticket or not. Having attended a few games since Lambert's arrival regardless of what has happened on the pitch I have not seen a togetherness of all Ipswich fans. Singing, laughing and enjoying themselves through a wretched season with hope for the future. It made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, it made me want to be a part of something next season and you know what, so what if it takes two years to bounce back. Look how the Blades have galvanised a team not only entering the Championship but with a team playing together, knowing each others roles and trusting one another. Anyone who has played the game will know you don't get that instantly, it takes time and I hope the manager and team are allowed that development period. Reading some posts on here it is clear that there are the die hards, the realists (and by that I mean those that don't have high expectations of a swift return) and those that think we have a given right to be better than we actually are. I say this to those that are suggesting we may be in league one longer than one season and who complain that we could be. If you aren't into the development 100% don't renew. If ever there was a time his club needs us the most it will be next season. I'm back and this time to stay, I hope I'm not alone.

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marco007 added 17:30 - Apr 29 Would be nice to maybe score a goal one day! I am beginning to think that our so called fantastic youngsters are not quite as good as we hoped for. Think Bish looked ok in spells but faded and Doz and Downes look very average when faced with gnarly old pros....which they will encounter every week in Div 1.
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dirtydingusmagee added 19:50 - Apr 29 past caring, nothing has changedv except we are now in a lower lge. Let dreamers dream, but in reality without massive changes top to bottom ITFC is destined for obscurity.
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Facefacts added 13:13 - Apr 30 Will Keane, sorry - hasn't proved he can stay fit. No contract offer. Gerken, where was he for the 2nd goal - no contract offer. That's what these last games are about, decisions on contract offerings. Adeyemi, Huws - can't even get on the pitch - no contract offer.
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runningout added 14:52 - Apr 30 change should have started. Sheff Utd drab, pass exempt, pity full show killed me
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