Ben Johnson feels the Town squad have done the club proud this season, despite the Blues’ impending relegation to the Championship.

Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Chelsea leaves Town 14 points from safety with just six league matches remaining, meaning it is a matter of when, not if, the Blues’ fate is eventually sealed.

Kieran McKenna’s side have climbed two divisions in as many years following back-to-back promotions into the richest league on the planet, and Johnson says the players can take pride in the effort shown during what has been a difficult campaign.

“We have to win our games, we can only focus on what we do and not look at the other results,” the wing-back said following the point at Stamford Bridge. “Just enjoy it, come to these stadiums, play the best and do as well as we can.

“We’ve done extremely well this season considering how much everyone spends and the quality of players. We’ve tried our best, I don’t think we’ve been at fault at all this season.

“I think we’ve done the club proud and there’s been some highs and lows. But it’s the best league in the world and playing against the best in the world so it’s not easy. I feel like we’ve gone toe-to-toe and hopefully we can continue that.

“You’re playing against the best in the world, literally some of the world’s best players playing. We’ve got to play against another of the world’s best teams next week [Arsenal], so it’s not easy.

“I feel like we can rise to the challenge, I feel that we have done a lot this season but we’ve come off the back of some results and that happens. It happens to every team, it’s about how we’ve bounced back and I feel like the squad’s done brilliantly.”

Town went close to securing a league double over Chelsea when they raced into a two-goal lead following first half goals from Julio Enciso and Johnson before ultimately being pegged back.

Along with netting his first goal for the club, Johnson is pleased for his run in the side having started each of the last three Premier League games on the right of the front four.

He said: “I’m really enjoying it. It’s hard work, of course, because a lot of the time we probably don’t have a lot of the ball.

“That’s what we work on during the week – we work on having the ball, we work on not having the ball knowing that there’s going to be times in the game where we’re going to have to suffer. I enjoy that part of the game and that gets you the points.

“Playing football, the job we have is a privilege, we’re living a lot of boys’ dreams. We want to do it with a lot of heart and a lot of courage, we’ve got great support so that gives us that extra yard.

“We’ll see what happens. I’m an Ipswich Town player so I want to focus on that towards the end of the season and come back in pre-season. I’ll just enjoy my football.”

Town’s immediate relegation back to the second tier could be mathematically confirmed as early as this weekend’s visit of Arsenal if all results go against the Blues.

While there is an acceptance that this season will end in disappointment, Johnson dismissed suggestions that might lead to the team playing with more freedom than in previous matches.

“I don’t think so,” he argued. “We came here with an identical game plan that we’ve had all season against all the other teams.

“We’ve got so many new players at the start of the season, we spent a lot of money trying to put the pieces together and I think it takes time. Like anything, you don’t just click straight away.

“Of course, now it might be a bit too late, but I think we’ve put together a good side and a good squad that’s going to put us in good stead for now and next season. We’ll keep pushing and focusing on what we can do.”

On his relationship with right-back Axel Tuanzebe, Johnson added: “It’s not been ideal when Axel hasn’t played. I help him, he helps me, and I think it’s a good partnership. Hopefully we can continue that until the end of the season.”

With the Gunners’ clash at Portman Road next on the fixture calendar, Johnson is hoping to embrace the final few weeks of the season by standing up to the challenge some of the top sides in the Premier League will pose.

The 25-year-old said: “They’re coming off the amazing result against Real Madrid. Again, it’s the opportunities that we want to seize and want to play and look forward to playing against them.”

Matchday Images - REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

SamWhiteUK added 13:52 - Apr 14 The players have certainly done Ipswich proud more than Leicester's and Soton's have their respective clubs
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MickMillsTash added 14:01 - Apr 14 The record with Johnson in the team and not in the team would be interesting I certainly recall better results when he has started.
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VanDusen added 14:02 - Apr 14 Ben Johnson is everything I want in an Ipswich player - he's working hard, keeping his head down and focussed, and improving every game. Can see him being a key part of our team next season hopefully! I was sceptical in the autumn but his performances this spring have now completely won me over (that pass out to Hutchinson to create the goal at Villa in particular). He's on a similar trajectory as one of his predecessors, Mr Donacien, who after a shaky start went on to become Mr Ipswich and super servant of the club!.

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ThatMuhrenCross added 14:26 - Apr 14 I like Johnson. I think he's one that doesn't necessarily stand out as being exceptional in the Premier League, but in the Championship next season will look far too good for that level. Actually quite excited to see the damage he'll do at that level.
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Len_Brennan added 14:27 - Apr 14 It will be interesting to see where Johnson fits in the team for next season; we'll presumably have Ogbene & Burns back for that right sided up & down wing roll. He's more likely to be played as a right full back, steppng into a back three when required, particularly so of Tuanzebe gets a good contract offer from a PL side. He clearly has quality & should be a standout player at Championship level, even if he is prone to getting caught on the break & loses possession too often with underhit passes or a poor first touch, against good players.

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WestSussexBlue added 14:43 - Apr 14 Would whole heartedly agree. Despite impending relegation, we’ve competed very well at times and have tried to impose ourselves on games. Taking points from some very decent teams has been the highlight. This has been our learning curve. We’ll be back stronger for the experience.
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cressi added 14:50 - Apr 14 Sorry Ben I disagree Sunday's result and yourself having a Decent game don't make up for one home win all season and not beating any of our relegation rivals on our own turf. We are judged over 38 league games not 5 or 6.
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jon_talbot56 added 15:07 - Apr 14 I completely agree with his comments. It has been very difficult but the team have consistently given their best. When we played Liverpool in our first game, one of the best in the world, we had nine players who had been in League One the year before. That is where we have come from.
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Leutard added 16:10 - Apr 14 I think I agree, they've done almost as well as could be expected given the absolutely obscene ability and squads of even the worst established prem teams. We'll compete far better if we return, so hopefully he sticks around and shows that he's too good for the championship
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WubbleU added 16:12 - Apr 14 Yep, some people will never get Johnson because it is all about doing a job and not being a super skillful little twisty player. I'd say Johnson has had as many positive games as Omari this season, especially away from home where his work rate and discipline really pay off but he'll never be the star player.
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Carberry added 16:30 - Apr 14 Wow, who told him to come out and say that? ''We came here with an identical game plan that we’ve had all season against all the other teams.'' And that's been one of our problems, no plan B.
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Saxonblue74 added 17:34 - Apr 14 Yes, they have indeed done our club proud. Memories are far, far too short in football, particularly with supporters.
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BobbyBell added 19:15 - Apr 14 Having come from league 1 we have done better than the two teams that came down from the Prem two seasons ago. It takes time to establish and we went up earlier than anyone predicted. We are still building towards a bright future. Anyone who thought the Prem would be easy is a fool. Wolves are the worst of the established teams and there are far better than the three promoted teams. This is a recurring theme where teams cannot establish in the Prem because of the high standards and the money.

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Carberry added 19:48 - Apr 14 We're finishing 3rd from bottom, we're relegated. We've won 4 league games, 7 times we have conceded more than 4 goals, one of those was 6-0 at home to Man City and the accolade of most points dropped from winning positions, 25. And we are supposed to sit back with warm satisfaction at the wonderful way in which the management and players have served up failure. And for players to come out and say what a great job they've done should consign them to history. Would Terry Butcher have come out and told us 'we've done the club proud' - you must be joking.

4

darkhorse28 added 21:03 - Apr 14 He clearly has talent, but his body language too often reminds me of JET, it doesn’t hurt enough, and for a lot of the season, going through the motions.., there’s a player there for sure though, fingers crossed KM can get more consistency from him, but ‘JET’ is a red flag.., you can’t coach passion and desire.
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N8Blue added 21:59 - Apr 14 Carberry I couldn't agree more. What a bizarre statement from the latest player to be rolled out for a PR exercise. Read the room Mr Johnson, or at least take a look at the league table! I know a lot of West Ham fans who were very pleased when he left East London. BJ has been consistently one of our worst performers all season, and I worry he will be in our starting eleven a lot next season back in the EFL. I think we can do better.

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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 00:16 - Apr 15 Carberry. Terry Butcher played in a team that was relegated from the top division . The club is very muxh moving in the right direction and fortunately most supporters see that.
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algy added 00:55 - Apr 15 Bobblehat. But Terry Butcher did not say "we've done the club proud", the pathetic comment Johnson made which is the subject here.
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trncbluearmy added 06:51 - Apr 15 Err no you haven't
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Widj123 added 08:07 - Apr 15 What a stupid statement one of the worst seasons in our history and he things the club has done us proud he is useless ans so has the club done dropped 27 points from winning positions and that’s supposed have done us proud utter run]bbishnand he is one of the worst players McKenna has signed the sooner they both go the better football is about today and tomorrow not yesterday as McKenna fans go on about

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bignics added 09:53 - Apr 15 It would seem the club rolled him out to say that and probably even told him what to say or at least checked what he would say so quite staggering the management behind the scenes thinks everything is ok after the season we have had! On here you can see from the comments above relegation will be applauded again by the majority of our fans after another loss at home this weekend? Same game plan = same result kmc has learnt zero

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trncbluearmy added 10:05 - Apr 15 It's been a poor season,money wasted.points dropped when they shouldn't have been. It us a daft/insensitive comment. But I will applaud the team,the club and the progress made, the journey us not over there is more to come,lessons will have been learnt, ITFC will be better prepared next time. So yes be disappointed with this season, be pissed of with daft comments, but cheer the club to the rafters at the end of the season,its only just begun.

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algy added 10:19 - Apr 15 You can see why the club doesn't sign non-english speaking foreigners from abroad. Super Kieron McKenna needs to be able to coach players in speaking his drivel to the sycophantic media.
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Bluewhiteboy added 11:33 - Apr 15 Come on man have some pride. This isn't fa cup 3rd round when sime non league teams been knocked out. You were part of are a very expensive accumulated team and have just been relegated. You, Godfrey, phillips, enciso have all been brought in to give us prem experience on top of our big money signings but failed. Have you embarrassed the club - no, have you tried hardest - mostly yes, but let's not celebrate relegation like we're Luton (who despite spending about a 10th of us finished better off than we will likely finish)

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algarvefan added 11:58 - Apr 15 I get both points of view on here, I really do. Did I want us to be relegated? No of course not! Having said that we have competed in well in most games and to quote KM, we have often lost by fine margins. We have also had a long list of injuries. I prefer to look at the bigger picture, you don't have to win to be proud. If we look at the last 3 seasons we have been on an incredible journey and for many reasons, this season didn't go our way. We spent the first half of the season with a goalkeeper with no confidence and several error strewn performances and some of our signings just didn't come up to expectations. Having said the we competed, but our confidence waned, it was difficult playing against teams with budgets we could only dream about. I'm proud of the the way the club is going, the players have mostly done their best and most of all I'm incredibly proud of our supporters, they have (especially away) been the best in the league. So despite the results I am proud, proud to be a supporter of this great club, who will go on to much greater things in my opinion.

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