Ipswich Town’s unity and togetherness will stand them in good stead going into next season, according to Blues striker George Hirst.

With Town now all but relegated to the Championship following Sunday’s 4-0 home defeat to Arsenal, the Blues will head back to the second tier alongside fellow newly-promoted sides Leicester City and Southampton.

Out of the trio, Kieran McKenna’s side will go down with the highest morale and Hirst believes that positive energy will allow Town to continue to prosper in the future.

“It always has been ever since I’ve been at the club,” he said when asked about the strength of the group. “That’s been something that’s never swayed, not once. That’s something that will continue to be there long past me being here.

“It’s what the club’s built with the boss, Mark Ashton and co upstairs. That’s something that’s in the roots of the football club now, we pride ourselves on, we’re the ones with the badge that get to go out there and fulfil that and it will be something that continues for years to come.

“No-one is worried or stressed, ultimately we’re not going to achieve the goal that we set out, but there’ll be a lot of lessons learnt and we’ll be in a better position for it next season.”

Town will likely see their fate confirmed on Saturday when they travel to face Newcastle United, with the Blues needing to beat the Magpies at St James’ Park and hope West Ham United lose at Brighton and Hove Albion to mathematically keep them alive.

Regardless of how the season will end, Hirst hopes the Blues can show what they are capable of in the north-east but dismissed suggestions that Town may now be able to play with more freedom.

He said: “It’s one to go and enjoy. There’s not many better away grounds to go and play at, so I’m told. It’s definitely one we’ll enjoy and prepare right. If we can be the team that goes and ruins other people’s seasons then so be it.

“I don’t think it’s freedom because if you start thinking you can play with freedom you can go and get beat 8-0. That’s just the level of opposition you’re playing against, you have to be right on it.

“It’s going to be a game plan, if that’s sitting behind the ball for 90 minutes against Newcastle then that’s the way we’re going to try and win the game.

“I don’t want to use the word freedom, we’re going to go and enjoy it and make the most of every opportunity we’ve got from now until the end of the season and try and nick as many points as we possibly can.

“It’s just about going out there, training every day, getting to the game and putting in the best version of ourselves.”

The run-in may give Town the opportunity to start building for life in the Championship next season while also ensuring the task at hand is attended to with 15 Premier League points still up for grabs.

“You could say that,” Hirst considered. “It’s of those things where you’re focusing on the here and now and taking each game as it comes. There’ll be bits we can learn that, come next season, we’ll probably look back on and take those experiences with us going forward.

“Every game from now until the end of the season is another learning opportunity, hopefully we can go and get some more points.”

While still featuring off the bench, the Blues’ 12-goal top scorer Liam Delap has not started either of the last two matches due to the in-demand frontman carrying a rib injury.

That has opened the door for Hirst to start back-to-back league matches for the first time this season having been picked to lead the line against Chelsea and in the clash with the Gunners.

The Scotland international has earned plenty of plaudits in doing so, playing his part in both Town goals at Stamford Bridge and making the most of a difficult task in Sunday’s defeat to Arsenal.

“I just work as hard as I can every day,” Hirst said. “When the opportunity comes, it’s up to me to be ready. I feel like I’ve not done myself a disservice over the last couple of games, it’s two really good teams we’ve played against and I’d like to think I’ve put myself about in a pretty decent manner.

“Hopefully it’s something I can continue, but it’s up to me working in training and seeing where we go.”

Photo: Matchday Images

Leejames99 added 11:17 - Apr 22 They just treat each game like a jolly, Mckenna really has them believing utter nonsense, if the Premier League is too much of contest for you then play in a league that isnt too hard with too many good players, whats your excuse if we ever get promoted again, the gulf to big, we are nowhere near as good as Saka, Rice, Salah, Bowen, Son, Doku - Well go back to league 1 so we can get some players in who can compete and score more than 5 or 6 a season. How come he has become the team spokesman all of a sudden, has he one a competition?

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Beattiesballbag added 11:32 - Apr 22 Lee99, I guess it hadn't crossed your mind that they take it in turns to pop a different head above the parapet each week ?
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Leejames99 added 11:35 - Apr 22 He seems to have done last few weeks
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Karlosfandangal added 11:50 - Apr 22 He will score a hat full of goals in the Championship even if he is behind Delap
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Papillon64 added 12:02 - Apr 22 Lee James, if you have nothing positive to say, please stop posting, you are not coming over very well and appear to be controversial for no apparent point. This is me being polite trying to tell you something subliminal...
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senduntd added 12:15 - Apr 22 See you next Tuesday Lee James
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Dug added 12:18 - Apr 22 Got a lot of respect for Hirst who has come back well after his injury problems he will be a great asset in the championship, I hope he keeps fit.
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Thegeniusofmuhren added 12:33 - Apr 22 Get rid of McKenna and get Leejames99 in as manager before a bigger club comes in for him! He seems to be honest every week and so knowledgeable. Send you CV in!
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Leejames99 added 13:06 - Apr 22 Just name calling, abuse, being warned off the forum, like I dount know what see you next Tuesday means, this is not a positivity site it's for opinions positive or negative we don't have to bow down to your narratives of fairy cakes and journeys, I'm not being controversial I'm stating mine and others opinions on the situation, if you want to have a polite debate fine, if you got nothing constructive or backing up your theories, mark down and move on.

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martin587 added 13:13 - Apr 22 Mr James have you ever heard of the word “contradiction” I rest my case.
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victorysquad added 13:43 - Apr 22 Lee, you are quite correct, we are not as good as Saka, Rice, Salah, Bowen, Son, Doku because these are all world class players, playing for world class teams. Unfortunately, it is not as simple as just signing a load of world class players when you are a newly promoted team. I too would like to see a bit more 'bite', but then isn't that what Leif tried on Saturday? and look at how that turned out. It's not about being happy clappers, happy to lose etc either. No-one wants to lose ever, but you have to look at the bigger picture, take the lessons learned and go again. The best way of becoming a top top team again is to stay calm, analyse where we can improve, and go again. That process can be hard to watch when we are getting smashed by Arsenal and getting relegated but the wealth gap has become enormous since we were last in the Premier League as well you know, and the question really is, how can we best bridge that gap. Forest did it by over spending and breaking the rules, but maybe that IS the only way, that and building out our foreign recruitment over the next 12 months.

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Mariner1974 added 13:47 - Apr 22 Loved Hirst's performance at Stamford Bridge, and he'd have given Saliba even more of a hard day if we'd have had 11 men on the pitch for the duration. I'd love for Rory Delap to tell his son to stay and play with David's son for another season to learn his trade in the Championship properly, but if Liam does go, then I have no fear whatsoever in starting games with George Hirst, who's link up play is fantastic for us. He was great against Brentford away as well. You seem to be angry still after the weekend Lee! It was a rubbish game from an Ipswich fan point of view, but would have been alot more of a game if it wasn't for that red card. Leif seemed to have an extra shredded wheat for his Easter Sunday breakfast, that made him a bit over zealous in his approach to trying to stop Saka. Saka who made Real Madrid look stupid over two legs. Once he was off the pitch sadly we lost all our creativity from Jack Clarke's sub for Burgess and Enciso's half time yank for Taylor. I was really looking forward to that game, but it spoilt my birthday weekend. It's a new week though, and we've been the best of the promoted clubs, with so much to build on with our new acquisitions for next year. Leeds and Burnley have gone, and hopefully one of Sheff Utd and Sunderland with them via the play-offs, then we can get everyone fit in the summer and go again. Hopefully with some of the parachute money spent on the silky Swede Cajuste.

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ArnieM added 14:13 - Apr 22 I just love George Hirst. Sounds like he’s staying too….,
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johnwarksshorts added 14:23 - Apr 22 Please don't stop posting on here LJ, I love a good laugh.
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blues1 added 14:26 - Apr 22 Leejames99. Ut urxnot just stating ur opinion. Bcse not so long ago ur opinion was totally tvd opposite and u were one of the most sensible posters on here. Now, ur just spouting rubbish every time you post on here. Would love to knowzwhat ud have done better than tvd club have. And dont say, you'd have,signed more players with pl experience. If we have decided to go that route,xwex only have been able to sign 2 or 3 players, leaving us with even more of the lge1 squad, and likely have been relegated by xmas. If you dont think we are not as good as the likes of saka, rice, etc, then I fear for ur sanity. If you dont think the fact we are limited as to what we can spend, has been a major factor in where we are, then u haven't got a clue. Example of how unbalanced this lge is, man city are now being tipped to offer £171m for just 1 player. So compare thst with the £150m we've spent on the whole squad, should surely tell you why we've ended up in this position. But no doubt you'll keep spouting negative rubbish. Ur getting boring now.

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wischip added 14:28 - Apr 22 I feel a Paul McCartney song coming on. Bum-Bum-Bum Bayeeaahh Bum-Bum-Bum Bayeeaahh
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trevski_s added 14:44 - Apr 22 I've always liked Hirst and know he will do well next season for us whether as a rotation with Delap (if he stays) or as our starting striker. He has always worked well with whoever is in the attacking line-up behind him as it has often been said when Hirst plays he gets in at the defence so the number 10 or the wingers get the goal, they work as a TEAM. This has been proven the past few seasons when the number 9 striker has often been about the third top scorer behind the likes of Chappers or Broady. He is also right in the togetherness of the team which has probably been hindered a little bit this season probably because of the amount of new signings and probably a little bit too much squad rotation by McKenna compared to what he has done previous seasons Don't get me wrong i'm not criticising the new players as Delap, Szmod, Palmer, Townsend and O'Shea have been amazing, Greaves started off really well but seemed different after his injury, Johnson and Clarke seem to be getting better as the season has gone on and will do really well in the Championship, Omari hasn't had as good a season as last year but we ALL wanted him to sign, Ogbene and Jaden we have really seen enough of but again I think they will do amazing next season once fully recovered and I wont even talk about Muric We have signed strong this season so I don't think we will need too much for next season. Resign Burgess and Tuanzebe, probably see Mass and Harness contracts expire (both were great last season but McKenna has younger options), sell or loan out Muric and Ali. Then hopefully sign Cajuste and 1 other CM (maybe 2 or 3 if he sells Morsy (he will be 34 next season) and/or Taylor), sign 1 (or 2 depending on Delap) strikers. We have Clarke and Humphreys both coming back from loans and I can see them both getting used next season. Baggott returns as well but his contract is up (not sure on what will happen with him). Hopefully the likes of Buabo, Agbaje and Boniface can also get used next season

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trevski_s added 14:48 - Apr 22 Meant to say "Ogbene and Jaden we HAVEN'T really seen enough of"
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Smithy63 added 14:50 - Apr 22 What's the point of saying togetherness when there's too many of the team not playing as a team only want to play their own game.plus delap wanting away after one season says a lot
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Leejames99 added 14:54 - Apr 22 I'm not angry, I am an Ipswich Town fan of course, I am just like most football fans whatever league we are in would like success and we can establish ourselves in Prem league but in my opinion not with a 5 or 6 goal a season striker, he is a decent hold up player, I think he could do okay in a partnership top 2 but I wouldn't want to rely on him as number one striker, injury prone for a start off. I believe Morsy too old, J Taylor not good enough, Walton not good enough, Luongo etc. I said all season we recruited with Championship in mind but I'm not going to make excuses for Favis and Mckenna sticking with one formation or Davis horrendous tackle on Saka, he saw red then got a red because Saka had skinned him twice and we conceeded twice. Mckenna should of changed system games ago, I also can't excuse the lack of grit to beat Wolves at home, 7 points we would of got with 4 games to go after an expected defeat, we had it all to play for and gave up and then go and draw a game we could of won vs Chelsea, beat Wolves we would of picked up 9 in 3 games with fixtures ahead we could of held our own but past. I'm not sure we can say we performed best out of 3 promoted teams there is nothing in it a game or so either way but Saints drew and beat us and it will likely be same with Leicester who I think now will probaly finish above us. You never know we could go and beat Newcastle, Brighton beat West Ham and we pull off the miracle, we have done the impossible before, maybe it all comes down to last game vs Hammers. Or announcement bought forward of Man City fate and they are relegated and we are safe and all this back and forward was pointless. You never know. If we grabbed a 2-1 at the weekend we still in it, and hammers have the harder run in on paper, Man Utd, Spurs and Forest and us whereas we have Everton, Brentford, Everton and them. If after this weekend we are still in it I do not see any reason why we could not go on a 4 game run and catch West Ham goal difference, of course highly unlikely but its squeaky bottom time at the top, they have been beaten at home, a win for us and loss for hammers and I would suggest the momentum would be with us. We have nothing to lose now and I would even go as far to say that with our injuries we should go 2 up top with Hirst and Delap and change tactic completely. I'd play 5,3,2 flood the back and play them at their own game with our pace on wings. Jack Clarke to score to rub it in, bring wingers and forwards off, put Johnson and Morsy Phillips and Broadhead in iwith CaJuste and Encisco up top and go 5-4-1 get the points Palmer Tunazabe O'Shea Woolfenden Burgess Townsend/Greaves Cajuste Phillogene J Clarke Hirst Delap Cajuste

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ArnieM added 15:23 - Apr 22 I think Town have benched Delap to minimise any injury risks in these remaining games, that might harm a potential move in the summer. The club are clearly ready to cash in. If he had a rib injury he wouldn’t be on the bench. Having had rib injuries myself, I can tell you they are very painful and just breathing in/ out is sheer agony, let alone running around on a football pitch.

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Leejames99 added 15:29 - Apr 22 @blues1 I've never said should of signed Prem players, quite the opposite, I predicted we had planned for Championship next season and I think the money has been perfectly spent in all the right places. What I don't buy into is the need to retain players where their level is League 1/Championship and that as I do not think if we got promoted again they would be in team that we should sell now and get amazing profit on them all. I don't buy into the gone up to early, I think we went up at the perfect time as the money enabled us to get ground, training ground prem ready and the best Championship players we would never have got had we stayed in Championship, that is all great. But I question Mckenna not changing system, not dropping Davis, tinkering back line every week, playing new signings out of position. It's like he was managing with his heart and not his head. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place, now is when we will see what he learnt and what tough choices he will make because he has to sell some/heroes they can't stay forever. We can have 25 in squad Love to know who others take out Palmer Muric Slicker Tunazabe H Clarke Johnson Greaves O'Shea Woolfenden New CD or Burgess Townsend Boniface or new LB Cajuste or new CM New CM or Morsy New CM Or J Taylor Humphries Szmodics Ogbene Hutchinson J Clarke Broadhead Phillogene Hirst Delap or new striker New striker/Chaplin I'm sure majority say Muric goes but would still need keeper and I think Palmer may go. So for me that's Walton Burns Harness Al Hamadi Davis Luongo At least

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martin587 added 16:17 - Apr 22 Mr James when you have 1682 down marks does it ever make you wonder if your comments are rather odd to say the least.Just asking.
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Wheels added 17:54 - Apr 22 Lee James' solution is to play with just one central midfielder, utterly clueless
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virginblue added 18:09 - Apr 22 It’s not often I offer advice, but the comments section on News Stories is a much better read once you put that idiot on ignore.
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