Ipswich Town's away draw against already relegated Crewe continued a difficult April, but centre-back Cameron Burgess has his focus set on starting next season strongly.

The game at Gresty Road took a familiar shape for Town after Conor Chaplin scored the opener in first-half injury time. But, for the second game in a row, the Blues couldn't hold on and an 86th minute Tom Lowery equaliser saw the game finish 1-1.

For Burgess, speaking after the game, and his teammates it's another chance to finish the season on a high gone with only the home game against Charlton next week left to play.

Whilst conditions were difficult with a strong breeze and a tricky pitch, Burgess thinks Town should have been able to rise above it.

"Frustrating is probably the answer,” the former Australian U23 international said when asked his feelings on the game.

“We probably need to see the game out in the end and then we weren't able to score a couple of chances. It's one or the other, isn't it? You've got to go and either score a second or see the game out, and we didn't do either in the end. So yeah, a frustrating one.”

Asked about the impact of the windy conditions, he added: “You can see it on their goal. We've got a keeper who can kick the ball the length of the field most games. And the wind just grabs it and takes the ball to basically our right-back area.

“It's not going very far. But it's the same for both teams. The pitch wasn’t great, but same for both teams, although you can say they are maybe used to playing on it a little bit more than we are. But it's the same for both teams, and we're more than good enough to rise above those factors.”

Some areas of the pitch around the sprinklers had appeared under standing water as the match kicked off, leading to an inconsistent surface.

“It seemed like that at the start of the game, the muddy patches seemed to be quite boggy and then there was a couple of nice grass areas over the far side and that sort of changed,” he said.

“It ended up just being quite dry and bobbly, to be honest, but that's not an excuse. We've played on pitches like that before and played well. So it's on ourselves to put it right next week.

“We wanted to send the away supporters home with a good win, the last away game. And it puts a bit more pressure on next week to sort of see the season out on a high.

“We want to do that anyway, but if we can go and put it right next week with a good performance and get three points in front of the home fans, we end the season on a high and go into next season confident.”

On the road, Town have now drawn five of their last seven, winning one and losing one, with most of those drawn matches fixtures they should have won.

“It's just game by game and it's just frustrating that we [couldn't them] into three points,” the 26-year-old continued.

“It's not a factor about away games or anything like that, it's just the way the dice have fallen really. It's just on us to make sure that's not something that we take into next season and start next season strong home and away.”

Burgess was largely a spectator following Kieran McKenna's arrival which meant he didn’t feature under the new boss until 8th March in the 2-0 win against Lincoln following George Edmundson’s injury.

The centre-half hopes that his run of games has done enough to keep his shirt for next season and thinks there have been positives to take from his performances as well as things to learn from.

“Unfortunately over the Christmas period when the boss came in, I ended up with Covid," he explained.

“You take yourself right out of selection and you can't be picked anyway. So I was a little bit on the sidelines and credit to all the lads for doing so well over that period and keeping an incredible run of clean sheets and things like that.

“So it was just biding your time - train well, wait for your chance and when your chance comes, take it. And hopefully, I've had a string of games to show some good things for the next season and then hopefully try and keep my shirt.”

On his recent red card at Shrewsbury, he reflected: "I don't know, maybe just a little bit of naivety, to be honest, being on a yellow card and the intention was there to go and try and block a clearance from the keeper.

“It wasn't malicious. It wasn't anything like that. But obviously, if you go to ground, it probably gives the referee a decision.

“A little bit of naivety and you learn from it, and that's all there is to it. Just maybe a little bit of trying to get the ball back too eagerly, I'd say, but it's something you learn from, and you quickly put it to bed, and you go again.”

Assessing his first season at the club having signed from Accrington Stanley in August, he added: “Probably the same as most of the lads, to be honest. Probably disappointed that we haven't done as well as we know we could have.

“But there's definitely a lot of positives to take from it and definitely a positive outlook for the future. We're going in the right direction now. Everyone's found their feet, everyone's settled and everyone's enjoying life at the club.

“I think that's been clear to see for the most part in the second half of the season and all we can do is carry that into next season and make sure we start next season strong.

“We are where we are and all we can do is make sure we start next year strong. We’ve no excuses of that for next season. The lads know that and we’re all ready to get going for next season and obviously finish this season off strong as well.”

Photo: Pagepix

Suffolkboy added 09:51 - Apr 24 CB there's so much that's been improved ,and yet so much left to improve upon ! Rolling dice have nothing to do with our inabilities ,or lack of technique , or lack of crucial awareness and concentration : but so long as the enthusiasm and commitment is there we shall all look forward to sharing the journey ahead ! COYB
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thechangingman added 10:21 - Apr 24 I commend the positivity, but the time for platitudes is over. Over the past decade, a lot of people have said and promised a LOT of things. We simply need to SEE demonstrable change ON THE PITCH. All else is waffle...
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TimmyH added 11:26 - Apr 24 We started the 2 seasons under Lambert 'strong' and then the obligatory collapse ensued...we need to be strong from start to finish, about time that the bar was set far higher at this club.
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jas0999 added 12:34 - Apr 24 To start strong, we will need to win games. That means scoring goals - typically more than one, because at the moment we look like conceding. The summer will be interesting.
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ringwoodblue added 14:24 - Apr 24 Just words that we've heard a hundred times before from different players. What else can they say? Individually many of our players just aren't good enough or dedicated enough to play well for 90 minutes let alone 46 games. I have faith in the management team but there's a key missing component in our players that needs to be rectified and that's the will to give 100% all of the time they're on the pitch. Too many disappear or switch off for periods in a game and that's when we concede goals or fail to score them. I am excited about next season but probably realistic enough to know that it may not a successful one.

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Saxonblue74 added 17:44 - Apr 24 A strong start next season is nothing less than essential. We've been thrown a lifeline as a club, but surely this is the last chance saloon? New owners, new investment and a higher turnover of both on and off the pitch personell than this club has ever seen. If things don't start to happen very,very soon then I fear the worst
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bluebudgie added 17:58 - Apr 24 what makes Burgess think he will be here at the start of next season? we have to ship quite a few of these underachievers out!
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ArnieM added 21:42 - Apr 24 It's not just this season is it . I can't remember the last time a Town team had real belief, resilience and a never say die attitude to get that ball over the line and really ram our dominance down opponents throats . We are so often powder puff when we are confronted by a big physical side . This HAS to end gif us to get promoted. No half measures , no off days , be post match interviews fillies with platitudes. We either get 3 points or we have failed !

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Nobbysnuts added 20:11 - Apr 25 Not sure you will be here matey.....
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ArnieM added 22:40 - Apr 25 Id suggest “ starting strong next season” is the minimum requirement. Make no mistake the gloves are off now and WINNING RESULTS ARE EXPECTED!
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DifferentGravy added 09:51 - Apr 26 As much as we do need to keep it tight at the back.....Town have got to be creating more chances each game......and most importantly....scoring goals. Whether it is down to tactics, formation or poor performance our main 4 forwards have only mustered 22 goals between them (Bonne with 12 of them). On a plus note our midfield have chipped in quite well.....Chaplin and Burns especially. No surprise that, with the exception of Cheltenham, every team that have scored more goals than us are higher in the table. Mckenna needs to recruit astutely. Hopefully using his eye and judgement as much as the statistical data......get rid of the ineffective players(Carroll being just one of those I would ship out).

1

Edmundo added 15:36 - Apr 27 Whatever anyone says, we need to be going for broke and hurting teams. 3 points for a win means we need to approach the first 30 odd games looking for wins or bust. Then we can see where we are.
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