Simon Grayson: Fleetwood finished season with some pride at Ipswich but start wasn't good enough

The visitors conceded twice in the first nine minutes and were three down within half an hour at Portman Road.

However, they kept battling, created chances and managed to pull one back in the second half through Wes Burns.

Grayson said: “We paid a heavy price for the sloppy start without a doubt. To be two down so quickly wasn’t good enough and then conceding a third gave us a mountain to climb.

“We actually had some good chances in the first half and it could have been 3-3 or 4-3.

“Every time Ipswich went forward they were ruthless and finished their chances but we couldn’t do that.

“In the second half we asked for a reaction from the players and I felt we got that.

“I said at half-time that it was about pride and producing a professional performance.

“Whether these boys are going to be playing for our football club or not next season, they were playing for their own futures.

“Someone may have been watching them today and thought, ‘I don’t really fancy taking him now’, when perhaps they did before.

“That personal pride shouldn’t come from me as manager.

“It has to come from within and we kept a clean sheet and had good opportunities in the second half, in addition to our goal.

“We’ve actually been very good apart from our last two away games, which isn’t what we want.

“Apart from that it’s something like seven clean sheets in nine games.”

Thanks for reading. If you value what we do and are able to support us, a digital subscription is just £1 for your first month. Try us today by clicking here