Ipswich Town again saw improvement under Mick McCarthy in 2014-15, but they couldn't end their 13-year wait for Premier League football and will have to endure at least another season in the Championship next term.
The Tractor Boys barely spent a penny on transfer fees throughout the season and McCarthy moulded a hard-working outfit that outperformed more glamorous sides to reach the playoffs for the first time in a decade.
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Ultimately, the season ended in crushing circumstances as Ipswich lost out to their biggest enemies Norwich City over two legs in the playoff semi-finals. The Canaries went to seal an instant return to the Premier League, making it even worse for Blues fans.
However, Ipswich have gone from bottom of the table to promotion contenders in two-and-a-half seasons under McCarthy and if progress is again made next term, the Blues should be pushing for the top two.
Five key results
Wigan Athletic 1-2 Ipswich, September 22, 2014: The Tractor Boys began the season with a 2-1 win over newly-relegated Fulham in front of the TV cameras, but that would be their only win of the opening month. Results drastically improved in September as the Blues started with a pair of 2-0 home wins over Millwall and Brighton & Hove Albion before a Monday night trip to Wigan Athletic.
Going into the game, Ipswich hadn't won away from home for six games, if you include last season, but you couldn't tell as they outclassed the Latics at the DW Stadium. Ipswich were 2-0 up and cruising when Wigan scored in the final 10 minutes to cause late panic, but they held on for an impressive victory. The Blues would go on to pick up 13 out of a possible 15 points in September and McCarthy and Tyrone Mings did a double by winning the Manager and Player of the Month.
Charlton 0-1 Ipswich, November 29, 2011:
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After their near-perfect September, Ipswich dropped out of the playoff places with no October wins before getting back in the promotion hunt with a fabulous end to the calendar year. They went unbeaten in 10 games in the final two months of 2015, winning eight of them, to move themselves into the top two, and the fourth of these wins came at The Valley when Noel Hunt fired home a 95-minute winner on his debut to send the travelling support bonkers in South London. It was the first time anyone had beaten Charlton at home in 2014-15.
Brentford 2-4 Ipswich, December 26, 2014: For a brief period on Boxing Day, Ipswich were top of the table after a scintillating display at Brentford, who were only a point behind Ipswich in the table and had won seven of their previous eight games. Three goals inside the opening half-hour, two of which came from the red-hot Daryl Murphy, silenced the Griffin Park crowd, who hadn't seen their side lose at home in three months.
Watford 0-1 Ipswich, March 21, 2015: Five of last season's Championship teams are based in and around London and Ipswich won all five of their trips to the capital, the last of which was another smash-and-grab show from the Blues. While the end of 2014 had been kind to Ipswich, they hadn't enjoyed 2015 and went into this match with league leaders Watford down in eighth after five defeats in six games. The Hornets, on the other hand, had won eight of their last 10 to soar to the summit, but they were brought back down to earth as Richard Chaplow coolly stroked home on the break for Ipswich's second 95th-minute winner of the season. It was Chaplow's only goal of a short spell at the club, but one fans won't forget in a hurry.
Ipswich 1-1 Norwich City, May 9, 2015:
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After bragging about their loftier position for much of the season, Ipswich ended the season eight points behind their arch rivals in the playoffs. It was always going to be a tough draw for the Blues, who had lost their previous four encounters with the Canaries by an aggregate score of 12-2 and not scored in either regular-season meeting. However, they gave themselves a chance of reaching the Wembley final with a spirited display in the first leg at home, with Paul Anderson quickly equalising in first-half stoppage time after Norwich had nicked in front in the 41st minute.
The first half of the second leg at Carrow Road was much the same as the first match, but the tie swung in Norwich's favour when Christophe Berra handled on the line shortly after half time - Ipswich's only red card of the whole season. Norwich went on to win the tie 4-2 on aggregate before comfortably seeing off Middlesbrough at Wembley.
Best Player - Daryl Murphy
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Berra's season ended with an early bath, but he was statistically the standout Championship defender this season with a total of 715 interceptions, blocks and clearances this term - 138 more than anyone else in the league.
Despite this, Murphy claims the top gong for a fine season in front of goal. The Irishman scored 27 in the league, which was six more than anyone else and by far his best ever return in a campaign. His exploits have seen him become the Republic's starting striker recently and he proved himself on the international stage too with an energetic performance in Saturday's Euro 2016 qualifier against Scotland.
Murphy also set up five of Ipswich's goals in the league, meaning that no-one directly contributed to more goals than he did in the Championship (Bournemouth's Matt Ritchie was also involved in 32 with 15 goals and 17 assists).
Most Improved Player - Tyrone Mings
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Ipswich lost their best player last summer when West Ham United swooped to sign Aaron Cresswell. The latter went on to have an excellent campaign for the Hammers, but Ipswich needed a new left-back and up stepped Mings.
The defender's rise to prominence has been extremely quick since McCarthy signed him after being impressed in a trial match two years ago. He grabbed his chance after Cresswell's departure this season and even won the September Player of the Month award for his tenacious defending and willingness to get forward.
His form in the first half of the season saw him heavily linked with some Premier League giants in January, but Ipswich managed to keep him and the attention might have got to Mings's head a little as his consistency dropped off in 2015. It was his loose pass that led to Norwich's key opener in the second leg of the playoff semi-final, but Mings's potential is still huge and there is sure to be plenty more interest this summer, with West Bromwich Albion the latest club to be reportedly keen on the 22-year-old.
Best Signing - Freddie Sears
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Kevin Bru and Bartosz Bialkowski proved to be shrewd purchases, but no new face had as much of an impact as Sears, who joined for around £100,000 in January from Colchester United - the only money Ipswich spent on transfers all season.
The former West Ham United youngster finished the season with 23 goals in all competitions if you count his strikes for Colchester, and nine of those came for Ipswich in the second half of the season. He formed an excellent partnership with Murphy and Blues fans will be hoping to see more of the same from the pair next term.
Best Goal - Cole Skuse vs. Cardiff City
Ipswich's anchor-man is known for his no-nonsense nature in the middle of the park, not his goalscoring prowess. He had gone over 100 games, 81 of which were with Ipswich, before finally ending his scoring drought with this thunderbolt at home to Cardiff.
Must Do Better - Luke Hyam
Injury plagued the centre-midfielder for much of the season as he only made 16 league appearances after 65 in the previous two seasons. However, he was outshone by fellow youngster Teddy Bishop and must begin to show improvement next term.
When he's playing well, Ipswich supporters sing 'he's one of our own', but those displays were too rare from the midfielder this season. He is perhaps treated more favourably by the Blues faithful because of his local roots, but he will have to step it up next season, especially as his contract is up in a year.
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End-of-season grade: A-
McCarthy continues to get the best out of a squad built on free transfers and loan signings, but can it get any better than 2014-15? Blues owner Marcus Evans hasn't been willing in recent seasons to fork out the cash for a big signing or two, but that might be what Ipswich need if they are to finally end their long stay in the Championship. Holding on to their best players like Murphy and Berra, as well as young starlets Mings and Bishop, is also a priority this off-season.
