Wes Burns admitted Ipswich Town had mixed emotions after their dramatic 2-2 draw with Southampton at St. Mary’s, as the winger reflected on a hard-fought contest that could prove significant in the Championship promotion race.
Ipswich twice showed their resilience to come from behind against one of their direct rivals, earning a valuable point on the road in front of a passionate away following. Burns, one of Town’s most energetic performers, praised the spirit within the squad but also acknowledged there was frustration at not taking all three points.
“It was a tough game against a very good side,” Burns said after the final whistle. “Coming here is never easy, and they put us under pressure at times. But I thought we showed great character to stay in the game and keep responding.”
Southampton started brightly and used home advantage to dictate possession in the opening stages. Their attacking movement caused problems, and they eventually found the breakthrough to send the home crowd into celebration mode. However, Ipswich refused to let their heads drop and soon responded with a spell of pressure of their own.
Burns was heavily involved down the flank, stretching the Saints defence with his pace and direct running. His willingness to track back and help defensively also highlighted the work ethic that has become a trademark of Kieran McKenna’s side this season.
Ipswich’s first equaliser came at a crucial moment, shifting momentum and silencing the St. Mary’s crowd. Yet Southampton regained the lead in the second half, once again forcing Town to show their mental strength.
Burns believes that ability to stay calm under pressure has been a major factor in Ipswich’s successful campaign.
“We’ve shown all season that we never give up,” he said. “Even when things aren’t going our way, there’s belief in the group that we can always get back into games.”
That belief was rewarded when Ipswich struck again late in the match to make it 2-2. The away end erupted as Town rescued another important point, maintaining their push near the top of the table.
Despite the celebrations at full-time from supporters, Burns admitted players were left wondering if they could have won the match.
“When you come back twice away from home, you have to respect the point,” he explained. “But at the same time, when you’re competitive and want to achieve something big, you always think maybe there was more there for us.”
Burns reserved special praise for the travelling Ipswich fans, whose noise throughout the afternoon created an atmosphere that helped drive the team on.
“They were unbelievable again,” he said. “Every away game they turn up in numbers and back us from the first minute to the last. When you hear them like that, it gives you extra energy.”
The result keeps Ipswich firmly in the hunt for automatic promotion as the season moves toward its decisive final weeks. With pressure mounting and every point carrying huge value, performances like this underline why many believe McKenna’s side are ready for the challenge.
Burns insisted the focus now quickly turns to the next fixture, with no time to dwell on what might have been.
“It’s another point on the board, and now we move on,” he said. “We’ve got to recover, prepare properly, and be ready to go again. That’s the mindset of this group.”
For Ipswich, it may have been only a draw, but it felt like another statement of determination.
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