Matt Richards is determined to end his season on a winning note - even if the play-offs prove a bridge too far for Ipswich Town.

The teenager has been a revelation during this campaign, especially in recent weeks, with several starring performances at left-back and wing-back.

And, turning his attention to tomorrow's last home game of the season against Wimbledon, he said: "We'll be giving 100 per cent.

"Our play-off chances are very slim but even so we'll give everything until the last kick of the last game.

"If we don't win our matches then we haven't got a chance anyway, so it's important we take maximum points and then hope for the best."

To finish in the top six, Ipswich need to win against Wimbledon and Derby and hope either Nottingham Forest or Reading lose their remaining games.

And if they fail to make it, which seems highly likely, Richards admits he will be 'haunted' by the last few minutes of Monday's 2-1 setback at Rotherham.

Town conceded two late goals and the Essex-born defender said: "We were absolutely gutted afterwards.

"Losing the game would have been bad enough anyway but in those circumstances it was very hard to accept."

Published Friday, April 25, 2003

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