Ipswich Town 1-1 Birmingham City: Tractor Boys relegated to League One
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Ipswich forward Collin Quaner reacts to a missed chance as their relegation to League One was confirmed
Ipswich Town boss Paul Lambert said the club's relegation is "gut-wrenching for everybody" after their drop to League One was confirmed.
The Tractor Boys became the first team to be relegated in the English Football League this season following a 1-1 draw with Birmingham City.
Lambert thanked the Ipswich fans for their support after the club's fate was sealed with four matches still to play.
"You saw the reception at the end of the game, that was incredible. I've been involved in some unbelievable moments in my career, that's as good as it gets for me, that's how emotional it was," said Lambert.
"The support is unbelievable, I'm gutted for them, I'm gutted for the players and I'm gutted for all the staff here at Portman Road.
"I've always believed [we could stay up], everyone who knows me knows I'm a realist but I'd always believed we could do well. You've got to analyse the disappointment and then try to plan what will happen next year.
"It's gut-wrenching, it's horrible. But we have great things to look forward to."
It has been a dire campaign for the Suffolk side, who sacked boss Paul Hurst after just one league win from his 14 games in charge.
Replacement Lambert proved unable to turn the club's fortunes around and admitted before Saturday's game that relegation to the third tier, for the first time since 1957, had been hanging over the club's head "for months".
The hosts went into the game knowing that anything less than a win would see their 17-year stay in the second tier come to an end, but they fell behind after just seven minutes when Lukas Jutkiewicz hammered home from close range.
Gwion Edwards levelled for Ipswich straight after the break before Alan Judge hit the post for the home side, with the draw keeping Birmingham six points above the bottom three.
Relegation means Ipswich will face Lincoln City in a league game for the first time since 1961 next season after the Imps secured promotion from League Two on Saturday with a 1-1 draw against Cheltenham Town.
Birmingham City manager Garry Monk told BBC Radio WM 95.6:
"Commiserations to Ipswich as a football club. It's a tough day for them. They came out fighting and gave everything.
"We had the chances to win the game. Even in the second half we had three really good chances and we didn't take them.
"You can't afford to do that if you want to take the three points. We weren't clinical enough today."