Freddie Sears cannot wait for the season to be over.

Before Good Friday’s trip to 20th-placed Burton Albion, Ipswich sit in 17th position, nine points above the drop zone, but with just three wins to their name in 19 2017 games.

“It’s been a long, tough season,” admitted Sears, who has scored five goals this campaign.

“It’s been disappointing and frustrating, and I’ll be glad when it’s over to be honest.

“Hopefully (in the rest of season), we can pick up a few wins, get safe and draw a line under it.”

After finishing in sixth and seventh positions in his two seasons with Ipswich previously, Sears admits that this uninspiring season has felt ‘different’.

“It’s been different and I think we probably need one more win (to be safe).

“It was brilliant in the first two years I was here, we’ve been sixth and seventh, and everyone’s been happy.

“The boys have worked hard this season and have tried their best but it’s just not been good enough.”

Sears continued: “Some fans are booing, and some fans aren’t, but it’s up to them, they pay the money (to watch).

“If they want to boo, they will, but it is tough at the minute.

“It’s not nice, but we are footballers – we have to deal with that. If you can’t deal with getting booed then you’re probably in the wrong job!”

The striker has also backed manager Mick McCarthy to come through this difficult period, insisting that the squad are fully-behind the Yorkshireman. “I feel for the manager to be honest,” continued the striker.

“Everyone is behind the gaffer, and everyone backs him here. The players have got to take the blame as well (for a poor season).

“It’d be a big loss if we lost the gaffer here, and as I know, everyone is pulling in the right direction. We need to have a good rest of the season with five games left.”

Friday’s trip to Burton Albion is the first of Town’s remaining games, and Sears is looking to build on certain aspects of the 3-1 defeat at Fulham.

“We lost, but I think it was quite positive,” added Sears.

“It could have quite easily gone to 2-2, but we didn’t take our chances and got punished.”