Burnley v Ipswich: BLUES boss Mick McCarthy says he will make changes to his side for Saturday’s curtain-closer at Burnley.

Town secured their Championship status for another season with a 3-1 home win over Birmingham last weekend and can only finish somewhere between ninth and 18th, while Burnley are two points behind them also in the comfort of mid-table.

Asked if it will be hard for his players to show the same intensity of play with little riding on the match, McCarthy said: “Yes, without a doubt, it’s hard to keep banging those nails in when the pressure has lifted.

“We want to win on Saturday, but the reality is that – from when I first came here last November right up until last Saturday – the whole goal was to stay in the league.

“It’s really difficult not to just think phew and breath a sigh of relief. That said, the training has been good, bubbly and relaxed. There’s been a real relief around it.

“We all know there’s one game to play. We want to be professional and do things correctly, go about the job right and then not finish the season on a sour note.”

He added: “Everybody is fine. There is only Paul Taylor and Josh Carson out of the whole squad that aren’t fit.

“There will be no change in formation in terms of 4-4-2, but there will some differences in the team. I will make some changes.”

– See tomorrow’s EADT and Ipswich Star for McCarthy’s thoughts on expiring contacts, keeping loanees and his transfer plans.