JOHN McGreal milked the Portman Road applause and even took the chants of “boring, boring Burnley” as a compliment.He said: “It is great for a defender to hear that because it means we are doing a fantastic job keeping out the flying forwards from Ipswich.

JOHN McGreal milked the Portman Road applause and even took the chants of “boring, boring Burnley” as a compliment.

He said: “It is great for a defender to hear that because it means we are doing a fantastic job keeping out the flying forwards from Ipswich.

“I'm sure if we had stuck one of those chances away, they would not have been chanting that.

“The stats have shown that playing it really tight is playing to our strengths. We have conceded just two goals away from home and one was at West Ham, the other here. We have played the likes of Leicester, Wigan and Reading and not conceded so we are doing something right.

“It has been a tough away programme but now we have a run of games at home to look forward to.”

McGreal tipped Town to do well this season and feels they only have themselves to blame if they don't win promotion.

He said: “The good thing for Ipswich is that they've had a flying start, which they've not had in recent years, so now it's all in their own hands.

“It's the same old story. They are so offensive they just keep going forward and throwing everything at us. They won't change - the fans come to see goals.”

The 32-year-old made 150 appearances for Town after joining from Tranmere in August 1999 but chose to join Burnley when his contract expired at Portman Road.

Concerns over his return were completely unfounded. He added: “It was a great occasion for me. To get such a great reception from the fans, which I was not sure I would get, and to come away with a point, is a good day's work.”

McGreal reflected that although the Clarets were fortunate in the end to take a point, they could well have had three points tied up well before the dramatic finale.

McGreal said: “Up until the 85th minute we could easily have been away with a two or three-goal lead, but in the end we were fortunate to hang on for a point.

“Danny Coyne made a good save to his right but apart from that he has not really had that much to worry about before the last few minutes.

“Before then all the best chances went to us, and with better composure in front of goal we might have built a two or three-goal lead.

“After they equalised they bombarded us and rattled the post and the bar and to be honest I could not wait for the whistle.

“We were hanging on for a point then, and that is the worst thing we can do as they are such an offensive team.

“Before the match we would have taken a point off Ipswich who were top of the league, but in the end I feel a little gutted that we didn't sneak away with all three.”

The cultured defender had no complaints about Town not playing the ball out while Mo Camara lay in the penalty area.

He said: “Mo Camara has gone down but the referee has played on so we just had to get on with it.

“It's swings and roundabouts. I'm sure at some stage we will get the bit of luck that Ipswich had.”

It is unlikely that Burnley will be quite as negative when Town visit Turf Moor on November 6.