IPSWICH Town manager Jim Magilton had plenty to celebrate on his 38th birthday.He was given the biggest cheer when he joined his players on the field at the end of yesterday's 3-1 victory over Cardiff City in the final game of the 2006/07 Coca-Cola Champion-ship season.

By Elvin King

IPSWICH Town manager Jim Magilton had plenty to celebrate on his 38th birthday.

He was given the biggest cheer when he joined his players on the field at the end of yesterday's 3-1 victory over Cardiff City in the final game of the 2006/07 Coca-Cola Champion-ship season.

“I milked it for all I could,” said Magilton. “This place means the world to me and having more than 26,000 people at a game that had little hanging on it shows we are doing something right.

“I am unhappy at where we finished in the table, but I am encouraged by the signs.

“My players need a break now - and then we can start building for a successful 2007/08.

“We needed a little more energy and quality and bringing on the substitutes made a difference.

“After Franny Jeffers scored a goal that would have been acclaimed at any level of the game, we went a big sloppy. And Cardiff deserved their equaliser.

“Jonathan Walters has worked hard and his second goal was particularly impressive.

“We are fortunate to have him, and better things lie ahead for the striker.

“I will now sit down with all my players.

“I now know the ones I want at the club, and I also know the ones that I want to bring in.”

Cardiff manager Dave Jones said: “We may have been top of the table for a while, but we are not ready to go up.

“We trained in grass once during the winter, and I have to envy what Ipswich Town have got.

“We conceded two suicidal goals, and failed to take our chances at the other end.

“Ipswich scored when they were on top - and this is the answer to winning football matches.

“It is now nine games without a win and we must continue the re-building programme through the summer and look to learn from this campaign.

“There were a lot of good young players on show from both sides and there was no doubting who deserved to win over the 90 minutes.”