GARY Bowyer had mixed emotions after Blackburn Rovers rounded off their Championship season with a 3-2 home win over Ipswich Town yesterday.

While pleased that his injury hit side stretched their unbeaten league run to seven matches and gave the departing David Dunn the perfect send-off, the Rovers boss admitted his frustration that they were not joining Ipswich in the play-offs.

“We were six unbeaten going into the game and we wanted to make it seven and stay unbeaten throughout the summer as it lasts with you a long time your last game,” said Bowyer, who was without seven first-team players, including all four of his senior centre-backs.

“I think it’s frustrating that you’ve seen a performance we’ve produced against a team that’s finished in the play-offs and we’re not there ourselves.

“Now we have to work very hard this summer and come back looking to build on the two years of stability and progression that we’ve made.

“I think there were instances throughout the season that we look back on and could have done better. That said, when we first took over we made a conscious effort to bring young hungry players in and one thing they were probably lacking was experience and the only way you get that is by playing them.

“This year has been another year for them to gain that experience. Next season they can’t be classed as a young team – they’ve had two years at it.

“Hopefully the experience they’ve got will stand them in good stead next season but we also need to add an old head in there, a couple of wiser owls.”

Rovers’ most experienced player, Dunn, will be leaving the club in the summer after confirming his contract would not be extended.

The 35-year-old captained Rovers on what was his 378th and final appearance for the club.

And Bowyer: “It was so important that we won the game for him.

“We had a team meeting and we all said we wanted to give him a proper send-off and the only way we could have done that was by winning the game so I’m delighted we did.

“Some of the flashes from him were things we won’t see on our pitch again because of the ability he’s got.

“He’s going to be sadly missed.”

Rovers finish ninth in the standings – one place and three points worse off than last season – and 11 points behind sixth-placed Ipswich, whose place in the play-offs, and a semi-final showdown with arch-rivals Norwich City, was confirmed after Derby County slipped out of the top six.

Tractor Boys boss Mick McCarthy, who has now guided four clubs into the play-offs, said: “It’s relief but delight as well because we had to remind ourselves in the dressing room we’re in the play-offs and deservedly so because with 78 points we deserve it over the season.

"It’s inspirational, I think, the thought of going into them (play-offs). I don’t think anybody gave us a chance at the start of the season.

“I think everybody’s seeing what we’re made of. We weren’t great today but we kept going and could have got back in it.

“I’d like to have done it on our own merits but the play-offs are something to relish and look forward to.”