Ipswich winger or midfielder Lee Martin has praised new team-mate Danny Higginbotham’s influence since his arrival on loan from Stoke.

Defender Higginbotham, 33, made a cameo appearance near the end of Town’s home defeat by Charlton before being named in Paul Jewell’s starting line-up for Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Barnsley that followed a run of five Championship games without a win.

Martin said: “I worked with Danny at Stoke [during a loan spell in 2007]. I was a youngster then and he was brilliant around the place. When he signed for us I certainly knew what he would bring in.

“I think you saw on Saturday that he’s a leader and very experienced. I’ve been at clubs before when it’s been like this and the thing is not to get too disheartened and keep working hard.

“There are loads of games and lots of points still to play for. The key thing is stopping the rot and taking every game as it comes.

“I know everyone looks at it and says ‘We’ll need to get a point here and a point there’ but sometimes it doesn’t work like that.

“I think sometimes you just have to go into every game single-minded and properly focused then take it from there.”

Martin, like Jewell, was pleased to return from Oakwell with a point, although he isn’t kidding himself that Town’s problems have suddenly become a thing of the past.

He added: “It helped to stop the rot but I think everyone would agree that we got outplayed. We looked a lot more secure at the back so I suppose you take the positives out of it.

“It’s all about confidence and you can tell it’s a bit low at the moment regarding keeping the ball, but hopefully that will come.

“If we’d got a win on Saturday I’m sure we would have gone into the next one full of confidence. That’s what happens when you go on these little runs and you have to be brave when you get on the ball.”

Martin does not disagree that defeats by Blackpool, Middlesbrough, Wolves and Charlton, together with a home draw against Huddersfield, have affected team morale.

He said: “It has a little bit, obviously. That’s what comes with losing games and being down there but the boys are still together and it’s only a matter of time before we get a win and start to pick up.”

Meanwhile, former Blue Jimmy Bullard, who announced his retirement from professional football yesterday, has joined Essex non-league side Holland FC, according to their website [Bullard has subsequently said that this was a wind-up].

Photo: Action Images

irishtim added 11:47 - Oct 2 Well Lee start showing us what you can do & maybe we have a chance. hopefully we can turn the corner but it seems to be the longest corner ever . As soon as we take one step forward we seem to take three backwards.
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TotalBlue added 11:49 - Oct 2 Why is Lee so vocal all of a sudden??
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IamSpartacus added 12:02 - Oct 2 @ TotalBlue: Despite the club being moronic with their attampts for all players to leave without any payment I suspect Lee Martin is playing the other side of the coin. ie. Letting clubs know that he is possibly available on a free in a matter of months. Watch this space, Martin will leave on a free at the end of his contract. I'd practically guarantee it- especially as the player will receive not only his huge wage but also a massive signing on fee as well from his new club (no transfer fee but, as he is likely to have several clubs interested, that fee would still be there in the form of a signing on fee)

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ElginCityBlue added 12:04 - Oct 2 Surely signing a new contract would help his confidence and that of others.
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Warkys_Tash added 12:13 - Oct 2 @IamSpartacus - Spot on
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TotalBlue added 12:14 - Oct 2 @IamSpartacus or is he trying to prove to Marcus/PJ he would make a great captain and trying to push the contract situation on. ok yes I am always positive and often proved wrong but I can see him Staying and becoming a very good class player.
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Surco72 added 13:12 - Oct 2 Iamspartacus ... i am curious as to who you think will offer Martin a huge wage for someone who has not shone in a struggling team in the three years he has been here ,has scored very few and created even less . Only made 1 Man Utd appearance in the cup in four years ,and has been to 7 loan clubs with no one showing an interest . Needs to prove he is worth a new contract in my opinion

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cantona11 added 17:19 - Oct 2 Spot on surco72 all my comment have had him in I dint like the bloke I think he is a big time charlie and if u look at his stats for a winger or behind the striker he is not doing he's job with assists and for all the people that keep singing his praises those people haven't got a clue and why PJ keeps playing him I'm thinking he might be taking bungs lol from his agent who would buy him!!!!

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portmanteau added 20:56 - Oct 2 martin is so vocal cos its his turn. last one giving his pearls of wisdom was drury. there must be a rota operating, for a fee natch. I did appeal recently for this practice to end .....
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