Richard Stearman is looking to complete a hat-trick of home wins since joining Town on loan from Wolves.

He made his debut in the 4-0 mauling of Middlesbrough earlier this month and played a key role in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat of then-managerless Blackpool.

Now he would like nothing more than another Portman Road victory and clean sheet when promotion hopefuls Watford visit Suffolk this evening.

Stearman, 25, has settled in well and said: “It certainly helps when you are picking up a few results. Winning 4-0 against Middlesbrough helped me to settle in straight away and I’ve been delighted with everything at the club.

“I’m getting there in terms of match fitness. Obviously, it’s going to take me a few games to pick my fitness up but I’ve been happy with the way it has gone so far.

“It was a massive win against Blackpool that has shot us up the table a few places. It has also brought another couple of teams back into it.

“Blackpool had been doing quite well and have a couple of players that are being looked at by the big clubs so we were delighted to get the win.”

Stearman is delighted to have played his part in keeping clean sheets in two of three appearances to date and although an accomplished central defender he has no complaints about fitting in at right-back.

He added: “Since I came here we’ve only conceded one goal in three games and as a back four or back five — the whole team really — we’re really happy with that.

“With the gaffer being an ex-defender he has a major input into what we do in training. I’ve been with him for four or five years and he has taught me a lot about defending. He’s had plenty of experience in the game and hopefully it has helped.

“I’ve been very impressed with Luke Chambers and Tommy Smith in the middle. They have been outstanding, as our defensive record shows, and hopefully that will continue.

“They have formed a strong partnership and continue to play well together, while Cressy on the left-hand side has been a top performer as well.”

Photo: Action Images

R_LAMB3 added 11:49 - Feb 19 I would like to see Richard Stearman sign for Town at the end of the season. Good strong defender who has settled in well since Orr went back and he seems to like playing for us.
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Marcus added 11:54 - Feb 19 "Since I came here we've only conceded one goal in three games and as a back four or back five — the whole team really — we're really happy with that." Well, if they were totally pissed off with that it would be a more interesting, and concerning, statement ;) Good to see the defence more organised.
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Pessimistic added 11:56 - Feb 19 Yes, the defence is on the up and a million late years away from the team that was shipping goals by the bagful earlier in the season. Personally I think Richard Stearman is better than Bradley Orr who in fairness was not bad. we are lucky to have him and he could make the difference between success and failure in our quest to avoid the drop.
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Kesgraveblue57 added 12:33 - Feb 19 Tonights game is the real test the defence
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Mark added 12:50 - Feb 19 Hopefully Stearman will continue to do well here and enjoy it, we'll stay up, Wolves will go down, then Wolves will have to unload Stearman to us on a free transfer to save on his wages. :-)
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