Cole Skuse is backing the never-say-die spirit in the Town dressing room to lift them from the recent dip in form that has seen them concede valuable ground in the promotion race.

Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Rotherham, which made it just four points from a possible 15, has seen Mick McCarthy’s men drop down to fifth in the Championship table.

But Skuse, 28, said: “We’ve got a lot of great characters in the squad. When I was getting changed for training on Monday morning I took my top off and looked over my shoulder and there was this lad with quite a big head — Luke Chambers.

“He’s come bouncing in the door, jumping around and shouting ‘Come on Tractor Boys’. You’re never going to get too down in that dressing room because there are plenty of people who will drag you up.

“The spirit in there is unbelievable and especially Chambo because he’s hardly the quietest, is he?”

Midfielder Skuse has also praised the level of support from the Town fans, 1,800 of whom were at the New York Stadium on Saturday for the team’s third defeat in the space of five games that followed on from the disappointing 0-0 home draw with lowly Wigan in their previous outing.

That result saw the players leave the field to a chorus of boos but Skuse added: “I know Wigan are in the bottom three but if you look at their team, their personnel, it’s a very good squad.

“But I know it wouldn’t have been a great spectacle on what was a snowy, freezing day, so I can understand the frustration of the supporters.

“We felt just as frustrated afterwards but to have 1,800 of them travel up to Rotherham was very impressive. It is hardly just round the corner — everywhere seems to be a million miles from Ipswich — so you can’t knock them.

“It is unbelievable that so many followed us on another freezing cold day and it is just a shame that we couldn’t give them a win to cheer.

“You want every fan to stay on-side but you’ve also got to understand where they’re coming from as well.

“When I was a young boy going to watch Bristol City, and if they’d lost or drawn 0-0, I’m sure I would have thrown a hot dog or something in my frustration, so I understand how they feel.”

Photo: Action Images

Cat_ITFC added 07:26 - Feb 10 Chambers jumping in the dressing room shouting, "Come on Tractor Boys" is a great image and will get me through work today! COYB's!
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Blue_Again added 07:26 - Feb 10 Play chambo in his proper position so he can lead by example. Feel sorry for him stuck playing in a position that his not good in, his the captain for gods sake.
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Surco72 added 08:05 - Feb 10 Please stop telling me how good Wigan are , they will be relegated this season
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dirtydingusmagee added 08:20 - Feb 10 hope the spirit in dressing room carries through to performance tonight against the Owls.Lets get the show on the road again . COYB
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bohslegend added 09:01 - Feb 10 The idea that the lads are determined to keep spirits up in order to get back on track seems to annoy some of the 'realist' fans. "they should be bloody ashamed of 'emsells" "they should be slouched over with faces as long as a wet Monday" For me, its great to hear Skusey relaying this positive attitude for us. It's a really tough time for a team and a manager (and of course the fans) who've done so incredibly well so far this season, to suddenly go through a few games where things aren't quite clicking. But without a doubt the spirit the boys have will be a key factor in turning it around and getting the tractor back on the road to the premier league. COYB!

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Surco72 added 09:33 - Feb 10 Team spirit doesn't annoy , bigging up very poor sides and making excuses after our own very poor performances does . But some supporters who sit at home when games are on will agree with everything the club does
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TimmyH added 10:27 - Feb 10 Great there is still a good team spirit...but most times that will only get you so far. Certainly not a time to knock the players or management but we have to change things about quickly, and maybe a change of formation and a few need to be dropped I feel.
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TR11BLU added 10:32 - Feb 10 Thrown a Hot Dog WTF!! Try throwing your foot at a ball in front of goal Skuse and preferably forwards!
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TimmyH added 10:50 - Feb 10 Have to say can't stand the term 'Tractor Boys' - where the hell did that come from? might as well call Man City the 'Bin dippers' (Moss Side) Narrrcchh the 'Mustard Men' etc.
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pazelle added 11:26 - Feb 10 Where did that hotdog come from?
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bluehert added 11:49 - Feb 10 Hot dog shop
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SouperJim added 12:35 - Feb 10 TimmyH the name Tractor Boys is self-deprecating humour and is a fantastic example of fans reappropriating a slur which was used against us for years. I was at Highbury for what is widely considered to be the first time it was used in this fashion. 1-0 to the Tractor Boys, and again at numerous Premier League grounds that season. Fantastic memories.
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BlueMachines added 12:56 - Feb 10 I'm proud to be a 'Tractor Boy'!! I love that terminology.
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bohslegend added 14:07 - Feb 10 WTF Surco? I'm an Ipswich Town fan since the mid seventies, I live in Dublin ffs, how am I supposed to be able to get to PR every other week, even if I could afford it?? For my part I get over to Ipswich usually 4 or 5 times a season, and I contribute to the club by buying merchandise each season. I also see myself as representing the club in a different country and I do that with pride. You I assume are from/near Ipswich, but the way you sometimes talk about the club and the players and management is shameful.

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BlueMachines added 15:31 - Feb 10 Surco has a point. No doubting you support the club, but if you watched what we have watched repeatedly over the last month you wouldn't be so quick to shoot down those that complain about MM's selections/tactics. You are ever so opinionated considering how little you get to see us play, for whatever reason that may be.
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dirtydingusmagee added 15:56 - Feb 10 rather be called a tractor boy than a buuuudgie. COYB
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Cakeman added 16:22 - Feb 10 I don't remember a hot dog being thrown at matches I have been too but I do remember a pie (looked like chicken and mushroom) being thrown at Charlton when we conceded a sloppy goal and that pie splattered to all directions as it hit the net just missing Neil Alexander who was less than impressed.
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bohslegend added 17:07 - Feb 10 Bluemachines, the same goes to you, would you prefer the club to only have a fanbase within the 180,000 or so that live there? While I certainly wouldn't argue for a second the club is inextricably linked to the town and the community, and everything about the club is and should be about the community it is based in, it would be naïve in the extreme to attempt to say genuine fans like myself have no right to an opinion on the club. For the slightest chance in the world that the club should strive to compete anywhere near the top again it needs a broader fanbase than the population of Ipswich. The fact that I only get to a handful of games each season is nothing to do with how much of a fan I am. I can assure you that if I even lived in the same country as you I'd be attempting to get to every game. I was at the Wigan game last time with my son, it wasn't great, but I was glad to make to the trip, I was in my beloved Portman Road watching my team, and I'll never bad mouth them, I'll always support them. It's too easy for you and some others who have the privilege of going to every game to pretend that makes you right. I'd argue you can't see the wood for the trees.

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BlueMachines added 18:43 - Feb 10 You are entitled to your opinion. And I'm not questioning your support. But we have seen close up game after game where it is going wrong. You don't like MM being criticised but your opinion is less well informed than those that go to every game. And that is a fact.
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