Richard Chaplow is determined to repay Town and manager Mick McCarthy for the faith he has shown in signing him on loan from Millwall for the remainder of the season.

Chaplow, 30, came off the bench for his debut in the 4-2 home win over Birmingham City and made his first start in the East Anglian derby defeat at Norwich when he was replaced at the interval by fellow loanee Luke Varney.

An unused substitute as Town suffered a second successive defeat at Leeds on Wednesday, the midfielder is delighted with the way he has settled in at Portman Road and looks forward to playing his part in what he is adamant can still be a successful campaign for the club.

Chaplow said: “It’s been fantastic so far. The group here have been second to none towards me and the other new boys. I am enjoying my time and looking forward to hopefully contributing a little bit more in the weeks going forward.

“The gaffer speaks a lot about the team atmosphere and it’s definitely a group that has welcomed me in and I’m very thankful for that. The atmosphere around the place is second to none and it’s one that is easy to come into. I’ve been accepted and I hope it will pay dividends for us all in the next few weeks.”

Suffering back-to-back losses for the first time this season has seen Town slip to seventh place in the table, although Saturday’s home clash with sixth-placed Brentford offers the perfect opportunity to regain a top-six slot.

Chaplow added: “Morale after losing at Leeds is very much the same as it was before to be honest. The boys are obviously disappointed that we didn’t win, which is natural because we want to get as many points on the board as possible.

“The teamwork, the group ethic and the atmosphere around the players pulls people through. We’re not down too much, just looking forward to putting things right on Saturday.

“It’s never easy going to Elland Road, is it? The Championship is a tough place and on any given day anyone can beat anyone.

“I think everyone knows that and it’s a bit of a crazy league at times. A Wednesday night against a Leeds team coming off the back of two losses themselves, it’s never going to be an easy game.

“Having watched it again, I think we did enough to possibly win it with the chances we had.

“We’re a little bit disappointed with the goals that we conceded and hopefully, on another day, we’ll be a bit more ruthless and put them to the sword. It just wasn’t to be but we’ve got another game on Saturday to put that right.”

Chaplow recalled his debut against Birmingham, which followed a good-natured jibe from Varney about his performance in training. He said: “I’ve never been a great trainer if I’m being honest but I do like to ply my trade on a match day.

“To get on the pitch and get some minutes in that game was fantastic and the fact that we won the game made it all the more special.

“In this league you can think you are home and dry but the next thing they score another goal and it’s backs to the wall. Luckily we managed to nick a fourth goal and I backed up that appearance with a start against Norwich.

“It’s just nice to be involved in a team that’s been winning games and are close to the top of the league. I like the fact that I’m fighting at the right end of the table.

“I was obviously very excited about being in the starting line-up at Norwich. It was a nice game to be thrown into, to be honest. These are the sort of games, if you’re a footballer, which you want to be involved in and the gaffer showed his faith in me to start me.

“I only played 45 minutes — I’ve not played much football of late — and I would have liked to have stayed on the pitch for a little bit longer to see if I could have contributed some more.

“But it wasn’t to be and we were disappointed to lose the game, just as we were at Leeds three days later. Saturday is a big one for us and we’ll be looking to try to rectify the things that we’ve not done quite so well in the last two games.”

Photo: Action Images

Suffolk_n_Good added 06:09 - Mar 6 Not meaning to sound disrespectful, but he's going to have to start improving enormously if he's going to to prove his worth & start paying us back, thought he looked really good for the 15 mins he played against Birmingham, probably what got him his start against Scum, but he did nothing in that match & was subbed at half time, then just warmed the bench at Leeds, can't see him being anything more than a bit-part sub, but I am happy to be proved wrong.....?

7

footyblue added 06:26 - Mar 6 I agree suffolk he is just ordinary we have far better at the club personally id rather seem some youth and pace play all our contenders have that we dont I am afraid
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jabberjackson added 06:47 - Mar 6 Bit early to call him ordinary footyblue Let him get match fit. I believe he will make a strong contribution and his experience will prove invaluable A very good replacement for LH in my opinion
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footyblue added 07:03 - Mar 6 he can't get a game at Millwall so to me he is ordinary 15 mins against Brum i thought he didnt close down for second goal and Norwich very non effective I would have taken him off after 25 mins
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louis246 added 07:42 - Mar 6 After Mick saying he'd inly bring in someone if they were better than what we already have, I am already struggling too see what Chaplow adds to our squad.
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Kirbmeister added 08:08 - Mar 6 Another story and another chance to slag everything off about the town (apart from jabebrjackson). Poor sod hadn't played for ages and all he has had is a brief sub appearance then totally thrown in at the deep end against Norwich. Thats enough for everyone to conclude that he is rubbish. Good luck in your Town career Richard but remember our fans expect to win every week even with loads of injuries including out pivotal player.

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Kirbmeister added 08:10 - Mar 6 meant 'our pivotal player'......thats it, rant over. Remember folks MM has had NO money to spend.
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Flewitt85 added 08:17 - Mar 6 Surely when hyam and bishop come back he will have no chance getting in the squad
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Kirbmeister added 08:57 - Mar 6 Flewitt85 - maybe not, but they are injured and that's why Chaplow was signed on loan in the first place. What calibre of player are we supposed to get in on loan only to sit on the bench once our first team players are fit?
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Surco72 added 09:00 - Mar 6 Kirbmeister .. MM stated that he was happy with his squad and didn't need to add to it as he couldn't find better than what he had in Janauary ,also the club stated that Cressys money would be reinvested which MM has spent bringing in his players and their wages Ambrose, Baijner,Bru ,Bart ,Sammon , Parr, Henshall, Stewart,Sears , Connelly , Chaplow, Kenny,Varney , Wood, Wordsworth,Vesali that is a number of players brought in to say he has had NO money to back him , the issue is he just plays the same players as last season Skuse, Tabb, Anderson midfield and the same formation and tactics

2

wangford_blues added 09:03 - Mar 6 if Mick thinks Chaplow or Varney is the answer, he's not asking the right questions. perhaps its time form to go out on loan. why is he collecting all these dud players that can't add anything and that just sit on the bench?
0

Bergholtblue added 09:07 - Mar 6 “I've never been a great trainer if I'm being honest" Oh dear! That attitude will have to change if you want to get in MM's good books.
1

Kesgraveblue57 added 09:09 - Mar 6 From Millwall Res to Portman Rd with the blessings of MM, as long as Mr Claplow can hoof the ball which is the skill he must have here in Ipswich, he then will be a success, you all must trust in your Manager as he teaches hoofing at a high level
0

theipswichman added 09:10 - Mar 6 Am I the only one that doesn't think Chaplows been that bad? I think Varney looks fairly average but Chaplow looks like he can add to the squad IMO
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Daleyitfc added 09:49 - Mar 6 Nowhere near good enough for this level : an inexplicable signing.
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essexbluey added 11:38 - Mar 6 Sad that some only come on this site to put down the team and club at any chance they get. Why dont the ones who dont think mm is up to the job or want evans out come to the game tomw and protest and stop hideing up at home. I dont know what you want at portman rd. Iam going tomw to get behind the team. Ipswich till I die.
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Flewitt85 added 12:06 - Mar 6 Kirbmeister: we didn't need Chaplow! We have reserve players that would fit in nicely. Chaplow is not better then them.
1

callmeted added 12:31 - Mar 6 Kirbmeister & Essexbluey - Agree
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blues1 added 12:36 - Mar 6 Really despair of some of our so called fans. Chaplow is a good player who whenever he's played against us even in a team who we beat 6-1 on the day, was the stand out player in the pitch. Thought he played well 1st half against Norwich in an unfamiliar role for him. Was only subbed in a tactical move. Surco. Glad to see someone else realises that mm has had money to spend. That there's no such thing as a free transfer. Every signing costs money. Lian fees, signing on fees, agents fees. All which are higher if no transfer fee is paid. Even with loans there is a loan fee to pay too

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blues1 added 12:47 - Mar 6 oops. repeated myself on loan fees.
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Kirbmeister added 13:13 - Mar 6 Thanks Callmeted - my main point is that despite our poor form we are only 6 points off the top. I think some fans on her think the other teams around us play great football all the time and are streets ahead of us whereas in reality theres not really much between any of them. I reckon Derby fans must be commenting on how useless Mclaren is after their two defeats!
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Stewart27 added 13:16 - Mar 6 Chaplow was horrible to watch against Norwich. He epitomizes our embarrassing midfield.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 13:26 - Mar 6 Chaplow is a decent player at this level, but he hasn't played much lately. You don't just get up to speed in one or two games. He may well be able to offer something in the later stages. However, I hope by then we have Ambrose, Hyam, McG, and Hunt back. Then I think we are in with a chance - if we haven't already fallen too far behind at that point.
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Steelmonkey added 19:54 - Mar 6 “I've never been a great trainer if I'm being honest but I do like to ply my trade on a match day. Now there's a statement to make, when MM has always made a thing about impressing in training to get yourself a place in the team. You won't be here for long if that's you attitude. You'll need to run your b***s off and be knackered on match day like the rest of them if you are to become one of MM favoruites.

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