Blues boss Mick McCarthy believes Town could get themselves back in the race for the top two if they beat leaders Watford and Bournemouth, who are third, in their next two games, but is under no illusions that that's a tough ask.

McCarthy’s seventh-placed side go to Vicarage Road on Saturday, then the Cherries visit Portman Road on Good Friday following the international break.

“If we win our next two games there’s no reason why that couldn’t be the case,” McCarthy insisted.

“But we’ve got to beat Watford away and Bournemouth at home. It’s kind of a big ask. I’m not sitting here being naive about that.

“I still think we’re out of the top two places and I’m not into all that reverse psychology, thinking we’ll suddenly start winning all the games.

“But everybody’s got to play each other. If we were to beat Watford and Bournemouth then we might be back in it, who knows?”

However, he believes the current incumbents will probably be the ones to go up automatically.

“I think Watford and Middlesbrough look they’re going to finish in the top two,” he added.

“Middlesbrough, having turned Derby over the way they did, although you wouldn’t have thought that in the first 45 minutes against us.

“Patrick Bamford’s goal the other night, the winner, was just different class. If he’s on that kind of form with eight games to go and he can continue it, they’re going to be hard to stop.

“I’m saying Watford and we’re playing them. But if we go there and win, we’ve got Bournemouth coming, so we could have our noses out of joint by next week or we could be right back in it. We’ll be trying to get the right back in it version.”

Eighth-placed Wolves are only two points behind the Blues with Nottingham Forest in ninth five points further back, but McCarthy says he’s not too bothered about the chasing pack.

“It won’t matter if we finish ninth or 10th. If three of them overtake us it doesn’t really matter, we’ve got to overtake somebody in front of us,” he continued.

“That doesn’t matter. If we don’t get past at least one in front, it’s not going to matter. And if we get past the one in front, or two in front, I think that we’ll finish above the others chasing us, so I don’t bother about that.

“We’ve got Wolves to play, Nottingham Forest to play. We’ve got to just take care of the ones in front of us and if we catch them, the ones behind us I’m not really worried about.”

Photo: Action Images

whittonite added 07:00 - Mar 20 ah, i take it after that statement we wont be playing that that damned rigid 442,formation and putting 3 up front,hurrah!
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lfitchio added 07:00 - Mar 20 Big ask! Will be massive ask with all our current injuries and lack of creativity. Watford such a small pitch, think be worth having players with pace on wings.
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eastwell_blue added 07:18 - Mar 20 If we win all our remaining fixtures we should have an excellent chance of catching the others, especially if they lose all theirs. Will be a big ask but we've got Watford next then Bournemouth so you never know do you? Why bother with the crystal ball? At least you always knew where you were with the 'take one game at a time' approach.
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commuterblue added 07:21 - Mar 20 Win the next two and who knows, maybe someone posting on here in support of MM won't have their comment removed for blasphemy! Shame on on you "Big"gaz67. No, I know that wasn't your point Big guy, and clearly you take your Christianity very seriously. You felt it importnat to post on this website that "it was important to point out that a charity that raised £700 was a Christian charity". Um ok. But the thing is why don't you just block me? It's easily done. And plenty of others didn't find my comment that offensive. Last time I checked five time more people uprated that comment than downrated it. Admittedly it was only 5 to 1, but I can't check again seeing as you had it removed. I guess I should thank you really, I was so annoyed at people sniping at the manager that my point wasn't very well made. But rather than see my rant, theipswichman and muccletonjoe make my point much better for me. So, I forgive you. And what could be more Christian than that.

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bluemikey100 added 08:00 - Mar 20 without the injuries id fancy our chances beatin them think we badly missing luke hyam and mc goldrick
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hazelton added 08:27 - Mar 20 “It won't matter if we finish ninth or 10th. If three of them overtake us it doesn't really matter." Who are these supposed ITFC supporters who keep spreading this negativity?
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TR11BLU added 08:37 - Mar 20 Having run the predictor several times I dont think we will make the top 6. Mick keeps talking about four more wins and 76 pts but Brentfoird would need to capitulate for us to catch them and they have a soft run in. Realistically we will be 4 pts behind them on Sat night and they will likely have turned around the goal difference. The next game we play Bournemouth and they go to Fulham so unlikely we will better that result. Four points and goals behind with 6 games to go....? I hope im way off here but its a big ask and that Murphy miss v Brentford could be the difference between an extra 2 games this season. Pity because a play off two legs v Boro or Derby and I would fancy us. The final is a 50/50 game. Come on Town prove me wrong!!!

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Jimmy86 added 08:37 - Mar 20 Would be a great result if we win tommorow, but I wouldn't bet on it. I would take a draw if it was offered to me now, would much rather beat Bournemouth at home!!! They'll have to be aware of Watford's gamesmanship and cheating, forestieri in particular. He should have been banned for his part in the Sako incident. Plus I hope they absolutely clean that elkstrand out for what he did to jonniesta, still can't believe he didn't get a red and to see his team mates congratulating him was even more cowardly and to think they called us a big physical team!! Yea right

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Bluebell added 08:40 - Mar 20 I agree, we do miss Didzy and Luke Hyam. Mick says they should be back after the International break. There are 8 more games which is a possible 24 points so any of the top 9 teams could change places dramatically. Hopefully we are over our 'bad period' and will get back to winning ways starting tomorrow!
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SheptonMalletBlue added 08:51 - Mar 20 I'm afraid that this is going to be another Boro away......or worse!! If MM continues to play a disjointed back four, Troy Deeney & co will have a field day. I reckon our season will be over come 5pm Saturday.
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Sindre94 added 09:17 - Mar 20 Happy with a draw here. But nothing better than winning away from home. On my way to London now for tomorrows game, buzzing!!! COYB
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 09:28 - Mar 20 I've just heard on the BBC that "belief builds champions." Mick the Motivator is doing his job, as he should, by giving the team something to aim for. I'm afraid I'm not that much of a believer and if you offered me two points from the next two games, I think I'd take them. I actually think we we'll do well to get one (Bigmouth at home - maybe). Meeting Wolves and Forest doesn't fill me with much onfidence either. Hope for a good turnout at Watford, and whatever happens, I plan to be over for the Blackpool and Cardiff games (with 51 Swedes). If we still have something to play for by then, I'll be more than happy. Still in this "bonkers" league we'll probably beat Watford and then struggle against Blackpool at home. Whatever. COYB!

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 09:30 - Mar 20 *confidence and remove "we"! Enjoy the eclipse - it's too cloudy here in Sweden to notice any difference.
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warwickblue added 09:51 - Mar 20 Steve - it's too cloudy in Ipswich to notice any difference either!
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jas0999 added 10:09 - Mar 20 I would have more confidence is we had a bigger squad and better options to choose from. As it is, we have injuries and sadly the team picks itself, with little in way of a Plan B. Watford and Bournemouth on the other hand invested wisely and have goal scoring options all over the pitch, including the bench. Tough ask, but considering where we were at Christmas I expect us to be more than a match for both and expectation is a play off place as an absolute minimum.

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Razor added 10:11 - Mar 20 It would help if we played some players with a little creativity and went to actually WIN the game and not try and scratch out a draw----I know what I am expecting and fearing!! Sindre---be great to see you again----will be in Bree Louise at Euston at about 11 so please come and join us for stiffener!!
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Kesgraveblue57 added 10:13 - Mar 20 As they say take one game at a time beat Watford sorry I don't think so, this could well be more than embarrassing but never mind we are still in this league for another season
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muccletonjoe added 10:14 - Mar 20 I think we miss hyam at his best big time. Mcgoldrick I am wondering about his state of mind, if it is no better, then I think we are far better off with sears. Tomorrow the longer it stays 0 - 0 the more confident we will get and a few doubts might sneak into their minds.
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MVBlue added 10:15 - Mar 20 Sing you hearts out, we need a miracle.
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brittaniaman added 10:17 - Mar 20 We have got Watford away ! Brentford have got Millwall at home !! I just hope that there will be some surprises to come tomorrow ???????????
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hazelton added 10:34 - Mar 20 Unfortunately we'll always come off worse against high scoring sides. Our only hope is to stifle games and nick the odd goal from Murphy. We don't score enough to go up, but good luck to Murphy cos he's the only player keeping us in with a shout. COYB
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Pilgrimblue added 11:10 - Mar 20 It's a hard game to suddenly start getting back to pre-January form but Watford's confidence could be their undoing if we stifle their attack. However unless its a most unlikely 0-0 we have to score so hope MM picks team to score or gets players to take a chance.
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ArnieM added 11:22 - Mar 20 We couldn't beat the much inferior team to Watford, in Scum, so unlikely to bezt the Hornets. Nice thought though Mick!
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finidi added 11:33 - Mar 20 Feel we will go 4-4-2 again and try and nick a point!!! need to attack watford not sit back and try for 0-0 I fear another drubbing prove me wrong Town. Been to Watford a few times but sadly cannot make tomorrow, what a s*** ground.
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Lolocaust6 added 12:18 - Mar 20 Stating the obvious there, was old Mick. Two wins out of the next 2 is very hopeful, 1 out of two would be a great achievement. With our current form considered and the squad available, I'd be very happy with 2 points out of 6.
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