Tommy Smith hopes the clean sheet that helped Town to a welcome win over Bolton in midweek will be the first of many in their remaining eight games.

It was Town’s first in 10 games as they also won for the first time in five to ensure they go to Watford on Saturday with hopes still high of capturing a play-off place.

Smith, who will be 25 at the end of this month, said: “Obviously it was important to get back to winning ways and all the lads are pleased that we managed to do that. Hopefully that kick-starts a good run for us.

“It wasn’t a classic but we got the points and that’s what it’s all about now. It doesn’t matter how you get the points, as long as you get the points on the board. It’s likely that our chance of being promoted automatically has gone but you never know.

“The top teams have all got to play against each other so they can’t all win every game. We just have to keep picking up as many points as we can and see where that takes us.”

Town have won just five of their 14 league games since the turn of the year and New Zealand international Smith, who has enjoyed an uninterrupted 27-game run in the side, is hopeful of a more consistent finish to the campaign.

He added: “Every team has a poor run and unfortunately we went on a longer one than we would have perhaps liked. But I don’t think too many things changed.

"We just conceded sloppy goals and we didn’t finish the good chances, but hopefully we’ve turned a corner now and we can get back to winning ways and continue on a good run.

“The sort of run we have been on since Christmas can happen to any team throughout the course of the season. It’s just about eradicating those mistakes and cracking on. Keeping clean sheets is important and it was nice to get back to that on Tuesday night.

“We always work hard in training and we do our separate defensive stuff with the gaffer, as the strikers do with TC, so it’s been no different. It’s just been a case of it not working as well as it was earlier on in the season. But, like I say, hopefully we’ve turned the corner.

“We all do all our defensive stuff with the gaffer. He says that he wasn’t a footballer — he was a head it and kick it type — and that sometimes, when things aren’t going your way you have to get back to the basics and do that first and foremost. He passes on his words of wisdom and we all take it on board.”

Smith also laments the odd moment of ill-fortune during the recent dip in form.

“There has been a case of us not getting the rub of the green recently," he added.

"If you look back to the Middlesbrough game, Murph has a shot that deflects off Freddie and hits the post. If that goes in then the whole game is completely different.

“Some games turn on a little bit of luck or a decision. We didn’t have that in the few games before Bolton but then we got that on Tuesday night with Tabby not hitting his strike cleanly and it finding the corner.

“You look at the Brentford game and we should probably have won that. Even at Middlesbrough things could have been different. We haven’t been playing poorly — in fact we probably played better in those two games than we did against Bolton on Tuesday night.

“That happens in football. Sometimes you don’t deserve the win and you get the three points, then sometimes you play well and they manage to sneak the win. That’s just how it goes and we’ll keep chipping away at our points total.”

Photo: Action Images

Jimmy86 added 07:07 - Mar 20 Ah so Mick was a head it, kick it type defender and wasn't a footballer!! That would explain out slightly more direct style of play and why we don't get the ball down and try to play football. I noticed 2nd half against Bolton we were more measured in our play and tried to get the ball down and play, which was good to see
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JustSpivvyChops added 08:15 - Mar 20 Has he tried using Daz?
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MeenoITFC added 09:27 - Mar 20 What about 3 at the back 2 wing backs? Supports the midfield when pushing forward and defensive theres men behind the ball. Big game saturday!
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jas0999 added 10:13 - Mar 20 Smith was excellent first half of season. Sadly his form, along with other players, has dipped. Shame. However, let's hope here gains it and starts scoring a few from corners again. There is no excuse for booing him. Deserves better than that.
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carsey added 10:43 - Mar 20 I would never boo any Ipswich players but the collective efforts of the team have seriously tried my patience lately. Regarding clean sheets - I fear we have no chance while Tommy is in the team against the top sides unless as one of a 3 which isn't going to happen while MM is in charge. Tommy is vulnerable against quick strikers as at boro and the likes of Watford will be aware of this and will look to isolate him one on one. MM saying managers need to be single minded is correct to a point but I would suggest great leaders are clever enough to take advice from others and adapt to situations. MM is sadly not that clever.

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Seasider added 13:10 - Mar 20 "It doesn't matter how you get the points as long as you get them on board" Mc Carthy says he wasn't a foot baller he was a head it and kick it type,and when things are not going your way you have to do that first and foremost" "He passes on his words of wisdom and we all take it on board". Have not been doing well for nearly 3 months and recently believe were second worst team in Championship to Blackpool. I dont think the players are to blame it is the Manager; and the hoofball reading Tommys remarks are down to the Manager who seems to think that when things are not going well to resort to this type of play. It certainly isn't pretty but Mick doesn't give a toss about what the paying punters think;so perhaps this is why the attendances are several thousand lower than when we were flirting with the play offs in 2007/2008.under Jim Magilton ie on 15th March 2008 attendance 23539 (2-0 win over Charlton)

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cowboynickblue added 11:02 - Mar 21 Unfortunately with smith in the back four our chances of keeping clean sheets will be down to luck not our deference especially against Watford and Bournemouth the top scores in the championship but hey please prove me wrong. Please.
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