Skipper Luke Chambers is convinced Town are back into their stride and firmly believes the only way is up.

They head for Charlton tomorrow looking to extend their unbeaten league run to six games and continue their climb up the Championship table.

Town would gladly settle for a repeat of the last-gasp win secured at The Valley a year ago when substitute Noel Hunt, making his debut for the club, bagged all three points with the only goal of the game deep into stoppage time.

Chambers said: “We beat Charlton twice last season and they were both tough games. I think they will have what happened at their place in the back of their mind but they’ve had quite a lot of turnover in players since then so I’m not too sure how many are still at the club.

“I haven’t taken much notice of the league and where teams are. I haven’t even seen any results from last weekend — in fact I’ve been trying to stay away from that.

“We’ll be fully prepared for their team and what their strengths are, and the gaffer will have us ready for going down there.

“They will definitely have something in the back of their mind, maybe that they were hard done by in the last minute of the game a year ago.

"Personally, I think it was a good performance by us on the day and Noel came in and did the job for us.”

Asked to assess the current play-off picture, Chambers added: “It’s all about consistency and the difference this season is that the teams at the top, maybe bar Brighton who are a bit of a surprise package, are the ones you would expect to be up there. They are doing the business but quite a few teams have had sticky patches.

“We’ve had ours and I think we’re over that now — we’re only going to go one way and that’s up.

“Derby had a tough start with a lot of draws and now they are flying. When Burnley came down here we beat them but they signed Andre Gray and things have turned around for them.

“We need to be consistent, the way we have played in the last few weeks, but stop conceding goals. I’ve got no doubts that we’ll eventually be where we want to be.”

Chambers is even prepared to admit that he and his colleagues were perhaps guilty of easing up during a dip in form that saw Town go seven games without a win in September and October, having taken 10 points from their first four fixtures.

He said: “With the start to the season we had everyone had massive expectations and we were on the crest of a wave a little bit.

“We had a sticky patch but we definitely feel we’re out the other side now and we feel like we’re playing some of the best stuff that I’ve seen in a long time.

“I think we were well in control against Wolves on Saturday and just a couple of slips cost us the three points.

“We feel like we’re on a good run and we’re playing well. I feel I am getting the ball more in the opposition half, as opposed to in our own half. I’m trying to do what I can for the team attacking-wise and I’m enjoying that responsibility at the minute.

“We’ve got a lot of players — Jonny Douglas in particular — who are getting forward a lot more. Jonny has been given licence to do that and he’s been rewarded with two goals in our last two games.

“I don’t think we ever tried to change the style — we just had to get back to what we do best and what the gaffer wants us to do.

“Maybe we got a little bit carried away — it’s hard to say really — with the start we had. Possibly, subconsciously, we took our foot off the gas and expected to be flying up the league the whole season.

“We should know well enough that just doesn’t happen, especially in this division where anyone can beat anyone, as we see all the time.

"The results are based on every single performance over 90 minutes and we definitely feel that since just before the Nottingham Forest game we’ve been right back at it.”

Photo: Action Images

rinkydinkpanther added 09:18 - Nov 27 Back in our stride. Of conceding goals.
4

battyblue added 09:58 - Nov 27 What stride? did not see much evidence of it from you Cambo but then that could mean a lot.
3

MattinLondon added 10:34 - Nov 27 “I don't think we ever tried to change the style — we just had to get back to what we do best and what the gaffer wants us to do. Hoof upfield, Murphy flick on, out for a goal kick, repeat-to-fade.
5

TR11BLU added 11:08 - Nov 27 'Hoof upfield, Murphy flick on, out for a goal kick, repeat-to-fade' Brilliant!
4

prebbs007 added 16:12 - Nov 27 Never got out of our stride of conceding stupidly easy goals u plonker. You're one of the culprits. Our defence is abysmal. You are the worst full back in the league (not your fault you're being played out of position) and you have a muppet of a keeper behind you will glue on his backside meaning he can't leave his line. Smith also out of position with no right foot and costing us a goal a game yet me stubborn still picks the same underperforming back 5. Joke !!!

-1

prebbs007 added 17:31 - Nov 27 Mr stubborn
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls