Striker Luke Varney admits reaching the play-offs for a second successive season is now going to be a tough ask for the Blues, but says he and the rest of the squad will continue to push for every point between now and May 7th.

Following Saturday’s 3-1 home defeat to Brentford, eighth-placed Town are now eight points plus goal difference behind Sheffield Wednesday - who they travel to face next weekend - in the final play-off place.

“We should be realistic now and realise it’s going to be a tough ask but we’re going to take each game as it comes,” Varney said.

“It’s another big game away at Sheffield Wednesday next week and they are in the running for it. If we can affect it in any way we’ll do it for ourselves and not for the other teams.

“We started the season aiming to go better than we did last year and it will be a disappointing end if we miss out, but we’re going to try our hardest.

“We get every single ounce out of our lads, we put 100 per cent in every single game and there are no fingers pointed.

“We’ll keep going and will do our best to get as many points as we can between now and the end of the season.

“[Sheffield Wednesday] had a difficult result as well [on Saturday, losing 4-1 at Bristol City], so it would be good to go there, play away from home and put a performance in and see what happens.”

Town have now won just once in seven matches and are without a victory at Portman Road in their last three games.

“It’s a tough run but it’s well documented we have a good unit in there, we try our best every game,” Varney added.

“It’s tough at home at the moment I feel, the support are trying to get behind us and we’re probably not giving them enough back.

“We’re trying our best and we’ll keep on doing our best between now and the end of the season to keep things alive.”

Reflecting on the main talking point from the Bees match, Luke Hyam’s challenge on Alan Judge, which saw the Republic of Ireland international suffer a broken leg, Varney said: “There was no malice in it at all, we all know Hymsy, he gets stuck in and we’d never stop him doing that.

“It’s unfortunate for Judgey because he’s a great player and he’ll come back better. After that the game was tough to get into, there were a few tackles and it was a bit nervy, so we’re disappointed.

“It’s another home defeat, we’re just pleased we stuck together, there’s no finger pointing and we’ll move on.

“If I thought there was any malice in it I’d know. I’ve had a couple of those [tackles] off him in training in the last week, he’s that sort of player.

“It’s always disappointing when someone’s on the receiving end and there’s a serious injury, but he’ll get best treatment.

“I’ve had serious injuries myself so I know he’ll be back better than ever. All the best to him.

“Hymsy will be fine, we’ll put an arm round him, I know he’ll miss a game now but he’ll be back and ready to go again.”

Varney, 33, who re-signed for the Blues on a contract to the summer in December having recovered from the achilles injury he suffered in the play-offs last season while on loan at Portman Road, was making his second league start of the campaign on Saturday, in addition to 15 Championship sub appearances and two further starts in the FA Cup.

“I’ve come on a couple of times now and I’ve enjoyed my run-outs, so I’m delighted to get the start,” the Leicester-born frontman continued.

“Whatever minutes I get between now and the end of the season I’ll be happy with and I will put my shift in for the lads.

“I’m concentrating on whatever minutes I get, I’m just pleased to be here and back fit. Whatever happens, if I’m here, I’ll be happy with.”

Sam Saunders, scorer of Brentford’s first goal, said he and his team-mates are all gutted for Judge, who will now miss out on a place in the Ireland squad at the Euros.

“We are all devastated for him,” he said. “He has been our best player by a mile this season.

“He has won games on his own so for him to get injured, and to hear it, was a real big blow.

“That goal and that win was for him. It may not mean that much to him right now given where he is but that was for him.

“No one deserves what had happened to him with the way he has played this year and with the Euros coming up. The goal celebration was for Alan too because it’s what he used to do.

“Football is such a cruel game. He has been right up there and he has been offered deals elsewhere yet he has stayed loyal to Brentford.

“He deserves to be looked after by the club and I’m sure they will do that. They have with others in the past.”

The 32-year-old former Dagenham and Redbridge man added: “The lad [Hyam] has come in after being out for a while so he is clearly trying to make an impression but he has gone too far. He knew it too and he has done him [Judge].

“You could see it bothered him afterwards and he ended up getting sent off because his head was gone.

“It was a firm tackle, but too firm. Alan didn’t even see him coming and we heard the crack.

“I wasn’t surprised he got a red card. The lads were angered by what he did so we weren’t going to give him a second on the ball.

“It has been a fantastic week for us as a club with three wins in a week and three goals in each game.

“It has been a fantastic week performance and results-wise but now clouded by what has happened to Alan.

“We are still looking for a top 10 finish and I’m sure Alan will also come back stronger.”

Meanwhile, Town’s U21s are in action against Sheffield Wednesday at Portman Road this evening (KO 7pm).

Photo: Action Images

Penguinblue added 06:36 - Apr 11 Even tougher as Varney is incapable of scoring. Don't try and justify the bad tackle, it only makes the club look worse. Hurry up and do the decent thing McCarthy. Resign and take your hoofball and favourites with you. McCARTHY OUT
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jas0999 added 06:46 - Apr 11 I'm afraid although Varney is a hard worker and extremely likeable, he's just not good enough if we have any intention of challenging for promotion next season. He is striker but doesn't score goals. I'm pleased he recovered from a bad injury and quite right he was offered a deal. But will be time for him and several others to leave in the summer.
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bluehook added 07:16 - Apr 11 What a totally pointless load of guff.
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Bluebell added 07:23 - Apr 11 He says he and the team will push for every point until May 7th. Perhaps they should have pushed for every point in every game. Just a thought! No way will we make play offs now especially as are relying on others teams above us to lose a lot of games.
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Ipswichtown4life added 07:39 - Apr 11 As much as i like varney, he just not the type of player to push us forward.. Maybe a 3rd choice RM maybe... well he seems happy to get whatever he can but we need some real quality if we wanna do one better than this poor season.. i just dont get how Mick taught maitland niles wud be better choice than anderson, some of his decision are just ludacris, But im loyal kind of guy nd back him to the end.. I think next year will be our year.. just have that feeling that now we grief but next year is praise nd I think Mick is the man to do it.. love to hear some responces :-D ITFC MICK STAYS

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Jimmy86 added 07:45 - Apr 11 Saunders me old mate, football is a contact sport, injuries are a sad reality of that. We are all gutted for Judge, more so because he is going to miss the Euros. For you to suggest Hyam set out to "do" him is unprofessional. It was a committed, full blooded tackle, which got the ball. No mention of your ginger wannabe hard man in midfield, he went out to get Hyam studs up on his knee, which was worse and with malice. Hyam's wasn't...

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grumpyoldman added 07:58 - Apr 11 Ipswichtown4life what evidence have you that next season will be any different under MM, has he changed in any way since he arrived, has his tactics been modified. Loyalty is one thing, blind faith is another thing. Continuing to do the same thing hoping for a different result is not the way forward
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Dissboyitfc added 08:06 - Apr 11 Well said Jimmy86, woods attempt to take out Hyam was a bad challenge full of malice!
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BrettenhamBlue added 08:10 - Apr 11 Coke, Digby, Douglas, Varney seem to be the future direction of the club. Pretty sure all 3 will be here for many years to come. Glen Southam is available for free in the Summer.
0

Cambonbleu added 08:13 - Apr 11 "Playoffs now a tough ask" In other breaking news, Hitler was not a very nice man and tomorrow shall be known as Tuesday
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BrettenhamBlue added 08:21 - Apr 11 We need to beat Sheff Wed by a bunch of goals to make up for goal difference. Sheff Wed 0-7 Ipswich
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Kirbmeister added 08:24 - Apr 11 Would have been better of declining the interview. As for Hyam he's all huff and puff and thinks trying to be hard will suffice. Never gets his head up when he has the ball to look for a pass. Hopefully will be off in the summer with Varney and several others. ME may make funds available, who knows. If he doesn't we have one heck of a hard season ahead. Even if we do get funds though which quality players are we likely to attract with all the money that's about, and the much bigger clubs that us in this league?

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Mark added 08:25 - Apr 11 Never mind play-offs, will we win a game before the end of the season?! Fulham and MK Dons at home are the kind of games we have been failing to win, and Sheff Wed, Middlesbrough and Derby away are very tough fixtures. Roll on a summer rebuild (of the midfield hopefully!).
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footyblue added 08:26 - Apr 11 we need to play football simple as
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TimmyH added 08:29 - Apr 11 Sadly we never seem to put a run together when we really need it i.e. 2nd half of the season which hasn't changed my mind that as a team we're not strong enough mentally - this season that and not good enough on the pitch either! Things have to change.
3

righty added 08:43 - Apr 11 Kick Hyam out of ITFC and take that idiot McCarthy with you your both a disgrace McCarthy OUT
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Jimmy86 added 08:47 - Apr 11 Right the ball was there to be won and Hyam won it.... Hyam has his limitations, but 1 of his strengths is he is a committed player. The 1 thing as fans we want to see on the pitch is commitment. Hyam isn't the best technical player in the world, he is bang average in fact, but I think you're overreacting
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BlueKush added 09:06 - Apr 11 Now?
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brittaniaman added 09:16 - Apr 11 The trouble is MM. thinks all these player are Good especially midfield and he will not have a word said against them !!!! he would have a fit if he read TWTD. I think he should come to the upper Co-op stand and watch the game from here ??? (it looks like that there will be several empty seats next season) anyway it might give him a better idea how the game pans out, instead of looking through players legs all the time ??? Even the seagulls were having a feed on the pitch while the ball was played in our half of the pitch,, Thought MM. had got them down from the roof as extra Wingers !!!

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karls_dad added 09:33 - Apr 11 As he ever watched Mission Impossible? Just about as believable !
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prebsa added 09:37 - Apr 11 You have only just realised that? We all realised it about 5/6 games ago! Sounds like Mick has written this out for you to say! Remember that story 6 points from the next two home games? Well we got 1 of those 6 so good job everyone!
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groovyASH added 09:42 - Apr 11 Yeah no sh*t Sherlock! Too many players have come out chatting and bigging up the idea of the POs instead of actually putting the performances in to get us there! Would do well to stop in the top 8 with our current form and run in
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PortmanTerrorist added 09:50 - Apr 11 Like Reg a lot. But if every player is giving every ounce and the performances are so poor despite results being average, then surely that just means our squad is simply not good enough. Either that or there are issues with how we are set up. Either way screams that changes are made with players and/or management. That is not a slight against either just the only rational view of a supporter who would like to see us promoted. The only assumption in this is that ME/MM want promotion....could it really be they are happy with upper/mid Championship ? I can't allow myself to believe that, but I am at the point of seeking clarification and transparency, as I believe that is a strategy that ends in disaster. Come on ME/MM tells us what your goals are and how we going to achieve them. Don't hold your breath anyone as season ticket sales will slump even further then next season if we have supporters dying from lack of oxygen!

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GiveusaWave added 09:53 - Apr 11 Understandably, Varney is trying to keep the team spirits up. The next game is a huge game for Wednesday and the pressure might well get to them. If we can get the 3 points we are still in it. If we lose then it's all over. With Smith back in the back 4 and Foley pushed to midfield we can make a good game of it. Skuse is one of the best defensive midfielders in this division and we have a team that can ask them questions. What we don't want to do is just roll over and give Sheffield Wednesday the 3 points. As for Varney leaving I doubt it. He'll be on a reasonable salary, is loyal to MM and will be eager to renew. We need players like him in the squad. I can see Smith, Tabb, McDonnell, Murphy, Mcgoldrick and even Bialkowski (for a fair fee) leaving in the Summer. I have no idea about Foley. But Varney, Toure, Gerken, Coke, Douglas and co are all going to stay. Digby is clearly here next year and he may turn out to be a great signing. Hopefully Sears will stay though we all know deep down that we are a selling club and have needed 2 huge transfers (cresswell and Mings) in the last two years to keep going. I am sure MM is already looking carefully to see whether or not we can pick up any players from relegated clubs in the Championship/league 1-2 who might be able to do an honest shift for a reasonable wage.

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BrettenhamBlue added 10:09 - Apr 11 Groovyash Top 8? predict 10th. Prebsa In total agreement. The season was over a long time ago. PortmanTerrorist We do need to hear much more from the club, some transparency right now will settle the fans. What are our aims? Why do we spend no money? Why do we shop at poundland and wonder why the product isn't up to scratch after? Guentchev Starting to wonder if you work for the club. Cambonbleu Lol

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