Experienced Town midfielder Lee Bowyer is ignoring the fact that big-spending Leicester remain among the bookies’ promotion favourites as he prepares to face them on Boxing Day.
The former England international, one of several senior summer recruits by manager Paul Jewell, showed himself to be no respecter of reputations as he looked ahead to the clash at the King Power Stadium against Nigel Pearson’s men.
Bowyer, whose 35th birthday is just around the corner on January 3, said: "West Ham were the same when we went there and beat them and it has been the same with some of the other teams we have played.
"Cardiff was a tough place to go and we should have won there rather than having to settle for a draw. It was the same at Middlesbrough, where we should also have won rather than drawn. Leicester are not unbeatable.
"They have got to come out and play against us. They have to attack us and it could work in our favour. With the players and the goals we have in the team at the moment, and as long as we stay strong, we should be able to counter-attack them and nick something on the break.”
Bowyer would clearly like top scorer Keith Andrews to remain at Portman Road after his loan spell from Blackburn is over, adding: "He’s doing well. To score nine goals before Christmas, no matter what league you are playing in, is extremely good for a midfielder and I just hope we can keep hold of him.
"As a player alongside him I’m enjoying it and hopefully he’s the same. You never know how things can work out. It’s down to the money men, the people in charge upstairs, and I just hope they can persuade him to stay. But with what he has contributed here there will be other clubs after him.”
Bowyer’s career at Charlton, Leeds, West Ham (twice), Newcastle, Birmingham and now Ipswich has spanned almost 600 games and he’s not averse to passing on some useful tips to the younger players around him.
He said: "It can help if a senior player says something to a younger player. Maybe the younger lad will think ‘You’ve been there and done it so I’ll listen to you’. If the manager was to say it they could take it personally and go the other way.
"It’s all about confidence. If you keep losing games you lose confidence. That’s when you have to stick together and keep working as a team. You can’t afford to carry individuals.