Michael Chopra refuses to rule out a play-off finish to the season for Ipswich, even if the odds appear to be against them.
The club’s top scorer, on 14 at the moment but anxious to reach his 20-goal target over the remaining nine games, believes Town can continue their impressive form and results to qualify for the play-offs.
That looked to be impossible earlier in the campaign when Paul Jewell’s men hit a form slump that saw them lose seven games on the trot but a sequence of just one defeat in their last 10, reaping 23 points from a possible 30, has suddenly made the end-of-season knockout phase appear within range.
Chopra, 28, said: "The mood could hardly be more positive right now. It is a great place to be and everybody is enjoying their football. It is all about confidence and we’re on a high at the moment.
"Of course it’s a huge challenge for us to make the play-offs. We are still nine points adrift and that’s a fair gap to make up over nine games. But it can be done — it’s not impossible — and we will be trying our hardest to make it happen. We’re on a surge and we just have to keep it going.”
Town will be forced into at least one change after midfielder Grant Leadbitter was sent off for a second bookable offence in stoppage time during Wednesday’s 1-0 home win over Burnley and must serve a one-game ban. Chopra said: "Grant’s second yellow was for kicking the ball away. He said he was passing the ball back to the keeper but somehow it hit the corner flag!” Photos: Action ImagesWhat to read next:
Manager Kieran McKenna felt today’s 3-0 victory away against French Ligue 1 side Auxerre was a tough game and an increase in challenge in the final fixture of pre-season and has been pleased with the way preparations for the campaign ahead have gone over the last few weeks.
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Town goalkeeper Alex Palmer has reflected on a successful pre-season campaign following the Blues’ 3-0 friendly victory over AJ Auxerre at the Stade Abbé-Deschamps.
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Town boss Kieran McKenna says Brentford target Omari Hutchinson “didn’t feel mentally in the right place” to travel with the squad for this evening’s friendly against Auxerre in France.
Goals from George Hirst, Jacob Greaves and Ali Al-Hamadi saw Town to a 3-0 victory over French Ligue 1 side Auxerre in their final pre-season friendly at the Stade de l’Abbé-Deschamps. Hirst put the Blues in front on 38 and Greaves added the second with a header from a free-kick in first-half injury time, before Al-Hamadi added the third with five minutes remaining of the match.
Goals from George Hirst and Jacob Greaves have given Town a 2-0 half-time lead against French Ligue 1 side Auxerre in their final pre-season friendly at the Stade de l’Abbé-Deschamps.
Omari Hutchinson and Leif Davis are absent from the Blues squad facing AJ Auxerre in their final pre-season friendly this evening (KO 6pm local time, 5pm BST).
Blues target Hayden Hackney is reported to have turned down the chance to join Town from Middlesbrough.