Skipper Carlos Edwards is refusing to concede defeat in his bid to lead Ipswich into the play-offs.
He admits Saturday’s loss at Watford, only their second in 11 games, could prove costly but remains upbeat about their chances of a top-six finish.
Edwards, 33, said: "We are obviously thinking positively and while it is a setback — a kick in the face really — after the run we have been on I don’t think it is the end of the road.
"We still have a lot to play for and as everyone knows anything can happen in football. As long as we don’t get too carried away with looking at the play-offs, and not concentrating on getting the points, we can still do it.
"It is in the back of our minds but we just want to go out there, week in and week out, trying to gain the three points in any way possible.”
Edwards recalled the 2-1 defeat at Vicarage Road, when the Hornets trailed at the interval to Jay Emmanuel-Thomas’s goal, and added: "We are not making excuses.
"The pitch wasn’t the best but both teams had to play on it and they did a better job. Our mistakes cost us. It has been one of those seasons when the mistakes — silly mistakes — we have made have been costing us.
"But it isn’t going to help looking back. It is what it is. We just have to concentrate on the eight games we have left and try to win as many as possible.”
However, Edwards did own up to his role in Town’s downfall at the weekend, coming up short with his attempted back-pass that enabled Troy Deeney to clinch victory for the home side with just seven minutes left.
An Ipswich victory, which seemed on the cards at the break after an impressive first-half show from Paul Jewell’s men, would have put them within six points of the play-offs and with two home games against Middlesbrough and Barnsley to come this week.
Edwards confessed: "I do have my ups and downs and on Saturday I had one of those moments. We all make mistakes but I did apologise to the lads.”
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