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Ando: There's a Great Togetherness in the Squad - Ipswich Town News

The unity at Town is what keeps players content even if they are not featuring as regularly as they would like, winger Paul Anderson believes.

He said: "If you are not in the team for two or three games you get a little bit frustrated. On a personal note, it was tough for me because I was involved in the first few games, bar the Fulham game, and they were the toughest games we have had this season.

"Results weren’t quite going our way, although performances were pretty solid, so it was disappointing for me to be left out of the team.

"But we’ve been doing so well and anyone who has come in has been unbelievable for the team, so you sort of have to be a little bit patient.

"We haven’t lost many games so if it means having to come off the bench and perform I’m happy to be a part of the squad. But I’ve had four starts in a row and it’s nice to be a part of the team and be able to give what I can give.

"All the talk about the togetherness started last season and the manager has been amazing at getting the players, the current group, together. Everyone is top drawer, confident and positive going into every single game. It’s the same whoever is in the squad and whoever plays.

"There’s a great togetherness even if there are some disappointed faces around the place. There isn’t a single player within the squad who is bringing anyone down. Everyone is very positive and glad to be a part of the squad.”

Anderson talked of how things have changed since the first few weeks of the season when Town managed just one win from their opening five league games and were also knocked out of the Capital One Cup at League One outfit Crawley.

That period included an East Anglian derby defeat and Anderson recalled: "The Norwich game wasn’t great and we gave away a silly goal, when a couple of individual mistakes cost us, that decided it.

"In the first five games that’s what happened — we let in sloppy goals — but after the first international break we cut those out and since then we’ve gone on a great run. All the lads are working very hard in training and that’s where the togetherness of the squad really comes in.

"We have team talks and if you see the huddle before games everyone is up for it. There’s not a single player with a single negative thought going into a game and it’s a great feeling to be in and around a squad that has such togetherness with everyone going in the right direction together.

"In every team you have your vocal players and bigger characters and we have a few. The slightly quieter lads — I’m not really a talker and prefer to show what I’m about with my football — all work hard and do what is asked of us.

"The others lead it a little bit but we’re all in it together. If I’ve got to speak up and say something I’ll do it. No one is scared to voice an opinion and it’s a really good group to be a part of.”

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