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Parr: We Believe We Can Beat Anyone - Ipswich Town News

He has been there and done it before but that has merely strengthened Jonny Parr’s resolve to do it all over again and win promotion back to the Premier League with Ipswich.

Indeed, the Norwegian international defender summed up the level of confidence in the Town camp right now by admitting: "We believe we are capable of taking on and beating anyone.

"That could be a good thing or a bad thing if we don’t keep working hard and do the things that have made us win all these games and pick up all these points up until now.

"We have to have confidence in what we do but the main thing is the hard work and making sure we stick together. If we can do that during the remainder of the season it is going to help us a lot during any tougher times that might lie ahead.”

Full-back Parr was in the Crystal Palace squad that qualified for the play-offs two seasons ago but an injury, coincidentally sustained in a 3-0 defeat at Portman Road towards the end of the campaign, meant he was absent as the Eagles triumphed against Watford in the Wembley final.

He said: "I can see some similarities between the two squads. We had a really good team spirit at Palace as well and coming up to Christmas that season we had a good unbeaten run that included a lot of wins. We actually struggled a lot more in the second half of the season.

"But I think we have more momentum here and a stronger squad than we had at Palace. I hope we can keep our current run going and continue to pick up points.

"It’s a long season and there are a lot of games left to play but if we keep playing as we have been doing I think we have a very good chance.

"Two years ago when I was at Palace our form dipped after Christmas and we were struggling over a longer period. It’s difficult to say exactly what caused that but we got there in the end through the play-offs.

"That is a difficult way to win promotion but it is probably the best way to go up as well — if you manage it.

"We are definitely aiming for the top two spots and we have put ourselves in a great position. We’re halfway through the season and we’re up there where we want to be. It’s up to us to keep it going and keep picking up points.”

Parr does not believe Town will cash in on their most valuable assets in the January transfer window, adding: "We are in a great position to get promoted and we would like to keep all our best players. Hopefully we will do that and the competition for places will continue.

"We might even get some new players in but you never know what is going to happen. If players are going out or coming in it’s up to the manager and the chairman. As players we just want to have as good a team as possible and keep on pushing for promotion.”

Parr revealed he has spoken to his former Palace team-mate Jonny Williams, who was such a successful addition to the squad last season and again in the current campaign until an injury suffered in last month’s 1-0 home win over Watford saw him return to Selhurst Park for several weeks of rehabilitation. His spell with Town officially comes to an end this week.

"Jonny is back in training but I’m not sure what is going to happen to him,” Parr said. "Everyone knows how good a player he is and I’m sure we would like to have him back on loan again if that’s what he wants to do for the last part of the season.

"But that’s up to the manager and him to sort out. I’m not sure what he has been told at Palace because they are getting a new manager and while he is there he will obviously be trying to get into their team. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

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