Freddie Sears has ended a nightmare run of 38 games without a goal but admits there could be a dearth of scoring chances when Town take on Championship leaders Newcastle at St James’ Park tomorrow.
Sears, 26, said: "Going to Newcastle is as tough as they come but we have to go there believing we are capable of causing an upset.
"People outside Ipswich are probably thinking it will be an easy three points for Newcastle but we’ve been solid lately and not conceded too many goals. Hopefully we can nick something.”
Tuesday’s 2-0 home win over Burton Albion extended Town’s impressive defensive record — five clean sheets in seven and seven in 11 since the goalless draw at Wolves in mid-August — and Sears added: "The back five have been brilliant and the 0-0 games have been down to us not creating and taking chances. You can’t knock the defence this season.
"We’ve been doing a lot of work in the last couple of weeks on crossing and finishing, being more clinical in the final third.
"We hadn’t scored in five games before the other night and we had probably been rushing things or taking that extra touch.
"It was nice when Chambo got the first goal on Tuesday because it brought a bit more confidence into our game.
"There’s no question it’s a big game. Newcastle are a Premier League team in a Premier League stadium and it’s a great place to go and play.
"I’ve been twice before and it’s a great place to test yourself. They are where they deserve to be because they are probably the best team in the league.”
Town won't come up against former favourite Daryl Murphy, who departed for Tyneside at the end of the transfer window the striker having been ruled out of the game with a calf strain that has seen him fail to add to his one appearance for the Geordies that came in last month’s EFL Cup victory over Wolves.
Sears said: "Daryl’s been a big loss. We all know how good a player he is, what he can do and what he brings to the team.
"The move came out of nowhere in the last two days of the transfer window so it left us a big short. But I think Besty [Leon Best] has come in and done well.
"He’s not totally match fit yet and he’s not a Daryl Murphy but he does bring something different to the team.
"He’s improving all the time. When you see him in training you realise he’s definitely got something, an unpredictable edge, and he’s good to play alongside.
"You can link up with him well. He just needs a few more match minutes and more time on the training ground and then you’ll see the real Leon Best.”
Meanwhile, Best himself is looking forward to returning to the club where he played between February 2010 and July 2012.
"It’s the first time I’ll be back there, so I’m definitely looking forward to it and hopefully we can get a win,” he told the club site.
"The crowd there’s massive and they’ve been on a good run, but the boys seem really up for it and we’ve scored goals and kept another clean sheet, so we’ll be going up there confident.”