Ipswich central defender Damien Delaney admits that improved self-belief within the ranks is a major factor behind the team’s recent revival.

Saturday’s 1-0 home win made it eight games, including six wins, without defeat at Portman Road and a mere two losses in their last 13 outings.

Delaney, 30, said: “The mentality has changed. If we go a goal down now it isn’t a case of thinking the whole world is against us. Instead we have a genuine belief that we can still get something from the game, if not win it.

“In the past when we fell behind it seemed everybody was looking at each other, thinking ‘that’s the end of this one’ and writing it off. I think that’s a sign of the belief we have these days.

“Winning matches helps and the team’s been settled as well. If you look at the last 10 or so games it’s been largely the same team, barring one or two changes due to injuries.

“Earlier in the season there seemed to be an awful lot of changes all over the pitch — the goalkeeper and central defenders in particular - which made it difficult to develop a proper understanding.”

Town’s 1-0 home win over Barnsley at the weekend saw them climb to 14th place in the Championship and to within eight points of a top six place.

But Delaney is cagier than some of his team-mates about the prospects of edging their way into the play-offs, adding: “If we won six on the spin it’s possible but I’m not staying up late thinking about it to be honest with you.”

Meanwhile, striker Michael Chopra is facing court over an allegation that he ran a red light in Princes Street on September 28th last year having returned from Town’s 1-0 win at West Ham. The matter is due to go in front of Ipswich magistrates on April 18th.

In December Chopra was banned for 56 days for speeding at 106mph, while he picked up a further three points the following month for driving while using a mobile phone.

Photo: Action Images

Kesgraveblue57 added 09:16 - Apr 4 What I see it's still a mess at the back, if the pairing of Delaney and Smith is the future I'm a worried man.
0

cartman1972 added 09:22 - Apr 4 Rubbish Kesgrave they are much improved and all credit to them for the problems at the beginning , messrs smith has improved immensely . It was our ragged midfield that beset the problems early in the season as they didn't bother to come back and retrieve a lost ball.....confidence breeds confidence and that wins you games.
0

dirtyboy added 09:27 - Apr 4 Smith and Delaney seem to have clicked to be honest. Get a consistent keeper behind them, and they're not that bad.
0

MaySixth added 09:56 - Apr 4 Smith and Delaney are pretty good, very good at their absolute best, but they are not a centre back pairing that will win promotion from the Championship.
0

RetroBlue added 10:03 - Apr 4 If the Delaney: Smith partnership is considered the way forward for Town , then I despair.
0

Andy32Cracknell added 10:09 - Apr 4 I dont think there has ever been any doubt that both delaney and smith are good championship defenders. What i do believe is they have both have been the victim two very different circumstances. delaney the fact he had about 6 different partners in the first 10 games of this season which obviously doesnt help and will affect his confidence. Smith on the other hand was the victim of keane's back hand. He was prob our player of the season untill the christmas (in the season keane was in charge) then all of a sudden he was made a scapegoat for no apparent reason and was dropped. Then at the beginning of this season he was brought into a team which very low on confidence and he paid the price. I do believe they have both come out the other side and with a reliable number (maybe Richard Wright) they could be a good pairing for the future. However, an addition of a quality c/b in the summer is paramount for healthy competition within the team.

0

Daleyitfc added 11:28 - Apr 4 Chopra is an irresponsible git who should have his driving licence revoked with immediate effect.
0

walberswick added 11:28 - Apr 4 they'll have to do if we can't sign anyone.
0

dugoutdave added 11:39 - Apr 4 daley Cough
0

tractorboy2434 added 11:48 - Apr 4 We need another top quality CB and then par him with Smith, then slot Delaney in when either are injured or suspended, however if they don't hurry up and sort out a contract for Smith then he could get snapped up by someone else which would be utter folly when cash to buy replacements is tight.
0

irishtim added 12:01 - Apr 4 Both players have improved & deserve credit. We need to sign at least one centre half but hope damo & tommy will be with us next season.
0

hogster1970 added 12:19 - Apr 4 well both have been quiet good over recent weeks, smith is young and has quiet good feet for a defender but he needs a right footed cb who is a comander so he can lern his trade, delaney isnt the type of commander same as sonko all of them are ok alongside the likes of collins or a mowbay or butcher type of character to guide them, but the coment before about the midfield i think is correct they just didnt fight for all them balls enough which in turn puts the back four under constant pressure, thats what i liked about the center 3 of hyam drury and martin they all fought for every thing, getting the ball in tackles creating a bit of space and laying of some quality balls , leadbts never seem to do this and bower didnt, i think bullard had a rough ride to be fair because he was at the back of a diamond and just mopping up what he could and i think that frustrated him he should have been at the top with grant at the back, also think the lack of reserve games has killed us a bit, as players dont get quality games who are on the fringes of the team and its hard for them to get upto speed, also the bench dont help with just 5 players neither, as you cant blood some youngsters very easily now can you, mind you jewel dont help buy putting two center midfielders rather than just 1 and a player like carson who we all know can make a big impact with fresh young legs and could go any were in midfield to be honest and do a good job. but hey bring on next year and lets see what happens lol

0

Kuqi_is_god added 13:39 - Apr 4 i must admit, i always worry when i see delaney's at CB.. but hes proved me worng recently and i feel him and Smith are doing a great job at the back. Credit where credits due.
0

Southamptonblue added 13:50 - Apr 4 Delaney has always struck me as the sort of player who does well when the team does well and when playing alongside someone who he knows and trusts. Put good players around him and he becomes a good player. Put bad players around him and he loses the plot.
0

brian_a_mul added 14:08 - Apr 4 The majority of good teams have a solid and settled GK/central defense core. Its breeds confidence and trust within the team. player fitness in these key positions is very important. IMO Sonko is the best defender we have but injury/fitness is an issue and we can now see the benefits of Smith and Delaney starting to form a good partnership. PJ is right to stick with it. Unfortunately GK situation is an issue and I believe the recall of McCarthy has unsettled defensive core a little. Important we sort out GK. If ALB is not the long term answer than I hope PJ can get in a permanent GK at the required level. Must avoid loaning in GK's its not worth it long term!

0

Rossm added 14:11 - Apr 4 smith leads the two, which is a bit of a worry considering he is so much younger, but if they are doing the job... why not!
0

Keaneish added 15:16 - Apr 4 Get Pearce in alongside Tommy for next season. Delaney can warm the bench now he has an 'understanding' with Tommy.
0

DanLyles added 15:55 - Apr 4 I'm a massive fan of the current formation (4-2-3-1) but I wouldn't rule out a switch to wing backs (3-5-2) next season. I know this system is dated and nobody uses it now (apart from the scum recently ironically). But Cresswell and Edwards are both tailor made for this formation, while having 3 centre backs would make our defence less porous. Hyam could be the holding man, with Drury or Leadbitter in a slightly more advanced role. Then Lee Martin could play in the whole behind JET and Chopra. JET would be slightly deeper and given freedom to roam and come in from the flanks too. Definitely an option as a plan B anyway.

0

Ipswichbusiness added 21:04 - Apr 4 At the start of the season I didn't rate either Delaney or Smith, but Smith has certainly come on a long way and I think there's more to come from him. With Sonko we have three centre-backs who can play at this level, but we need a fourth and a better one. The goalkeeping position desperately needs to be resolved. I'd like to see them give Cody Cropper a run in the team, but I think I'm likely to be disappointed.

0

Gazelle added 21:42 - Apr 4 Imo, none of our back four are class defenders in the sense of the word although the two backs are o.k. going forward but those who rate the two centre backs can't have seen Hunter and Beattie or Osman and Butcher.
0

wideblue added 22:40 - Apr 4 Gazelle - I rate Smith, the four you list are legends and yes, I saw them play.
0

Devontractor added 23:36 - Apr 4 Glol @ Gazelle. Hunter, Beattie, Osman and Butcher were true international standard CBs that played for one of the best teams in Europe. Town today are a mid table second tier team so what do you expect? If Town can get promoted to PL then its unlikely we'll ever be anything more than a mid table side - I doubt in my lifetime (I'm 54) Town will ever qualify for Europe again via a League position. Agree the defence needs to be sorted but most important is a settled GK. Problem today is that PL clubs can afford to players better to sit on the bench or be part of the squad than Championship clubs can afford to pay them to be in the first team. The rich get richer........

0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls