Midfielder Cole Skuse believes the Blues are capable of breaking into the top six during the busy spell of festive fixtures. Town, currently ninth, three points from the play-off zone, take on Doncaster away on Boxing Day, follow that with a trip to AFC Bournemouth, before Charlton visit Portman Road on New Year’s Day.

“We can crack the top six over this festive period — of course we can,” the Bristolian said. “Everyone is happy, we have a great squad and we have ourselves in a great position.”

Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with Watford was Town’s fifth game without losing and Skuse felt it was probably the right result.

“We are proud of the unbeaten run, but on the scale of things a point was fair enough,” he said. “We may have shaded the second half but they are no mugs.”

He was in no doubt about referee Graham Scott’s decision to award a spotkick when Gabriele Angella was adjudged to have handled: “It was a penalty. The referee gave it straight away and all the lads thought it was a penalty too.

“It was a shame we could not hold on to keep the clean sheet. They got a bit of luck with a deflected cross but fair play to Troy Deeney, he was on the move and got in front to make a great finish.”

The 27-year-old said the windy conditions were difficult to contend with: “It was tough. As a professional you come across all sorts of weather but you have to deal with it. It was a swirling wind and neither side had an advantage with it.

“Even so we played decent stuff. We are hard to beat which is something the manager and TC have instilled in us. If we can’t win then we don’t want to lose either so we make ourselves hard to beat.”

Photo: Action Images

StanwayBlue added 06:49 - Dec 23 We need to stop talking about the top six and just do it!! Not that I think we will be, but we could also be bottom half after the new year so talk really is cheap. Bournemouth in particular will be hard and Yeovil are scrapping.
2

DiamondGezzer added 06:57 - Dec 23 Positive words from the ' Old King ' . Let's just hope that the 'Fiddlers Three ' in the centre are just as positive and creative when it comes to Christmas cheer. A Merry Christmas to the Management/Staff and players at PR, and to those at TWTD and all the avid followers of ITFC may we all have a prosper in the New Year.
9

StanwayBlue added 07:12 - Dec 23 D'oh! Meant Doncaster, not Yeovil!
3

bedsitfc added 07:45 - Dec 23 Diamond gezzer - Bah humbug.
3

froudy added 08:37 - Dec 23 ...but that's too strong cos' it's my favourite holiday
0

ZurichBlue added 08:51 - Dec 23 Words are cheap! I wish footballers would stop spouting off about what they are "capable" of doing or could do. Just keep quiet and keep picking up the points and see where it takes us. I'm back in the UK for Christmas so saw the game against Watford - we were dire in the first half but much better in the second. Yes. we're now hard to beat and it's pretty turgid stuff but it's progress I suppose. If only the Messiah could see what most fans do and that is we need some effective wide men that can actually beat a defender to put crosses in from the byline and a creative midfielder to send probing passes forward not sideways or backwards! I wish he would give Wordsworth, Taylor, Graham and Hunt (arguably our most skillful and creative footballers along with McG) some game. Merry Christmas.

1

itfchorry added 09:33 - Dec 23 Skuse - Here he is !
0

riley26 added 09:35 - Dec 23 Talk is cheap etc etc. I get the sentiment but would you rather Cole came out and said we're not capable of top six? Have high hopes for potential Ebanks-Blake/McGoldrick partnership, the rest of the team may be set up to be solid, and not a lot more, but with those to up top we could be a real threat.
1

ITFC_Cairo added 09:36 - Dec 23 Probably unfair to suggest that players need to stop talking and start doing. I agree that the words get samey and are repeated by everyone but these footballers, particularly ones in the top two tiers of the game, are obliged to do their 'bit' with regards to PR and the media as part of their role as club ambassadors. Naturally a club like Ipswich, given our form of late, are likely to be asked of their play off chances. The players can do no more than give these responses. Nonetheless, I hope we have a prosperous Christmas and New Year and continue to crawl up the table :-) Merry Christmas.

5

Michael11 added 09:44 - Dec 23 Living an hour away from Doncaster, it's a great opportunity for me to get down and cheer the boys on on boxing day. Hopefully we can keep the run going and put the teams above us under pressure. Just being in the mix is so exciting compared to what we've had to put up with these last 5 years.
4

footyblue added 12:19 - Dec 23 Hunt is probably the best by far at running at people as he was in the game he started but unfortunate to be injured lets hope it isn't serious
0

TimmyH added 14:22 - Dec 23 Yes we can get in the top 6 if all goes well over the festive period but that also rely's on other teams doing less well and no doubt a few teams just below us will be thinking the same thing! - as mentioned talk is cheap let the football do the talking.
-1

brian_a_mul added 14:57 - Dec 23 Really looking forward to the christmas run in. Games coming thick and fast. With a fit Hunt and SEB we will be a different proposition. These guys are genuine premier league quality players when fully fit and on form. Plus it allows us to rotate and rest the players to keep the squad fresh. I would be happy if we get within 2pts of the playoff spots after the Christmas period. Merry Christmas everyone!

3

ArnieM added 20:29 - Dec 23 Get inter 'em......
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls