Midfielder Luke Hyam says Town can still get back in the play-off mix with games against three of the other challengers, Brighton, Derby and Nottingham Forest, up next.

The Blues, who are now ninth, six points from the play-off zone, travel to the Amex next weekend, then the Rams and their East Midlands rivals visit Portman Road on the Tuesday and the following Saturday.

“We have three massive games coming up,” Hyam said after Saturday’s 3-1 home defeat to Wigan.

“This was a little blip but if we can get results in the next three games then things will turn around.

“Wigan have won eight on the bounce and are high on confidence. If we can get a couple of wins then we can be right back in the mix and that is the beauty of the Championship.

“We got off to a great start with Tommy scoring but it was disappointing they got back into it so quickly but we have to look forward now.”

Hyam was making his second start since returning from a hamstring injury, which he suffered in his first game back having been out with a gash to the leg.

“It was a case of getting my head down, doing well on the training pitch and showing the manager what I can do to get back in the team,” he added.

“It was nice to be back in the team. It is never nice for any footballer to be out injured and it was good to be part of it again.

“I was out for nearly six weeks and I’m still short of match fitness but the more games I get the fitter I will be.”

Meanwhile, former Blues loanee Ryan Tunnicliffe was delighted to take three points away from his return to Portman Road with Wigan, who moved up to fifth place.

“It's a great win,” he said. “It was always going to be difficult to come down here and get a win - Ipswich have got good home form. To come down here and win 3-1 sends a marker out to the rest of the league.

“We're in the play-off positions and have got a few games in hand so we just need to keep winning and try and cement our place in there - it's in our hands.”

The on-loan Fulham man says he gave manager Uwe Rosler the benefit of his inside knowledge of Town: “I tried! The little details he likes to know are who the best headers, how people play, stuff like that - anything I can help with.

“Obviously I enjoyed my time at Ipswich but I'm a Wigan player now so I would happily do anything to try and beat them and I'm glad we did.

“I told the gaffer before that Tommy Smith was probably the best header and the most dangerous at set pieces to look for because he's great in the air.

“We tried marking him but it was a second phase and we didn't clear the box as well as we should have done and didn't him pick up and he toed one in.”

Why did he opt to join Wigan instead of returning to Town when the two clubs came in for him last month? “At the time it was a better fit for me. I spoke to Ipswich and at the time it couldn't be done. Then I went and met Rosler and liked what he had to say.”

Photo: Action Images

BlueMachines added 06:21 - Mar 17 Have a word with MM then Luke. Let him know we need to try and WIN them!!
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Jimmy86 added 06:28 - Mar 17 Firstly although luke seemingly looked forward more than he has done previously he is still huff and puff without the required quality needed at this level. The way he blazed over into the upper tier from 10 yards out is evidence of that. As a professional footballer he should have at least got it on target and worked the keeper, he really should have scored. Secondly with regards to tunnicliffe, he didnt do anything in the game and we haven't missed him, coz other than being hustle and bustle he didnt do anything whilst he was here. Not a prem player and was only signed by fulham coz of muleenstein who got sacked. So you crack on with wigan mate, how you keep powell and mcecheran out is beyond me!!!

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bluefeast added 06:34 - Mar 17 Who are the best headers how people play stuff like that , i guess Ryan you simply said , well they can all head it as thats all we do in training , how they play is hoof and hoof high plus they cant score more than one goal as if they take the lead go negative.
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megamoth added 06:54 - Mar 17 Oh come on, Luke. It's enough now. I said this one month into the season after our bad run. Everyone needs to keep their collective feet in ground. We aren't great and are where we should be given our squad. Frankly, it's precisely where our expectations should have been after the last close season without any seriously competitive fixtures and without any compelling signings. No it's not been great snd we all want the heck out of this league, but at least we haven't had the roller coaster ride of flirting with getting out of the league the wrong way.

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RegencyBlue added 07:22 - Mar 17 I really wish the club would stop coming out with this stuff! We are NOT a top six side and anyone who watches Town on a regular basis knows that.
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essexboy added 07:43 - Mar 17 Ok,we are not yet a top six team and I doubt we will be this season,more the pity,but we Don't just give up do we.While they is still an outside chance you have to go for it otherwise what is the point of playing.The spirit in the camp is good ,so come on lads.COYB
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Keaneish added 07:48 - Mar 17 Get Marriot and Hewitt back. Time for them to play some proper competitive championship football ahead of next season. This season is sadly over. Still, World cup in three months!
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BartsGreatBeard added 07:53 - Mar 17 As long as your in the team we bloody won't
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thebeat added 08:39 - Mar 17 Yes Luke 3 massive games but unfortunateley we will probably still play 2 defensive midfielders in all 3 of them. Yawn..............
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itfcjon added 09:29 - Mar 17 We might stand a chance if Luke is not playing
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bluefeast added 09:45 - Mar 17 Square pegs round holes , balance of side from attacking perspective is weak , no crosses from out wide. Watch the championship goals on sky video on their website ,90 percent of goals from crosses ,but not us as we dont get into those positions. Bored bored bored bored and Saturday was my last game this season. My renewal depends on summer squad changes etc.
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bluelodgeblue added 09:52 - Mar 17 I just wish players would stop talking themselves up. It is clear we are work in progress and nowhere near the consistent quality to get to the premier . We need to strengthen in most areas of the team so we have a long way to go as yet. Lets not get carried away and that includes the players!!!
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Michael11 added 09:54 - Mar 17 I think everyone just needs to stop talking about the play offs as we're no where near good enough to be in the Premier League anyway. The players just need to relax and enjoy the remaining games with freedom knowing we're not going down and have nothing to lose. A draw is as good as a defeat at this point so we might as well go for it and attack teams. I'd also like to see Jack Marriott recalled and given a chance now too.

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warktheline added 10:19 - Mar 17 We are not top six material....if by some kind of miracle we made it, we would be the team they all would want to play. Our lack of creativity over 2 legs would let us down. Midfield is a major cause for concern at present. Unfair on strikers or striker to be burdened with this. Personally, i think its time to throw caution to the wind , and go for it....see where it takes us. I believe Mick is worried that if he tried this, then we would be on the wrong end of a few score lines. Maybe he lacks faith in their ability as a team. I know from playing football myself, there's a time as a midfield player, that you have to throw the shackles off and play carefree. Sometimes you can end up pleasantly surprised....other times the manager hit you with a flying cup, he he. Go on Mick, throw the midfield forward....lets play on the front foot instead of the back foot ( cricket terminology ). The midfield needs to step up....especially the central pairing, show some adventure to your game.COYB.

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Tractamatt added 10:28 - Mar 17 Tunnicliff you are such a mercenary, a team needs players that are loyal and grateful to be in the position they are in. You are neither!
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ipswichboy123 added 10:40 - Mar 17 its the same old problems midfield holding back and not going foward and throwing themselves round the box, one man attack with mcgoldrick other than that i see very few goals in us although taylor has started stepping up but not chipping in with any goals but i can see why people want him to be in the team, chambers at rb is just not working he just dont have the pace and dosent have the vision of a rb i thought the hole point in getting richardson would be for him to go right back and move chambers back in the centre, gerkin isnt great but i wouldnt say theres a lot in it between him and loach definatly need a new gk, and back to what hyam said i do think the play offs is a bit ambitous this year but come next year if we iron the difficences whos to say we wont get top 6

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Bradley19ITFC added 11:00 - Mar 17 Next season will be our time.
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blueherts added 11:32 - Mar 17 MM and LUKE , How about we go out , take the lead and hold on to it or better still go and try and score another one - If we are serious ( as I am sure our owners want to here- about the p-offs) then send a team out to WIN and not one that is set up 'Not to lose' a subtle but major mindset - We have a goalscoring defensive unit , and the only other real goal threat is out injured so I suggest we go and get Marriott back and start building for next season . As a fan we always want the best for the club and my personal opinion is - if we finish top 10 this season that is good progress but if we REALLY want to break into the Top six next season - we need a midfield that can and are willing to shoot ! Derby away seems to have created a fear in us that other teams realise - we just cannot hold on to a lead .To me , That is more worrying

1

tallguy6767 added 11:55 - Mar 17 Dream on luke!! Your a league 1 player at best son !!!
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Lightningboy added 12:24 - Mar 17 Mick needs to bring Marriott & Hewitt back and PLAY THEM..let's face it,Marriott can't be any less effective than our current choice of strikers and the experience will do him good. Nothing to lose now..time to start building for next season.
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 12:30 - Mar 17 All the people groaning on about us not being a top six side...I agree, were not , however you would all be up in arms if Hyam or anyone in the club came out and said well the play offs have gone now so we will just coast to the end of the season. I'm glad the players are still getting their hardest and are at least still aiming for the top six. So they bloody well should too.Come on , if you're going to have a winge at least be fair about it, too many on here turn every news item into a chance to moan.

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Help added 12:36 - Mar 17 I hate to be picky but I think the Blackburn game is also important, in factwith Wigan that is 5 games with teams close to us in the league and without some spark and quality I am afraid we will get very little from any of them. Even Derby and Forest may restart their promotion against us bearign in mind how they are both struggling of late. And as for Rhodes coming up against us another hat-trick? Sorry but as well as MM has done to get us in the top half of the table, we are not promotion material. More class required in the team for next year and less guile. guile has got us this far, but need skill and ability not just effort.

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runaround added 12:44 - Mar 17 The normal contrived statement from the club following a defeat. Yes we CAN mathematically still make play offs but actions speak louder than words & just cannot see the action happening. As other posters have stated, we need to try & win games rather than try not to lose them. 9 points from next 3 games & I may start to believe but I realistic can't see us getting more than say 3. Big summer looms now for ITFC, come September we will have an idea whether MM & ME want to take us to the next level or not

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thechangingman added 13:30 - Mar 17 I don't come on here so much anymore - not too much to say to be honest... I will, however, say +1 to 'runaround's' comments (above). I guess I may well be turning rather cynical about the whole enterprise and yet I have to agree that we're pretty much where we should be and that's fine. Imagine if we DID get promoted???? Apart from the financial gains what would that season look like? Ouch... Just shy of the play-offs - that'll do nicely...

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NoCanariesAllowed added 13:58 - Mar 17 We "can" get back into the mix... but on the basis of where this Town side currently is, we won't, and we don't deserve to. Frankly, the teams that are genuinely good enough to compete for promotion are the ones that don't need to "get back into the mix" at all - because they're already in it. Not going to be negative though - as far as I'm concerned, a top half (or possibly top ten) finish was all this season needed to be about. It's next year I'll be wanting something more.

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