Midfielder Paul Anderson is adamant that Town, on their day, are capable of beating any other Championship side.

The former Bristol City winger, in his first season at Portman Road, will be coming up against another of his previous clubs, Nottingham Forest, this weekend.

Anderson knows how crucial a victory over Forest would be to complete a week in which Brighton and Derby County have already been defeated.

He said: “They were great results at Brighton and against Derby because both teams were above us a week ago. They were tough teams to play against and they play some good football so to get the full six points was great and we’ve kept ourselves in with a good chance.

“But we’ve got another tough game this weekend and we need another three points to really keep us in the play-off push. We need to build upon the two wins over Brighton and Derby. Every week we keep thinking that if we win we’ll still be in with a shout and if we lose we might drop out of it.

“Every game is so important at the moment but as a team we are on a high and hopefully we can make it a nine-point week. That would leave us with seven games left and in a really good position.”

As if beating the Rams was not good enough, Town later discovered that results elsewhere — Wigan, Reading, Nottingham Forest and Brighton all lost — also worked in their favour.

Anderson added: “As soon as we walked into the changing room it was going around that everyone else had lost. It was a really good night for us. Usually it tends to be that if you lose everyone else loses and if you win everyone else wins. It normally works that way but results were perfect for us.

“We know that if we play to the best of our ability we’re going to beat anyone in the league and I think we’ve proved that against some of the top teams. We’ve played very well and may not have always got the results but you can only look after your performance and I think we’ve performed very well against some of the biggest teams.”

This time last year Anderson was fighting a relegation battle with Bristol City, who ultimately finished bottom of the Championship but he dismissed the theory that the pressure is any greater this time round.

He said: “There is pressure in every game, even when you’re in the middle of the league with one game left. There is still pressure to finish as high as possible.

“When you are at the bottom things don’t seem to go for you and it’s always a negative sort of feeling around the place, whereas at the minute we’ve got a very positive feeling.

“Pressure comes in every level at every stage of the season and you’ve just got to take it as part of the job. Hopefully, we can handle it better than the other teams around us.”

Photo: Action Images

Jimmy86 added 07:18 - Mar 28 Its just a shame we have dropped so many points from winning positions. Hopefully lessons have been learnt and we wont see a repeat next season. Good teams go 1 nil up and then look for a 2nd and 3rd. We go 1-0 up and then sit on that and try to defend it. The opposition only needs to score once and uve dropped 2 points. Soon adds up, very frustrating
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GerkensBeard added 07:28 - Mar 28 Fair point Jimmy86 about us losing so many points from winning positions but were best in the league at getting points from losing positions, Tuesday night being the perfect example why. Although I know which stat I would rather have.
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GerkensBeard added 07:28 - Mar 28 Fair point Jimmy86 about us losing so many points from winning positions but were best in the league at getting points from losing positions, Tuesday night being the perfect example why. Although I know which stat I would rather have.
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Jimmy86 added 07:57 - Mar 28 Yea fair point Gerkens beard, I remembered that stat the other night and it shows we have character and resellience to come from behind and get a result, which is brilliant. Barnsley away being another prime example of coming behind.
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ArnieM added 08:31 - Mar 28 Whilst I love to see the team so confidenet . id hate us to have an edge of complacency now , because teams on a losing run , at some piont , will win a game. Lets hope its not this Sat!
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ArnieM added 08:33 - Mar 28 sorry about typo errors . Dodgy keyboard ....user !
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eastwell_blue added 08:37 - Mar 28 Oh dear...when will they realise it's the hope that destroys us - the despair we can cope with
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Surco72 added 09:56 - Mar 28 Love the belief Mr Anderson but don't think we are quite up there competing with the big boys just yet ,hence the results against them . Would have been nice to see us set out as we are recently with creativity in the centre and natural wingers against the top teams though rather than just containing them and keeping the score down . Am hoping the return of Skuse will not see us revert back as we are capable to take it to the opposition if given the chance

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TimmyH added 13:07 - Mar 28 I think Mr Anderson is getting a bit carried away...the first time we have beaten a team in the top 6 this season and he starts spouting this out, good to be optimistic but have a bit of realism too but once a team gets on a run you never know what can happen.
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northernblues added 20:00 - Mar 28 I think that too timmyh, anderson is getting carried away!, still i am pleased the season still alive at end of march, lets do our talking on the pitch!!
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