He has been there and done it before but that has merely strengthened Jonny Parr’s resolve to do it all over again and win promotion back to the Premier League with Ipswich.

Indeed, the Norwegian international defender summed up the level of confidence in the Town camp right now by admitting: “We believe we are capable of taking on and beating anyone.

“That could be a good thing or a bad thing if we don’t keep working hard and do the things that have made us win all these games and pick up all these points up until now.

“We have to have confidence in what we do but the main thing is the hard work and making sure we stick together. If we can do that during the remainder of the season it is going to help us a lot during any tougher times that might lie ahead.”

Full-back Parr was in the Crystal Palace squad that qualified for the play-offs two seasons ago but an injury, coincidentally sustained in a 3-0 defeat at Portman Road towards the end of the campaign, meant he was absent as the Eagles triumphed against Watford in the Wembley final.

He said: “I can see some similarities between the two squads. We had a really good team spirit at Palace as well and coming up to Christmas that season we had a good unbeaten run that included a lot of wins. We actually struggled a lot more in the second half of the season.

“But I think we have more momentum here and a stronger squad than we had at Palace. I hope we can keep our current run going and continue to pick up points.

“It’s a long season and there are a lot of games left to play but if we keep playing as we have been doing I think we have a very good chance.

“Two years ago when I was at Palace our form dipped after Christmas and we were struggling over a longer period. It’s difficult to say exactly what caused that but we got there in the end through the play-offs.

“That is a difficult way to win promotion but it is probably the best way to go up as well — if you manage it.

“We are definitely aiming for the top two spots and we have put ourselves in a great position. We’re halfway through the season and we’re up there where we want to be. It’s up to us to keep it going and keep picking up points.”

Parr does not believe Town will cash in on their most valuable assets in the January transfer window, adding: “We are in a great position to get promoted and we would like to keep all our best players. Hopefully we will do that and the competition for places will continue.

“We might even get some new players in but you never know what is going to happen. If players are going out or coming in it’s up to the manager and the chairman. As players we just want to have as good a team as possible and keep on pushing for promotion.”

Parr revealed he has spoken to his former Palace team-mate Jonny Williams, who was such a successful addition to the squad last season and again in the current campaign until an injury suffered in last month’s 1-0 home win over Watford saw him return to Selhurst Park for several weeks of rehabilitation. His spell with Town officially comes to an end this week.

“Jonny is back in training but I’m not sure what is going to happen to him,” Parr said. “Everyone knows how good a player he is and I’m sure we would like to have him back on loan again if that’s what he wants to do for the last part of the season.

“But that’s up to the manager and him to sort out. I’m not sure what he has been told at Palace because they are getting a new manager and while he is there he will obviously be trying to get into their team. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

Photo: Action Images

Palestine added 10:53 - Dec 30 “But I think we have more momentum here and a stronger squad than we had at Palace." That is an interesting view. Would bode well for next year if true, as Palace managed to stay up... In my view we have a strong Champ team/squad, but would need q some additions to compete in the Prem.
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tractordownsouth added 11:48 - Dec 30 Let's concentrate on getting there first ^!!!!
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runningout added 13:21 - Dec 30 still plenty to do.......
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karls_dad added 13:53 - Dec 30 This maybe the strangest post i have ever made, i really want us to win the Championship, get top spot! but i do not want us to go into the Premier! I would rather see us as a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in the prem, the squad we have are brilliant but slim, if we were promoted and i say "IF" we would need to expand the squad with quality expensive players, which we cannot afford, this i feel would tear the soul out of the team spirit we have at present. I,m already buzzing about tonites game! i,m not so sure i would get the same feeling knowing that our squad is going to get thumped in the Prem! Maybe i,m being negative, or foolish to believe such a thing? We have a fabulous Championship squad, led by a great manager inMM with TC, the football we play at times is so exciting, can we reproduce this in the Prem? i doubt it, which leads me back to I want town to be top come may but can we please stay where we are!

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JimmyJazz added 14:16 - Dec 30 Simple economics dictate that even a single season in the Prem is so much better than continuing on in the Championship. Plus our better players want to be in the Prem, hopefully with us, but if we're staying in the Championship they will be off
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Walk_the_Wark added 15:11 - Dec 30 Relistically, only Mings, McGoldrick and Berra are good enough for the prem. We will have to buy at least 10 players to comptete.. then there's out of date Mick.. We won't last long in the Prem, but it might spark a period of yo-yo and sort our finances out
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skinnyman27 added 16:30 - Dec 30 karls_dad , strangley i do understand what you mean, this season has been so much fun so far and i would take season after season like this than getting thrashed in the prem, at the end of the day no matter how much i love ipswich i want entertainment and enjoyment for my hard earned cash, the buzz of thinking you can win every match is amazing. i bet teams like stoke and villa aren't fun to support. but obviously i want us to get promoted, play against the big teams, help our finances. i know its contradictory, but do feel the same

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Hegansheroes added 17:14 - Dec 30 Walk the Wark agree we don't really have enough Premiership quality players but think Bishop is good enough if not now but very soon & he will play at the top level although it may be for some one else. I'm not actually sure McGoldrick is good enough but would love all the players to prove me and W the W wrong. We do have some outstanding youngsters coming through as well. Unfortunately MM really hasn't been a sucess in the Prem & the style of his teams is far more suited to the Championship. Saying that Stoke are doing well & WestHam under Allardyce, remarkably well & he's not exactly renowned for beautiful football, I remember his tenure at Bolton.

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karls_dad added 17:28 - Dec 30 Well i,m pleased that i,m not the only one that see,s the big fish theory, the buzz going around us fans at the mo is brilliant, i really want us to win the Championship but dread the thought of going into the Prem! as above just how many of our current squad could cut with the best? is Batz our keeper could enough? strikers? it would worry me having to tear the team apart with new costly players, I think i would rather us staying where we are! great to be a town fan, especially as i live deep in budgie country! i keep telling the locals that i,m applying to be the trophy cabinet cleaner at carrot rd, easiest job in the country, cos there is naff all in it!

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stevelincsexile added 18:06 - Dec 30 If I recall correctly went we went up with Burley we did not spend vast amounts in the first season and we kept the spirit of the promoted team. Only after that first season when we then spent money on rubbish imports did we lose that team spirit and and suffered for it. Going back even further Sir Bobby never spent vast amounts and look what he achieved.
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distractored added 07:31 - Dec 31 I well remember that first Burley season in the top flight. It was nearly as good as the first one with Alf Ramsey.
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bennyitfc added 07:54 - Jan 1 Can't say I agree with the big fish theory... A strong team spirit can be just as effective in the Prem as it is in the Championship, and you don't necessarily need to spend a lot of money - we have some quality as it is.
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bennyitfc added 07:54 - Jan 1 Can't say I agree with the big fish theory... A strong team spirit can be just as effective in the Prem as it is in the Championship, and you don't necessarily need to spend a lot of money - we have some quality as it is.
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WindsorBlue added 10:15 - Jan 2 IF we get get there...a very long way to go...we should just embrace every game, and have a few good days out along the way! Spirit also stems from the fans. If fans start getting on the back of the team or MM they should receive a banning order from the club!! Leicester are a good case in point with Pearson after two promotions. Disgrace, short memories and fickle fans have given him stick...I bet they were not there on a cold Tuesday night in league one! MM has saved this club. Anyone expecting Brazilian style football with 2years and £10000, clearly has unrealistic expectations, and the negative views are unwarranted.

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