Midfielder Jay Tabb insists that a top two place is still within the Blues’ grasp, despite Town’s indifferent form since the start of the year.

Mick McCarthy’s men have taken only 14 points from their 12 league games during 2015 up to now and have dropped to seventh in the table, five points away from the automatic promotion places and one off the top six, having been in the top six since November.

“There are still 30 points to play for and the top two is still within our grasp,” Tabb said after Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with Brentford.

“Finishing in the top two might need a slightly lower points tally than usual, but getting in top six might need a bit more [than in previous years]. It is going to go to the last game of the season for top two and top six.

“If we can go on another little run as we have before in the 10 games left then we are in with a great chance. It is crazy at the top, no one seems to want to win the league.

“We had a mini-blip but it is not like we lost a load on the run. It was good to get a point and if we can get a win against any of the top teams we have coming up then it will more than make up for dropping these two points.

“Teams are dropping points because it is nervy trying to get to the Premiership with everything that’s at stake.

“Everyone down to us and even Wolves are still looking at the top two, which is crazy really because in previous years teams have run away with it.”

The 31-year-old felt the Blues put in their best display for a few games and that it was important not to fall to another defeat having just lost back to back league matches for the first time this season.

“After losing two games on the bounce it was good to stop the mini-rot and get a point,” he added. “We are only five points off the top and that was the best we have played for a while.

“Daryl took his goal very well, it was a poacher’s goal and he has not got many of them this season, they are usually crackers.

“He might have fancied a couple of those in the second half but he has 22 goals for the season, the league’s top scorer, but even he can’t score them all. I certainly wouldn’t have scored them.”

Brentford’s Stuart Dallas was content with the draw but thought his side might have grabbed a win: “It was great to come away with a point but there is a still a disappointment that we have not got all three points.

“We said before the game if we can’t win it, then let’s make sure we don’t lose it. If we can win the home games, picking up points away is a bonus. But all we are looking at is Cardiff next week."

He added: “We keep going until the last minute. Like Ipswich we were pushing for the win.”

Photo: Action Images

GiveusaWave added 10:26 - Mar 9 Tabb was good on Sat and is an essential part of our tactics (hoof ball). He's played well most of the season and is really an automatic choice on the team sheet for our game against Boro. Luke Chambers is also essential in a right back position and our back 4 really needs to remain as it is. Smith is playing well and should remain where he is. Been particularly impressed with Tabb recently. He seems to be more willing these days to make forward runs and his distribution to Chambers (for the customary hoof) is always good. Tabb seems to be getting better every game.

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Simonds92 added 10:51 - Mar 9 Jay tabb is not good enough for this level at all. I saw his debut against Peterborough as my flat mate is a posh fan who found it hilarious how bad he was and it's not ever got any better. HOWEVER he isn't the one picking the team he is merely a sign of mccarthy's stubbornness to stick to this horrible 442 formation which is so hard to watch you wish you hadn't come 15mins in to the game. There are multiple problems with our team that many many people can see yet nothing has changed and there's a real worry we will just completely fizzle out yet again.

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naa added 10:57 - Mar 9 Simonds92: I'm not Tabb's biggest fan and I don't think he's the world's best midfielder. But he's been playing pretty well recently and had a good game on Saturday. The game on Saturday was also very entertaining and had we won 3 or even 4 1 people wouldn't have been surprised such were the chances we made (and missed). So, although no-one can say our football is pleasing on the eye at the moment on Saturday, against a promotion rival, it was very effective. I think many of us would like to see more football on the floor but that isn't Mick's way. Though we did actually play some nice stuff in November/December but as the pressure has mounted the nice stuff tends to get forgotten and it's a all about being effective rather than pretty and on Saturday we were. Only time will tell if Saturday was a blip or a sign that maybe we're getting it back. But I do find it depressing that people come on here to slag Mick off when he's worked absolute wonders since he came. If wee were 10th and close, like last year people would strangely be less vitriolic I suspect, but because we've flirted with 1st place this season people now seem to expect it. After the last 10 years how anyone on here could demand/expect that we get promoted baffles me greatly.

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Bergholtblue added 11:11 - Mar 9 There wasn't a blade of grass that Tabb didn't cover Saturday. He was constantly putting his foot in and breaking up their midfield play. Unfortunately this doesn't seem to get noticed by some, particularly the moaners who sit behind me. What they do see is the misplaced pass when Murphy was through or the crosses that went straight into the keepers arms because no-one took a chance to attack the ball. Before condemning Tabb, ask yourself what did Chaplow bring to the match? Was it Tabb's fault or was it that strange decision to take of Sears and bring on Chris Wood? (I think a lump of wood would have contributed more!)

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goat_man added 11:53 - Mar 9 Tabb isn't a bad player at all. The problem is that, much like we can't have both Skuse/Hyam in the same team, we also can't have both Skuse/Tabb in the same team. They do the same thing in essence and we need more attacking minded/goal threatening guys in our already dry midfield.
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rugbytomc added 11:58 - Mar 9 There is no point in all the talk - yes from what i saw of the highlights we were a glaring miss away from a well deserved win, but if we don't keep up and improve upon that level or performance then it's irrelevant. As for Tabb - he tries his socks off, no doubt about it and i would say he's no better or worse than others in the team - but perhaps that is why we are 7th and not first in that we don't have better players than him? I'd rather see him as the screen for the defence and not a creator, as i do feel his final ball needs some work - but again can't fault his heart and with all the injuries and small squad we have, i'd imagine Mick is picking him because he doesn't have anyone better fit and available. It's a tough close league and we're looking better than we did last year - COYB let's make the play offs!

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BlueMachines added 12:31 - Mar 9 @prebs007 Worst set pieces you've ever seen? You weren't watching Town when Leadbitter was in the team then?
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Michael11 added 14:33 - Mar 9 Haha maybe if you don't play....
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ITFC_Cotton added 17:43 - Mar 9 5 points is an easy gap on paper but I can't see the teams above us picking up less points than us over the remainder, still stranger things have happened haven't they?
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blueboy1981 added 18:47 - Mar 9 Dream on Tabby ........... may make you feel batter by saying such - BUT to do that we need an almost 100% improvement on recent performance - AND TACTICS. 'Pie in the Sky' now - unfortunately. But we still dream, and hope ......................................
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blueboy1981 added 18:48 - Mar 9 ...... better ....... should read obviously.
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warktheline added 18:55 - Mar 9 @prebbs and 1rwr, hilarious. Referring to TEA!
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