Town striker Freddie Sears and his colleagues can’t wait to tackle Huddersfield at home this weekend and hopefully erase the painful memory of defeat at Blackburn last time out.

The 2-0 loss at Ewood Park was followed by the international break, leaving Sears & Co itching for action as they seek to improve on a recent form slump that has seen them collect just one win in seven games in all competitions.

Even without the Capital One Cup third round defeat by Manchester United at Old Trafford last month Town have banked just five points from a possible 18 in the league, a run that has seen them drop down the Championship table to 12th place.

But despite their recent problems Town are just three points adrift of third-placed Reading and Sears sees the visit of the 18th-placed Terriers, who have won just two of their 10 league games this term, as a tremendous opportunity to get back on track.

Sears, 25, said: “We’ve had a two-week break but I think most of us would have wanted to play last Saturday to try to get that Blackburn game out of our system.

“The result was disappointing and probably the way we played was disappointing as well. We’ve had the time to reflect on it and we watched the game again early last week.

“That was it, a line was drawn and after that training was intense and sharp. We’ve had a bit of time to refresh our batteries and we’re ready to go again. It’s been an intense time in training this week all building up to Saturday.

“There have been games this season where we have let ourselves down. We are well aware of it and when we watched the DVD we knew what was coming, like the mistakes we made.

“TC pulls us to one side individually and points out certain things. He’ll show you a clip and there are some things that you have done well and others where you could have done better.

“Both he and the gaffer look really deeply into the games — it’s never a case of just turning up and you win, lose or draw.

“With the Blackburn game we looked over the first half again and we knew it wasn’t good enough. We know we’ve got to go out against Huddersfield and put it right.”

Town made a flying start to the current campaign, banking 10 points from their first four league games, but Sears finds it difficult to explain the sudden turnaround in fortune, adding: “I’m not sure why it has happened but teams are now coming to Ipswich and they know we’re a good side, one of the teams to beat in this league, especially after last season.

“No games are easy in this league but teams are raising their game against us and it’s up to us to match them and then go on to beat them, starting with Huddersfield this weekend.”

Photo: Action Images

Fatboy added 07:13 - Oct 16 They're a decent side, Huddersfield. Their league position doesn't reflect how good they are. It'll be a tough match.
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dugoutdave added 07:36 - Oct 16 Nice parody! The original will be published later this morning.
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Penguinblue added 07:51 - Oct 16 Different class Huddersfield. Always thought that. They will make it difficult for our up and unders. We won't be needing a right back though. Let's hope you are playing Freddy. You are one of our best players so don't bank on it. I was always ambivalent towards the 'dark one' and never condoned his behaviour with Ireland. However, recently I've been thinking that if MM spoke his usual nonsense in front of Keane all those years ago, there is no wonder that Keane, a great footballer (rather than a great person) had his infamous meltdown.

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Tractorboy1985 added 07:57 - Oct 16 If I hear those words @fatboy I will blow my top! 'Uddersfield are a p1$$ poor side this season and I expect them to be hovering over the relegation places! We have to be quick out the blocks and take the game to them very early.. Even without the star man of the season so far Fraser we should win this game comfortably! Anything but a win and I seriously think we have problems! Team selection will be interesting but at least 4/5 changes need to be made! Come on town.. Let's kick start our season again and get back on the promotion train! COYB!!!

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hogster1970 added 08:54 - Oct 16 my sentiments exactly tractor boy, i dont want to here that huddesfield are a great side blah blah blah, we have a squad of some good players so pick the right round pegs into the right round holes and come out of the blocks and smash them, i want them players spitting blood sweat and tears when they leave that pitch just like the rugby boys do, i dont want to see players come of fresh as a daisy, that means they havnt put every thing into it. so lets be praising the team selection tomorrow night with a great performance and 3 points, not wtf did he pick him for and why didnt he pull his finger out of his a@se and put a shift in and well thats 2 points dropped ect.

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TR11BLU added 09:03 - Oct 16 Hmmmm... You could say they were pi$$ poor last season....but we still only took 1 point off them. I would take a last minute scuffed 1-0. No easy games in this league, Bristol City proved that a couple of weeks back. Everyone predicting a stuffing, we were lucky to get a point! Lets just get a win, any win.....Please
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battyblue added 09:36 - Oct 16 WE are a pi-- poor side at the minute thanks to poor team selection over to you MM.
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paulcooperisgod added 12:04 - Oct 16 Expect the same team (minus Frazor) as MM hasn't the balls to change the poor players (CHAMBERS BERRA DOUGLAS MURPHY etc) he'd rather play them and then make the same excuse that the opposition are a 'good team' and 'we played ok'. Sorry MM I've always been a fan but anything less then a win tomorrow and I think it's time you moved on and let someone with more ambition take over before its too late

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Surco72 added 12:38 - Oct 16 “Both he and the gaffer look really deeply into the games — it's never a case of just turning up and you win, lose or draw." I have never seen our team selection changed in order to play against different opposition , or players dropped due to form so I would say our games are exactly turn up and see if we win , lose or draw that I have said since the Blackpool game 2 seasons ago . MM picks his favoured players if they are fit

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sidtheswan added 12:40 - Oct 16 Not happy can't go got a wedding to go to. Who on earth gets married in the footie season ! COYB
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TimmyH added 12:57 - Oct 16 Will be very interesting to see what changes happen as Mick threatened to make before the break. I'll be surprised if he makes any changes to the back line (he never does) but surely the midfield will look different won't it?...Bish must be fit and Bru if not both of them might come in at the expense of at least the bog standard Douglas. Orr/McG also in with a chance of starting. Fatboy are you MM? or just being sarcastic?

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Fatboy added 17:05 - Oct 16 @TimmyH I was just making a prediction. Here are some excerpts and MM quotes from the later TWTD article following this afternoon's press conference: "we've got three games this week and three tough ones, starting with Huddersfield" "Huddersfield are 18th in the table having won just two games this season and lost 3-0 at Wolves last time out. However, McCarthy believes they have a decent squad" “They've got good players, they're no mugs and we saw last year we had two really tough games against them.” So I wasn't far off!

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