Jonathan Douglas has attributed Town’s turnaround in form to the team enjoying some of the good fortune that had previously eluded them.

They will be bidding to make it seven without defeat when Middlesbrough come to Portman Road on Friday for the second of three successive live-on-Sky games, a far cry from the run of seven without a victory that saw them slide down the table.

Douglas, 34, said: “I think it’s down to a little bit of luck on the pitch. Over the last couple of months we probably didn’t get the rub of the green that we deserved.

“We have always believed in ourselves, worked really hard and believed in the squad that we have in the dressing room.

“The results have turned around for us and having Daryl Murphy back scoring goals is a big factor in that. Even I have chipped in with a couple but it’s mainly down to the team effort.”

Town are second highest scorers, behind Fulham, in the Championship and Douglas agreed he would not like to be lining up against a side boasting the collective talent of Murphy. Brett Pitman and Freddie Sears, who have contributed 15 of Town’s 28 league goals in the current campaign.

He added: “Don’t forget we also have David McGoldrick, hopefully, coming back from injury as well. The squad that we have is really good and if we can keep everybody fit there is no reason why we can’t continue to climb up the table.”

Douglas has netted twice this season, those goals coming in successive games prior to last week’s 3-0 win at Charlton which saw Mick McCarthy’s men to seventh, only goal difference off a play-off place.

He opened his Town account in the 5-2 win at Rotherham and admitted: “It was probably a relief to get off the mark but I was just happy to have contributed and helped the team put in a good performance.

“I think it was a really good away performance and Charlton was the same. Once the boys up front start firing everybody else can chip in with the odd goal here and there, and we can really start pushing on.”

Douglas was on target eight times for previous club Brentford last season and is looking to emulate that feat with Town, particularly since a heart-to-heart with McCarthy saw him given the licence to attack more from his midfield role.

He said: “It was a different formation that we played at Brentford with three in the middle. We sort of played that way in the last couple of games when Kevin Bru was fit and he tucked in on the right.

“It gave me and him licence to get forward, and while it’s obviously nice to score goals the more important thing is that the team’s winning.

“I enjoy that aspect of the game and the manager has encouraged me to try to get in the box as much as possible and help out the other lads in there.

“The more people we can get into the box, the more chance there is of us scoring. It’s not about going gung-ho and leaving the boys at the back exposed, it’s just picking and choosing when you can go and when you can’t go.

"I would like to beat last year’s tally and if I can stay injury-free I think it’s possible.”

Photo: Action Images

GiveusaWave added 10:19 - Dec 3 You've played really well the last few games and have won fans over. 3 points on Friday please.
6

Shineyblueknives added 11:07 - Dec 3 How old is Douglas?? you put him as 34 in the previous article...
0

PhilTWTD added 11:53 - Dec 3 34, amended.
0

gippeswyk added 13:00 - Dec 3 I agree guentchev, he was given a lot of stick earlier in the season but no one seems to be moaning about him after he's scored a couple of goals. Hope he can keep it going. We've need a midfielder to get 10 or so goals. Hopefully Boro will not be at their best after losing to Everton the other night, and after the trek down. It will be a sterner test than the recent opponents. Winning would show we're really back on track. COYB!

1

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls