Winning goalscorer Ben Pringle says Town now have to build on Saturday’s 1-0 victory at Huddersfield.

The midfielder’s 19th minute goal, his first for the club, ended Town’s three-game run of defeats, the first time the Blues had lost three in a row in the Championship under Mick McCarthy’s management.

The result moved Town up to ninth, four points off the play-offs, albeit with a significantly inferior goal difference to Sheffield Wednesday in sixth, although with a game in hand.

“It is a different mindset depending on where you are in the table,” said Pringle, who signed on loan earlier in the month.

“Obviously at Fulham I’ve tended not to look at it but at Ipswich, especially when you win like this, you are excited when you come off the pitch to see where you are and to see if you have managed to jump up a couple of places in the table.

“The gap is only four points and we have a game in hand which we have to capitalise on.”

Town’s March fixtures look crucial to their play-off aspirations with next Saturday’s home game against 15th-placed Nottingham Forest, who have lost their last three matches, followed by a midweek trip to second-bottom Bolton Wanderers.

After that, the Blues visit Cardiff City, who are seventh a point ahead of Town, before Blackburn, currently 18th, and then third-bottom Rotherham, Pringle’s former club, are at Portman Road.

Reflecting on the victory over the Terriers, Newcastle-born Pringle added: “It wasn’t pretty, but that is the Championship. I didn’t really know what day of the week it was in the first 20 minutes, but we responded really well.

“You come to these type of places and you know the crowd are going to get on top of you. You have got dig in and put in a performance. We had to grind it out.

“It was only my third game so I’m delighted to have got on the scoresheet in such an important game.

“I think I can bring more goals to the team, so it is a question of getting in the box as much as I can and getting on the end of chances. Now my job is to try and score a few more.”

Pringle is on loan with the Blues for an initial month, although the provision is there for the spell to be extended to the end of the season.

“I wasn’t getting enough game time at Fulham,” the 26-year-old continued. “They have a big squad and if you are not getting games you need to get out and play.

“The boss gave me a call and it was an easy decision to make as he wants me to play. It was a no-brainer.

“If I am enjoying it — which I am - and the boss is enjoying having me here, there is an option to extend it. At the moment I’m just keeping my head down.”

Pringle signed a two-year deal with an option for a further season when he joined the Cottagers in the summer after rejecting a new contract with the Millers.

Meanwhile, Town’s U21s are in action against Bristol City at Playford Road this afternoon (KO 1pm).

Photo: Action Images

muccletonjoe added 06:22 - Feb 29 Could be a good player for us over the next few weeks and if we can get a fit squad together next month we ain't out of it despite what the doom mongers will say
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Sir_Bob added 06:30 - Feb 29 If (big if), we can get him for free (Or small fee) at the end of the season, then I'd love this to happen. Bin Coke & Toure', their combined wages would hopefully pay for Pringles wages. Promote Dozzell, then it's Pringle & Dozzell instead of Coke & Toure'. Job Done!!!
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commuterblue added 07:26 - Feb 29 As much as the finish was good, and Murph had done well, Pringle did well to win the ball in the first place and put it in behind for Murph.
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Dissboyitfc added 08:55 - Feb 29 One thing MM's teams will always have is team spirit a togetherness his teams are so hardworking and although i dont believe we will make the play-offs however that team spirit and togetherness might just do it. And then once in the play-offs well its a lottery then and anything is possible. I also would really fear for this team if it got promoted, how many players do we have of premier league standard? Lets go through saturdays team:- Bart... Maybe Chambers...not Knudsen...not Brera....not Smith...not Pringle....Jury,s out, not seen enough Foley.....Not seen enough Douglas....not Sears...yes, if played in his best position. Pitman....Possibly a squad player Murphy...past his best Non of the subs would cope in the premier league Of those coming back Skuse....I do rate Skuse, so yes Bishop....yes Mcgoldric.. on his day when fit Before people mark me down, give a reason. Its my Belief should we reach the promise land we will be found to have a totally inadequate squad. Would be interesting to see what others think? Have a great monday everyone.

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Dissboyitfc added 09:05 - Feb 29 Forgot Hyam, i would like to think maybe he could, not so sure deep down.
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prebsa added 09:08 - Feb 29 Dissboyitfc, I agree! I know the playoffs can be a lottery but I feel even then over two legs we cant beat any of the others that would be in there come the end of the season. I also agree that we would need almost an entirely new squad to try and compete in the premier league. And if we continued to play the SUPER ENTERTAINING football that we do right now (thats sarcasm essex57) then we would just become a joke of a team and any team that could pass the ball with the slightest bit of quality would beat us with ease. Also a good Monday to you sir

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mr_bean added 09:10 - Feb 29 @Dissboyitf It's possible that Tommy Smith *might* just be good enough for the Premier League (with a decent right-sided central defender beside him). Don't forget, he's got heaps of international experience and has been to the World Cup. At his age, that's a lot of experience (in a position where experience makes all the difference). Agree that his form of late has been patchy though.

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Dissboyitfc added 09:13 - Feb 29 mr bean... could possibly go along with that, but i was judging him where is playing now, might take time for him to adjust being on the left and he does have a mistake or two in him.
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Mr_Evans added 09:16 - Feb 29 we simply do not have enough quality. We have too many average championship players. How many of our first team players would fit straight into any of the top 4 starting 11? Bart is an okay GK, a stronger back 4 would make him look better. Knudsen has not impressed, but then again it is his first season here. I remember Cresswell having a mixed first season. Smith is just not good enough, no other top 10 team would have him. He is average at best. Berra is quality, he would excell alongside a better CB. Chambers is a poor RB, and an average CB. Skuse is a good player, calm and composed on the ball. He protects the back 4. Hyam is if the same catogry as Snith. Average at best. Bru, shows signs of being a good player, can go missing in games. Sears, why oh why play him out wide? When you watch him you can clearly see his had a good upbringing at West Ham. Quality player. Murphy is passed his best. Does show the off spark of quality, but he can go missing in games. Pitman is a surprise package! An all round good player. Works hard and created openings. With McGoldrick and Bishop coming back we could sneak the play offs. But for next season we only need a RB and a CB. And maybe another PL loanee. That's all we really need. Exciting to see Andre Dozell start coming through too.

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jonbull88 added 09:32 - Feb 29 @mr_evans smiths been playing better than Berra for the majority of the season.
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Mr_Evans added 09:40 - Feb 29 Disagree. Berra spends the majority of the game covering for Smith and Knudsen. Look at Hulls goal in midweek and watch Smiths ball watching and awful positioning.
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Kikapu added 10:29 - Feb 29 It's not easy to judge who might survive in the heady atmosphere of the Premiership. It's more likely that defenders might do. Look at some of our former players who are playing there. While he was playing here, would you have said Damien Delaney would make it?
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shenfieldblue added 10:48 - Feb 29 Let's hope there will be more goals from Pringle or as I call him BORIS . Has to be his nickname with hair like that.
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carlisleaway added 11:43 - Feb 29 Would love to see young Dozzel on the bench to give him experience but me reckons MM thinks he is to lightweight. If we are not careful a Premiership will be poaching him as a long term prospect.
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mojo added 12:08 - Feb 29 Mr Evans - I think we will need a bit more than that. Highly likely we will lose AMN and Fraser so we will need two new wide players for a start. The main area that MM still hasn't got right.
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Fatboy added 12:23 - Feb 29 @Shenfieldblue: He starts each game looking like snooker player Neil Robertson and ends it looking like Boris!
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RaymondovicBlue added 12:26 - Feb 29 I've voted the way i have on comments about Smith and Berra simply because Smith is the one who is good enough to play out of position and still be in such a debate ... and he is big enough to take all the abuse he gets here too! I honestly am disappointed with Berra - I like him and am glad we've got him but he is not performing at the moment. And no I don;t JUST mean against Bristol City when is mistakes (and his alone) cost us both goals!

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RaymondovicBlue added 12:28 - Feb 29 Whether either are Prem players is another debate altogether But this thread is about our hopes/fears for the next 5 games ... I fear Cardiff in the form they are in, but if we want to make the convos about how we'd cope in the PL we simply have to take 12 points from these 15. Let's talk again after that is proven possible or impossible !! COYB
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RaymondovicBlue added 12:29 - Feb 29 and when I say "simply have to" I'm not just talking about a pie in the sky "what is needed" - I am talking about what SHOULD be possible for our boys.... regardless of what Mick tells us about how good they are and how their league position is crazy given their quality. Yes they will be fighting for survival - but will we fight for anything???
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MathieandMarshall added 12:38 - Feb 29 on the whole Smith/Berra good enough for the Prem debate.. You never know! they may both end up coping fine. Who would have expected to see Delaney playing week in week out for a Premiership team when he was here?
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Langdon_Blue added 13:11 - Feb 29 Interesting debate Dissboyitfc. Also good to read posts today that are reasoned points of view, rather than needless swipes at other supporters for daring to share a view that differs from there own. Something that is seen on here far too often, unfortunately. I think the squad is on a budget to win promotion (via playoffs at best) and with promotion comes a completely different budget and with that I'd expect wholesale changes in playing staff. As you point out, we may have 6-7 players that could make that step up. Personally I wish the owner would have backed the manager financially, to make a few additions in January window, when we were in a higher position...

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kevtblue added 13:17 - Feb 29 I agree with those who have said you just don't know until someone actually plays in the premiership. Look at the two Centre Backs playing for the current top of the table side Morgan and Huth would we have said they were good enough a couple of seasons ago to be at that level of performance. Well done to Ben Pringle we need more goals from midfield so lets hope he keeps scoring.

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theipswichman added 14:32 - Feb 29 Dissboyitfc, whilst I agree with the post even with the current squad it is vital we reach the premier league. I'm sure Mick would much rather build a good enough squad but we just don't have the budget for it currently. Getting promoted is the only real way to make the club really competitive again and secure a brighter long term future, even if we got relegated at least then we'd have parachute payments and would be able to build a squad more capable of promotion and then staying up.

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blues1 added 15:34 - Feb 29 Dissboy. Why would it take smith time to adjust to playing on the left? It's his natural position. And every time he has played there he's immediately looked comfortable there. I believe Knudsen could well be fine there. For all the criticism he gets off many on here, he's been our most consistent defender for several games now. And if you look at the facts the vast majority of the goals we concede come down our right side. Very few on Knudsen's side. Agree we'd certainly need several signings but with the debt paid off to ME which it would be , in sure there would be money provided to sign players.

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GAZ1234 added 15:40 - Feb 29 I have said before ... why would the players or management want to get promoted, they know that they aren't good enough and would most likely be replaced... therefore, why not nearly get promoted ..... then you have still got your job for another year.!
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