Striker Freddie Sears says the Town squad still believe they can make the play-offs, despite Saturday’s dismal 1-0 home defeat to Rotherham United.

Leon Best netted the only goal of the game as the Millers climbed out of the relegation zone, while the Blues remain eighth, but now four points - plus goal difference - from the top six.

“We didn’t do enough to get something from the game,” Sears admitted. “Rotherham have a good manager and they have picked up some points of late so their confidence is high.

“Even so, these are the games we should be winning at home. It is a big blow, especially as the teams around us won. We have to keep going and coming back strong.

“The gaffer will get us working as we have a tough run of games coming up. We have to stick together as a club and come out firing. We believe we can still get in the play-offs.

“We looked better in the second half when we played with a bit more width. The first half was a bit tight. We played down the middle, which suited Rotherham.

“They played Greg Halford just in front of the defence and it suited them, we couldn’t break them down.

“Goals change games and once Rotherham got in front it was hard for us. We made changes at the break and came out better in the second but couldn’t break them down.

“We had a couple of chances but we need to create more chances for the frontmen. We need to get more balls in the box for the strikers. But there is no point in pointing fingers, we need to stick together.”

There were boos and chants of ‘What a load of rubbish’ at the final whistle, but the 26-year-old hopes the fans will be back on side when the Blues get back to action at Wolves after the international break and in the back-to-back home games against Charlton and Brentford which follow the visit to Molineux.

“As a player you hear the fans and it is not nice but you have to get on with it,” the former Colchester and West Ham man continued.

“The fans have been brilliant so for them to give us a bit of stick now is probably fair enough.

“Hopefully they will be supporting us next time round. The fans are disappointed but we are too — we have not come off laughing and joking, everyone is down in the dressing room. “

Rotherham captain Kirk Broadfoot said: “Mick McCarthy’s sides are always difficult to beat. We had a good structure, we contained them for most of the game and we looked dangerous. We were comfortable and overall we deserved the points.”

Town’s U21s are in action at home to Nottingham Forest at Portman Road this evening with David McGoldrick and trialist Keiran Morphew both expected to play (KO 7pm).

Meanwhile, former Town skipper Jon Walters was named Senior International Player of the Year at the FAI Soccer Awards last night.

Elsewhere, Ipswich Town Ladies beat AFC Sudbury Ladies 1-0 in the Suffolk Womens' Cup semi-final after extra-time at Greens Meadow, Stowmarket.

Photo: Action Images

cartman1972 added 12:54 - Mar 21 I didn't realise twtd was doing a joke of the day section?
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warbeat78 added 13:14 - Mar 21 Mm on a hiding to nothing with this, if he picks a more attacking midfield etc & it bares fruit we will all be happy. The other side of coin is why were you not doing this in the first place, how can he not of seen the problem, after all he's a highly respected manager
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ChrisFelix added 13:34 - Mar 21 Even if we go all out attack in the remaining games we still have a suspect defence. Proved by the number of goals we have conceaded. Chambers often caught out of position & Berra below par for most of the seasonr. On saturday at least we could have won 4 - 3 !!!
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SpiritOfJohn added 13:40 - Mar 21 Freddie and the dreamers?
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Elto added 14:26 - Mar 21 Yes we could. But we will have to win all our home games and win at Sheffield Wednesday. Plus scrape a point or 2 from the others. Not overly optimistic on current form. My heart hasn't ruled it out though..........................
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essex57 added 14:50 - Mar 21 If ME pulls up some money shouldn't he be given the chance to spend after all if it hadn't of been for MM this angst could of been for nothing and we could of been playing Portsmouth Saturday.
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mkbobby added 15:41 - Mar 21 If this was any other club Mccarthy would be gone by now but we have a owner who does,nt look like he wants this club in the premiership also or if he does he wants to get there by the cheapest method available, spend nothing if we do get there and take the parachute payments and run. Also i think marcus evans and mccarthy are at a club where the fans are more docile and easy going than say leeds , wolves ,or birmingham where thee fans would be having sit in protests or leaving the games early, it just something that ipswich fans do and until they do ths and make it known that they are unhappy it will carry on as it st afew booing here and ther will never work it has to done on a big scale then the top brass tend to listen problem also bing that we have few games left and realistically have a chance of the play-offs boyctting a game is not going to work either maybe going in late might be a way to go

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bazzer59 added 15:52 - Mar 21 Maybe we should go for an online petition to remove MM then maybe we could move forward because with him in charge we are going nowhere!!!!
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karls_dad added 16:21 - Mar 21 Well it just shows how wrong one can be! i actually thought young Freddie was quite bright until this statement! c,mon Freddie get real, you are just saying what you have been told to say, we have not a snowflakes of getting there now, and even if we did even less of a chance of actually winning them!
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battyblue added 16:36 - Mar 21 No chance Freddie especially on current team selection and tactics from the chosen one to be honest i dont give a flying one about play-offs now would just like to see some exciting football played between now and the end of the season. and finally could we have a manager who wants to progress as far as possible in the cup competitions next season instead of saying his saving his first choice players for the league games only to play like wallies .

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happybeingblue added 17:52 - Mar 21 I know everyone is having a go at micks style of play but the reality is we have spent nowt and we are in the top half of the table...yes saturday was dreadful probably the worst performance i have seen at portman rd for yrs.... give mick some £ in the summer and let him compete on a more level playing field...Rotherham deserved their win and its part of footbal.. take your defeat and on to the next game....the chants of what a load of rubbish made me feel very sad for mick and all the players as they are an honest bunch who put a shift in but some days it just doesnt work....we over achieved last yr and it was never going to happen this yr without investment...so MR EVANS OVER TO YOU !!!

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sproughtonblue added 18:35 - Mar 21 @happybeingblue MM Didn't need to go out and spend millions, as on Tue/ Saturday he had 4 better players on the bench at his disposal and didn't start any of them. The players are out there to be found and some are currently at the club, you just got to player the best players in their best positions! Football is at times a simple game.
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happybeingblue added 18:52 - Mar 21 i am looking at the bigger picture not just the last few games the squad is generally not good enough there is not enough quality and the players on the bench are similar in my view ... fraser for me has been the only real shining light this season
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essex57 added 19:19 - Mar 21 Chris hands if we go all out attack surely that takes a bit of pressure off the defence.
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Lightningboy added 20:43 - Mar 21 You could give Mick the Barcelona job tomorrow and I suspect he'd have them hoofing it forward at every opportunity by the weekend.
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Suffolk_n_Good added 20:49 - Mar 21 I have a lot of time for you Freddie, you've been one of very few bright lights thus season, but let's be honest you're living in cloud cuckoo land if you think we're gonna get anywhere near promotion this season.....
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BrettenhamBlue added 21:29 - Mar 21 Sorry Freddie. Promotion is now ridiculously optimistic.
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SW1_Blue added 12:19 - Mar 22 Please don't bother. It's embarrassing enough when 16,000 Ipswich fans have to watch it. The thought of football fans around the country watching the turgid dross we serve up makes me cringe.
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chepstowblue added 18:45 - Mar 22 Mathematically we can,but the performances would have to improve to a level that I don't believe we're capable of !
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