Midfielder Cole Skuse admits that 2015/16 would be failure if Town don’t make the play-offs for a second successive season.

As things stand Mick McCarthy’s men are in eighth place in the Championship, four points behind sixth-placed Sheffield Wednesday, but their goal difference of two is a further disadvantage as they look to make up ground over the eight games that remain of the current campaign.

Skuse, who was 30 on Wednesday, insisted: “If we don’t make the play-offs it would have to be regarded as failure. We set a benchmark last year and we always said the minimum requirement this season would be to finish in the top six. So if we don’t it will be a failure.”

But the former Bristol City player is equally adamant that the play-offs remain a realistic target for him and his colleagues, adding: “I’m not just saying that because I’ve been asked the question.

“It was a tough one last season when we managed to nick into sixth spot but we’ve still got to play several of the teams who are around us. There are some massive games to play but yes, I really do see us sneaking into the play-offs.”

Skuse turned his straight talking to the team’s most recent outing, the 1-0 home defeat by relegation-threatened Rotherham that saw the players booed off at half-time and again following the final whistle as Town surrendered valuable ground to their play-off rivals.

He added: “As bad as we were against Rotherham — we’ve held our hands up and admitted we were poor — you can never, never question the desire to succeed of anyone in the squad. There is no chance of anyone chucking in the towel or taking their foot off the pedal.

“You can’t question our effort or desire to want to try to win a game — it was just our quality on the day that let us down against Rotherham. We will be trying our hardest to stay in the mix right to the end and finish in the top six.”

Skuse was asked why he thought Town had failed to build on a promising start to the season back in August last year when an unbeaten six-game run saw them not only lead the Championship but advance to the third round of the Capital One Cup.

He replied: “It’s not just a dip in form by us. I think the teams around us have improved — look at Sheffield Wednesday from last year, Birmingham from last year, Brighton from last year.

"I know there are no easy games or bad teams in the league but the improvement of others has made the league tougher this year.”

Meanwhile, apart from trying to secure a coveted play-off place, Skuse has a personal ambition he would love to realise over the final eight games — to score what would be only his second goal for the club, having netted just once in his 121 senior appearances to date.

That came in the 3-1 home defeat of Cardiff almost 12 months ago and the player laughed: “I’m still top scorer in training every day. I would love to score one more goal this season, to add to the one I scored last season, so let’s keep our fingers crossed. It really would be lovely if I could score a goal.”

Photo: Action Images

jas0999 added 12:42 - Apr 1 We should be looking to press on year on year. So, I would say anything less than a play off final would be a disappointment. Otherwise we won't have progressed.
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prebsa added 12:56 - Apr 1 Correct skuse, teams around us have improved because they all have drive and ambition to try and get themselves promoted! We have stood still refusing to get anyone in because like our manager always says we cant get better that what we have got. Looks like Wednesday and Birmingham have progressed just fine, they got better and we didnt! If we finish outside the top 6 then we have not progressed and then it will be time for Mick to go!

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brian_a_mul added 14:08 - Apr 1 Injuries to key players with our small squad was always going to take its toll: Bru, Hyam, Skuse, Fraser, Didz, Bish + Murph had his niggles & issues. I think we have done well so far to be this close to the playoffs considering these injuries. With this guys coming back for the run in, I would expect to see a ramp up in energy and quality. Its all to play for! COYB

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StirlingArcher added 15:36 - Apr 1 anything less than playoff final is a disappointment... realism much? we've got a small squad and have had injuries to key players and we're still in the chase for playoffs, just.
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Surco72 added 18:26 - Apr 1 We have a small squad by MM S choice , we keep playing the injuries to key players card every season , if you sign injury prone freebies and have a small squad that tends to happen . Anyone who thinks MM would pick Dids , Bishop , Bru and Fraser in a team together above Skuse , Douglas and Hyam are not realistic but deluded
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battyblue added 19:13 - Apr 1 If you score skuse it will have to be from inside our own half because that's as far forward as you get good Luck anyway we will need it to get in top six now.
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thebeat added 19:55 - Apr 1 Sick of the money excuses. Lack of money doesnt excuse the yard dog football we play. Its gradually got worse and worse. It also doesnt excuse players being picked on likeability and not ability. 3 years we've been hampered playing Chambers at rightback simply because Mick doesnt have the balls to choose 2 from 3 centre halves. Parr was a far better fullback than both Chambers and Knudsen but got shafted due to favouritism. And how Douglas is ever a pro footballer is a mystery right up there with wheres Lord Lucan. Yet he gets picked ahead of far better players week in week out. We've had players in the squad to get better results the problem is theyve never been picked. We should be improving year on year not getting worse.

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Dissboyitfc added 20:52 - Apr 1 Well said the beat.
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dannyrr added 22:06 - Apr 1 Our woeful form at home hasn't helped and our inability to go for a win against teams that are at the lower end of the league who must relish playing us as they normally get their first set of points from us and this will no doubt affect our chances of not only getting into playoff places but also the chances of automatic promotion. I can't see Skuse managing to score another goal although it was a great goal he did score. He is however more likely to pass back to the keeper from the halfway line than go and score a goal. Not getting into playoffs would be a serious failure - failure to play for a win - playing the same players week in week out until they get injured - non effective substitutions - keeping Bart out of goal - inept tactics - all of these will have contributed to us not making it into playoffs. Many people I have listened to have cited these as failures at previous clubs that MM has managed. I can't see the change happening next season. More years of championship football.

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