Goalscorer Freddie Sears is hoping he and his team-mates can give Town fans “something to sing about” when the resurgent Blues take on Norwich City in the East Anglian derby at Carrow Road next Sunday.

Sears netted Town’s ninth-minute opener in Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with Leeds United, the latest in a series of impressive Blues performances against some of the division’s higher flyers.

Having drawn 2-2 at home to then-third Reading, Town inflicted Aston Villa’s first home defeat of the season last week when they won 1-0 at Villa Park, then drew 1-1 with current Championship leaders Brighton at the Amex Stadium prior to Saturday’s draw with the fifth-placed Whites.

While that match was in progress, the seventh-placed Canaries were losing 2-1 at Burton, who are 20th.

“There has been a really good buzz about the place,” Sears reflected on recent results.

“The new signings have come in and lifted us all. We have done well in the last three games.

“Before those games you could have looked at the fixtures and thought ‘Where are the points going to come from?’.

“Even as players you wonder where the points are going to come from but we have dug in, got a good win and now back to back draws, so we are looking for another one coming up.

“It is going to be a big one at Norwich, let’s hope we can give our fans something to sing about.”

Looking back at Saturday’s match, he added: “It was another good performance from the boys and probably a fair result in the end, although it could have gone either way.

“We probably deserved it on the first half performance but that’s how football goes.

“They were good in the second half but we held them. Given the week we have had we will take this.”

The former West Ham and Colchester man was delighted to make a goalscoring return to the side in place of the suspended Tom Lawrence, who also misses out at Norwich.

“I’m pleased with the finish,” the 26-year-old said regarding his third goal of the season, his first since October.

“It was a good ball from Wardy, in fact it was a good move all round. I was pleased to be able to get on the end of it and delighted to see it hit the back of the net, if I’m honest.

“The goal, playing, everything gives you a lift. It has been frustrating for me the last couple of weeks being on the bench. Not coming on, all that, it has been hard for me because I’m not used to that.

“I had a point to prove and I was determined. I felt fresh as I have not played much and I felt good out there.

“It doesn’t hurt for me to give the manager a nudge but Tom has been brilliant for us.

“There was a chance for one of us to come in and stake a claim and I feel I have done that.

“I’m just happy to be playing, being involved and getting a point, which could have been all three.”

Leeds manager Garry Monk and a number of his players complained about the state of the Portman Road surface after the match and Sears admitted they had a point.

“The pitch is not great to be honest, but it is a football pitch and you have to play on it,” he said.

“We have played on worse and we have played on better. Villa Park last week was lovely but unfortunately ours is not as good as it was. That’s football and you have to deal with it."

Stuart Dallas, who netted the visitors' equaliser three minutes before half-time, said: “I’m happy with the goal. It is another coming to the back post and I have anticipated what Chris Wood is going to do.

“There was another a little earlier which I could have attacked it as it was too high for Woody.

“This time though it was a race with the full-back [Jordan Spence] and it was all about desire and determination and I managed to get there.”

He added: “It was important not to get beat here. Of course it would have been better to win but if you can’t win then don’t lose and we showed a real determination here.

“It was not easy here. The pitch made it difficult to stand, never mind play, but we dug in and got a good point.

“It is a difficult pitch, it’s not easy to stand to close players down, but it is the same for both teams.”

Meanwhile, the Blues U23s are in action against Crystal Palace at Dulwich Hamlet’s Champion Hill Stadium this afternoon (KO 1pm).

Photo: TWTD

BlueMachines added 06:09 - Feb 20 Shows how poor we've been when 1 win and 3 draws is described as resurgent. But the performances have been much better. Freddie, having something to sing about is what many of us Town fans want. We want to be proud of team again. Let's stick together for Sunday and bring 3 points home! COYBs!!
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Michael11 added 06:28 - Feb 20 Get in their faces and attack them. If we sit and play for a draw then we'll get pumped. Good that the players go into this game with a bit of confidence and they're on the back of a defeat. All the pressure is on them!
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Mick_Mills_Tache added 06:30 - Feb 20 BlueMachines, I think the resurgent tag is meant for the performances. Considering the opposition the results were against, I'd say it is resurgent too. I really, really, really do hope we beat the Budgies this week! It's been too long since we've had the bragging rights and a draw doesn't suffice. Just wish it was at PR as they're terrible on the road at the mo. Please, Town, 3 points against the carrot crunchers and this season won't have been a complete and utter waste and failure.

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BlueMachines added 06:58 - Feb 20 I didn't say I disagreed with the description. Just highlighting how desperate we have become to grasp some positives. Given our opposition these points were unexpected. Shame we haven't been able to perform like this against all that poor opposition over the previous fixtures.
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KiwiTractor added 07:05 - Feb 20 We need to try and take a game to them. Attack, attack = 3 points.
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NoCanariesAllowed added 07:19 - Feb 20 Says much for the lack of confidence prior to this recent run if the players are questioning where the points will come from as much as we are. The fans can be as concerned about fixtures as we like without it making any difference, but if the players are looking at the schedule and doubting themselves it becomes an issue. They have picked themselves, and indeed us, up of late though, and just in time. No reason to be fearful of Sunday if we just keep giving a good account of ourselves as the last few performances have done.

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Wickwar_Blue added 07:32 - Feb 20 We used to known for having one of the finest pitches in the Football League. Why the change?
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Sam added 07:45 - Feb 20 We are definitely due a win there. A draw would be a good result but I'd love a win. A few years ago I was mascot at the derby when we lost 2-0. I'll be watching from home and cheering on the lads. Do your best Town. BLUE ARMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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NBVJohn added 07:48 - Feb 20 'Sears Hoping to Give Fans Something to Sing About at Carrow Road' Yep, so are we, the fans. By the way Freddie - a really well taken goal on Saturday. Jolly well done. Now, please, a message to the entire management and players at ITFC: Stop talking. Work really hard this week. Don't say another word to the media or anyone else until the job is done. I get fed up with reading this nonsense prior to a big game, only to be feel let down afterwards.

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IamSpartacus added 07:54 - Feb 20 We have played MUCH better over the last few games, got 4 great away points and completely outplayed Leeds for a fair proportion of the game on Sat- in what was a really entertaining game. What more do fans realistically want? A great foundation for hope on Sunday....
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TimmyH added 08:25 - Feb 20 Glad to see an upturn in performances and long may it continue but lets not get too carried away...a win at Carrot Road would be truly a confidence boost for at the club.
2

Westy added 11:09 - Feb 20 Let's go for it on Sunday. If we attack we can get a result. We could have beaten Leeds but started sitting too deep with ten minutes to go because we has settled for a draw.
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Lightningboy added 11:14 - Feb 20 Seems to me that Emyr Huws has been the big difference in our mentality when it comes to going forwards with the ball and actually trying to make things happen. I wonder what are the possibilities of making his move permanent?..I dread next season if we've got some of the current faces still here (skuse,Douglas,Bru)..hopefully we'll make a decent bid for Huws sooner rather than later.

5

MathieandMarshall added 12:59 - Feb 20 Wickwar_Blue - Our pitch was award winning when Alan Ferguson was groundsman however he was poached (by Sheepshanks) to join the team at St Georges Park to look after the England team training ground. We replaced him with some guy from a local school i believe?
2

nysully added 13:20 - Feb 20 How has Portman Road which was historically one of the best surfaces in England fallen into such disrepair? Alan Ferguson's replacement a bad one or has Marcus penny pinched on the upkeep?
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 14:45 - Feb 20 We hope so too, Freddie!
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 16:27 - Feb 20 Interesting one about the pitch. Yes, we did use to get awards for it. I believe one of the problems is that since the BR was extended the air flow to the pitch has been reduced. Good for the fans but not for the grass.
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Seasider added 17:46 - Feb 20 First time I have heard the pitch criticised,and thought at first it was sour grapes from Leeds;but then a couple of correspondent's said that McCarthy didn't want a good pitch as style of play wasn't suited.Not sure what to make of that;but with Freddie also remarking about it, think the present groundsman probably not up to Alan Ferguson's; but few are. If MM had asked AF the above,then think he would have received short shrift.We miss you Alan! Sheepshanks didn't really do Town any favours by landing us with Evans,and then stealing our award winning groundsman!

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woohoo added 18:45 - Feb 20 If you score the winner on Sunday Freddie, you can marry my daughter. (I don't have a daughter, but you get the idea)
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cfmoses added 21:41 - Feb 20 Freddie...hope you pop in from time to time and have a read here. For me you are one of the most dedicated front men we have had. Your manager played you out of position for too long but you still did the mileage and often were a last ditch defender. You never moaned about this....you were doing a job. And in mid season whilst playing out of position you often were a key reason why we stole a point in a 0-0 or 1-1.With the loanees in place now I hope you get more runs as a front striker and show yet again what you are capable of. I know you'll be there at Carrot Road on Sunday - we need you to do the business. Good luck mate.

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IpswichT62OldBoy added 09:02 - Feb 21 For some reason the state of the pitch has upset me more than the state of the Club. It does seem to be a metaphor, the most basic thing a club can possess is a pitch, if you can't get that right then there is a problem. That aside, it is great to see a more attacking footballing approach and to hear how well we are doing producing young players. Make sure you have your inoculations if you are travelling up on Sunday, hopefully the trip back down the A140 will be joyful, slack jawed locals gaping tearfully as you drive south towards the Waveney.

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cobboldblue added 21:41 - Feb 21 Re the pitch, as others have said Ferguson was an excellent grounds man. But also since the new north and south stands were built we have not had such good pitches, as one poster remarked it affects the air circulation. I know there have been drainage issues in the past but can't recall whether they were resolved? ( PR is very close to the water table I think). Add to that the installation of undersoil heating and you have a number of potential factors.

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dirtydingusmagee added 16:51 - Feb 23 in the days when us Town supporters used to have smiles ,our pitch was said to be second only to Wembley, UNFORTUNATELY ,the pitch and club have deteriorated under Marcus Evans.
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