Skipper Luke Chambers has saluted fans for their support this season and hopes they continue to back the team in their struggle to survive in the Championship.

The experienced defender looked back to Friday’s 2-1 home defeat by promotion-chasing West Bromwich Albion and ahead to Wednesday’s visit to Portman Road from a 14th-placed Bristol City side looking to avoid a fifth successive league defeat.

Chambers, who is Town’s only ever-present in the current campaign, said: “Fair play to the club for doing the promotion that they did for the Albion game.

“That certainly shows the fanbase is there — we just need to start picking up some wins to get them back in here regularly.

“Hopefully we have sent them away with a lot more encouragement than we have recently.

"I don’t think I’m telling a lie when I say the last three games have shown how far ahead we are compared to where we’ve been. That’s the positive we need to take from games.

“When we’re in the ascendancy, like we were at Reading and there were chances to score, we have to score more goals and be a bit more clinical. That’s in both boxes and it’s not just the forwards.”

The 33-year-old defender remains upbeat about Town’s chances of avoiding the drop into League One, especially with the upturn in performances since Paul Lambert took over as manager three games ago.

He added: “There are a lot of frustrations from supporters nowadays because we’re up against it massively.

“In the Championship there are budgets and things like that but you should be able to come to the game and enjoy it.

“I think they enjoyed it on Friday night, even though we’ve not won the game, and credit to the manager because he’s gone out of his way to meet with fans and try to bring about a bond that I think has been missing for quite a while now — possibly since our play-off season.

“There’s been a bit of negativity from all sides really but the way they’ve stayed with us since day one of the season has shown how much they want to get behind the team.

“It’s there to be seen and if you turn up to games like Friday you can see the fanbase is there.

“We really appreciate it and at the end we went over to say thank you to everyone who was still in the stadium.

“I think they will stay with us now because if we play like that it won’t be too long before it starts to turn.

“It’s our job to entertain and the manager has told us to play in a way where we all know exactly what our jobs are.

“We know that if someone doesn’t do something in particular they won’t be playing. That’s the frustration, because we need to turn that positive feeling into goals and wins.”

Meanwhile, Town's table-topping U23s are in action away against fourth-placed Millwall at the Lions' Calmont Road training ground this afternoon (KO 1.30pm).

Photo: TWTD

IpswichT62OldBoy added 18:59 - Nov 26 And thinking about it, a home crowd of 22,000 odd for a team 5 points adrift at the bottom isn't shabby, I understand special circumstances but if the tickets were given away would anyone go watch Hull?
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Swn98 added 19:04 - Nov 26 Forever Town was with a palace supporter today he said he came off the bench and got injured again don't know how serious.
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northblue added 21:15 - Nov 26 6years ago we were struggling at the bottom. MM came in and rescued us. We are in a worse position now. MM had championship players. PL has league one players. I hope we can survive but I have my doubts.
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warktheline added 21:16 - Nov 26 Can't understand this 'happy losing mentality'....obviously Chambers has become very accustomed, the sooner 'skipper' moves on the better! Lambert will obviously need time to unload such mentality and replace it with fresh positive impetus!
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BrettenhamBlue added 02:34 - Nov 27 Not happy about this losing mentality that seems to have permeated throughout the side. Lambert will have work on his hands to turn that attitude around. No footballers should be happy about losing every week. Feel for younger fans at the moment. My son isn't happy being an ITFC fan anymore and both my nephews ran off and now support Norwich. Too many years of championship football, no cup runs of any kind whatsoever and no derby wins. I'm worried he'll convert to Norwich, which is even more likely if they get promoted. Less loyalty around these days. One of my mates is happy with what is happening. He's a Tranmere fan and he's hoping to renew that rivalry with me next season. We can also finally get our revenge on Lincoln City. Lots to look forward too :(

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