Ipswich Town striker Daryl Murphy believes his side’s fighting spirit and growing confidence can lead them into the play-offs.

The Irishman’s 11th goal of the season rescued a point as Mick McCarthy’s side refused to wave the white flag against top-six rivals Nottingham Forest at Portman Road on Saturday.

Town pressed forward in search of a winner after Murphy’s late header cancelled out Danny Collins’ fourth-minute opener, but were unable to find a killer blow in the final stages. But with Reading, Wigan and Brighton all failing to win, Town and Forest both remain two points behind the top six.

“I think we’re definitely good enough (to finish sixth),” said Murphy.

“Forest dominated the first half and could have gone two or three up, but I thought we were brilliant in the second half. We attacked and pressurised them from the start.

“We came back and beat a good Derby side on Tuesday (2-1), and even though we were one-nil down for a long time on Saturday, I never thought we wouldn’t get back in the game.

“That’s the confidence we have in ourselves at the minute. We know we can get back into these games. It’s just a question of when because our confidence is so high.

“Now is the right time to show our fighting spirit because in previous years the teams that have gone up or reached the play-offs have had a good run at the end of the season.

“He (McCarthy) said we would have taken seven points at the start of the week. We’re disappointed we haven’t taken nine but if we can keep our run going there is no reason why we can’t do it.”