BLUES coach Willie Donachie believes Ipswich Town are fast approaching crunch time in their late bid for a play-off place.After one loss in nine games the Blues have pushed themselves into a top 10 spot and on the shoulder of the play-off contenders and while 11 games to go seems plenty of time, Donachie warned that the pressure is about to mount.

By Derek Davis

BLUES coach Willie Donachie believes Ipswich Town are fast approaching crunch time in their late bid for a play-off place.

After one loss in nine games the Blues have pushed themselves into a top 10 spot and on the shoulder of the play-off contenders and while 11 games to go seems plenty of time, Donachie warned that the pressure is about to mount.

Donachie said: “It is about doing the same thing week-in, week-out. The pressure will build up because as it gets closer and closer it becomes tighter.

“We could lose the next two games and still do it but there will come a time when we have to win. Nothing else will do. At the moment it is just in the back of people's mind that we have to keep winning.

“Hopefully by the time it comes to the crunch we will have other good players back. People like Alan Lee, and other front players but there is a lot more to do before then.”

The key to potential success is how well Town have performed in the past two months, and Donanchie is confident that Town can maintain the high standard.

“We have been very consistent, playing well and we didn't deserve to lose at Wolves.

“It was always going to be hard as everyone was writing us off but we are still in with a chance of the play-offs.

“Saturday will be a hard game. I have seen Leicester recently and they have changed entirely from earlier in the season. They are now a very hard working team. Much more aggressive, a much more honest side than previously and we know they won't make it easy.”