Ipswich Town striker Freddie Sears believes the club has rediscovered the spirit of 2014/15.

The 27-year-old joined Town from Essex neighbours Colchester midway through that feelgood campaign as Mick McCarthy’s men went on to beat the odds and claim a play-off spot for the first time in a decade.

Things then went backwards, with finishes of seventh and 16th, but rejuvenated Town head into Saturday’s Championship game against Fulham at Portman Road looking to make it five successive league wins at the start of a campaign for the first time in the club’s history.

“I don’t want to talk about last season too much, but there was a real negative atmosphere around the place and it was a tough environment to play,” said Sears. “There’s a real buzz again at the minute though, everyone is enjoying it and pulling in the right direction again – it feels like the play-off season when I first joined.”

He continued: “The owner (Marcus Evans) has brought in some good signings and it’s given everyone a lift, as had young players like Flynn Downes and Tristan Nydam breaking through.

“Last year we needed a bit more creativity from midfield and this year we’ve got the players. The way the boys are playing at the minute there is definitely goals in the team. The midfield looks stronger and it looks like we’ll get chances to get on the end of.”

Town have beaten Birmingham, Barnsley, Millwall and Brentford in the league, with the entire senior squad rested for Tuesday night’s gallant 2-1 Carabao Cup defeat at Premier League side Crystal Palace.

Fulham, beaten in the play-off semi-finals last season, will arrive in Suffolk still seeking their first league win in 2017/18.

“We’ve won every game, but we’ve not been the best team in every game,” admitted Sears, who has worked hard on the left of midfield while fellow strikers Joe Garner, Martyn Waghorn and David McGoldrick have netted 10 goals between them.

“We’re not getting carried away and thinking we’re going to go all season unbeaten, but we have got a great opportunity to win our first five league games and create history. It would be amazing to into the international break top of the league and five in five.

“When you are winning games there is no better atmosphere than Portman Road.”