Ipswich Town midfielder Jay Tabb insists automatic promotion is still very much the target as nerves begin to affect numerous clubs at the top of the Championship table.

The Blues remain outside the Championship play-off places following Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with sixth-place Brentford, their patchy form in 2015 consisting of four wins, two draws and six defeats.

With many of the other leading sides also faltering of late, this is shaping up to be the closest promotion race in a long time. The top four – Bournemouth, Derby, Watford and Middlesbrough – are now all locked on 66 points, followed by Norwich (65), Brentford (62), Ipswich (61), Wolves (58) and Forest (53).

“After losing two games on the bounce (at Norwich and Leeds) it was good to stop the mini-rot and get a point,” said Tabb.

“We are only five points off the top and that was the best we have played for a while.

“There are still 30 points to play for and the top two is still within our grasp.

“Finishing in the top two might need a slightly lower points tally than usual, but getting in the top six might need a bit more.

“Teams are dropping points because it is nervy trying to get to the Premiership with everything that’s at stake.

“In previous years teams have run away with it, but everyone down to us and even Wolves is still looking at the top two.

“It is going to go to the last game of the season for the top two and top six.”

Town’s 10 game run-in starts with a game at fourth-place Middlesbrough on Saturday, then it’s the midweek visit of Bolton followed by a trip to third-placed Watford and a Good Friday clash with current table-toppers Bournemouth at Portman Road.

“If we can go on another little run, as we have before, then we are in with a great chance,” said Tabb.

“We had a mini-blip but it is not like we lost a load on the run.

“It was good to get a point and if we can get a win against any of the top teams we have coming up then it will more than make up for dropping these two points.”