IBRAHIMA Sonko insists Paul Jewell doesn’t need to spend millions to make the Blues a Championship force.

The grim statistics might tell a different story with Saturday’s narrow defeat at Reading, Town’s 12th defeat of the season.

But the confident defender maintains better times are ahead after plenty of encouraging signs in the 1-0 loss at the Madejski stadium.

And as the January transfer window opens, allowing Jewell to add to his ranks, one of his 13 signings this season believes the manager doesn’t need to go too crazy.

Sonko, who picked up a fifth yellow card at his old club and is suspended for today’s visit of Nottingham Forest, said: “There are signs of progress. We had a really bad run and we weren’t playing well at all.

“But we have managed to dig ourselves out and we were confident of getting something at Reading – which I think we deserved.

“The manager knows what he is going to do in January, it is up to him to decide if he needs more players or not.

“I know we have got enough here to do it – we just have to start getting it right.”

Alex Pearce’s second-half header was the difference at Reading but Ipswich certainly created the better chances and deserved a point.

But the defeat means Town start 2012 in 19th place, just six points off the relegation zone.

Sonko added: “We have the squad to kick on and we just need to string some results together. That is our aim for 2012. We need to beat Forest and put ourselves on the right track.”

The last 12 months were another to forget for Town fans with the club suffering their fourth-worst defensive record of all time and the worst calendar year for 47 years.

And supporters will be hoping for better fortune at home, starting today, with the hosts having lost in the league 11 times in 2011 – the joint second-highest in the club’s history.

With Sonko missing, Ivar Ingirmarsson should come straight in while the Blues are also sweating on the fitness of hamstring victim Jason Scotland.

– For full match preview, see today’s EAST and Evening Star.