‘We’ll go all guns blazing... It’s who dares wins really’ – Lambert’s plan to keep Portman Road positive

James Norwood is set to make his Portman Road bow for Ipswich Town today. Photo: Pagepix

The Blues boss says he has 'put a few quid behind the bar' to buy the first 125 fans who enter the FanZone a drink ahead of this afternoon's home opener against Sunderland.

Town won just three home games on their way to relegation, but Lambert managed to galvanise a previously disillusioned fan base with his positive words and style of play.

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As a result, around 12,600 season tickets have been sold for what is the club's first season of third-tier football in 62 years. Today, a crowd of more than 20,000 is expected for a clash between two of the promotion favourites.

Luke Chambers celebrates last weekend's 1-0 win at Burton Albion. The skipepr could return to the team today following suspension. Photo: Pagepix

"Our support is unrivalled," said Lambert. "This place was like a morgue before we came in, but the atmosphere has turned completely on its head.

"Without the fans you don't have a game and sometimes in this game that gets forgotten.

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"I've had meetings with some of them. We had to find out why the mood did diminish. They probably didn't tell me that much that I didn't already know was wrong.

Goalscorer Luke Garbutt celebrates at Burton after Ipswich's opening day win. Photo: Pagepix

"There's got to be an interaction between the football club and the support. That's a must.

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"We have a young team, they'll make mistakes and we'll lose games along the way, but what I can say to the fans is that we'll always try and give you something.

"We'll play with no fear, with energy and drive. We'll always give it a go. We'll go all guns blazing. It's who dares wins really."

Gwion Edwards is close to returning to action for Ipswich Town. Photo: Ross Halls (Image: Archant)

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Lambert added: "I want them to come and have a really good time. I wouldn't want to come to the stadium, pay £30 and sit there on my backside and criticise. I'd get a sore head doing that.

"I'd want to go there and have a good time. Have a drink outside, smoke outside, whatever, and then when I get in the stadium I'd want to bounce around a bit.

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"That's what we've tried to day to the guys and girls who we've met, 'just come and have a right good time'."

Asked how much of a difference a positive and vocal home crowd can have on the players' performance levels, Lambert said: "When it's rocking you run a bit faster, you make that extra yard. It's amazing what the adrenaline rush of the crowd does for you."