Luke Chambers insists his Ipswich Town squad will take no notice of pre-season predictions, with many tipping the Blues to endure a tough campaign.
Paul Hurst will begin his Portman Road reign with a home clash against Blackburn on Saturday, with most bookmakers predicting the Blues will be in the thick of a relegation battle during 2018/19.
But Chambers, who will captain Ipswich again under Hurst, is blocking out such predictions and insists the Blues can ‘turn a few heads’ under their new manager.
“It’s not the first time but when do the bookies ever get it right in the Championship?” Chambers said.
“Even if we were allowed to bet on accumulators, or matches, I’m pretty sure there haven’t been too many people getting results right in the Championship.
“I don’t care what bookies – or anyone else – says. We know what’s going on within the squad and with the new staff. We will leave no stone unturned to be the best we can be and potentially cause a few heads to turn a little bit.
“It is a new start, a new era like I’ve seen the club promoting.
“It feels like people are behind us and if we can get that atmosphere, like I’ve experienced in the past when we’ve been doing well, Portman Road can be a difficult place for other teams to come. We’ll be doing everything we can to make it as difficult as possible for them.”
Following the opening-day clash with newly-promoted Blackburn, the Blues head to a Rotherham side which won their place in the Championship during the League One play-off final in May.
And Chambers insists his side should be aiming for six points from their opening two games.
“We have to hit the ground running. We’re playing two of the teams who have come up from League One in our opening two games.
“They are going to be full of excitement and confidence, so those first two games are vital for us.
“They are both games we should be looking to win – no other mindset. Home to Blackburn, win that game. Away to Rotherham, win that game.
“We shouldn’t be looking at anything else past that.”
MORE: Championship managers to be shown yellow and red cards to combat touchline dissent
The Blues skipper is, once again, predicting an open season full of surprises as the campaign draws near.
“It looks pretty open, although we always say that,” he said. It will be a shock to the teams coming down, having seen what happened to the likes of Sunderland.
“It shows you what can happen to a club over the space of nine months. Also, Reading were flying high last year, everyone was giving them plaudits and Jaap Stam was being hailed as the best manager we’d seen in a long time.
“The next season he’s been sacked and they’re fighting relegation. It just shows you how it’s such fine margins in the Championship.
“With the approach we’ll be having we’ll be giving ourselves the best chance to be consistent and, like I say, cause a few upsets and be where we think we can be.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here