PABLO Counago is determined to play his part in the final push for promotion – by ensuring the red mist does not descend again, writes Derek Davis.Counago has missed two important spells of the season after three and four-match bans respectively for two stupid sendings-off.

PABLO Counago is determined to play his part in the final push for promotion – by ensuring the red mist does not descend again, writes Derek Davis.

Counago has missed two important spells of the season after three and four-match bans respectively for two stupid sendings-off.

As is usual for players it takes a couple of games to get back in full flow and the former Spanish Under-21 international has showed recently he is back in the groove.

His performance and goal in the 3-1 win at Gillingham went a long way in showing he will be vital to Town's run-in, especially if Darren Bent misses out against Notingham Forest tomorrow with a hamstring pull.

Counago said: "The season has gone quite well but it could have gone better had I not had two red cards.

"I have been a bit unlucky and missed seven games for getting them which has been a problem, but I definitely won't be getting any more and I hope to be playing in all six, hopefully all nine, remaining games."

With just two defeats in 20 games and searching for their 10th consecutive game unbeaten, Counago feels Ipswich have a psychological advantage going into the last month of the regular season.

He said: "We are just one position off the play-offs and we have been playing well recently. It is an important time to be doing that and we need to carry on and then we will get into the top six. Once we get into the top six I'm sure we can go on and win the play-offs and get into the Premiership.

"The teams ahead of us will be looking over their shoulders and worrying."

The importance of the final six games will act as a spur for Town and Counago is convinced an unbeaten run at Portman Road will underpin their successful push into the top six.

He said: "We did not have a good first half of the season and people were even talking about us being in a relegation fight, but we have come back in the second part of the season and now we are challenging for promotion through the play-offs.

"We have been playing well and now we can carry that form on, especially by winning all our home games – starting with Forest.

"We have some momentum building and we need to take that on. We have dropped points against lower teams but now we know every game is very important and when we do play well then we are difficult to beat.

"We know on Saturday we need to concentrate on winning, play to our best and then we know we can achieve what we want."

Counago has banged in 15 goals so far this season, and it might have been 16 if he had got a touch on Tommy Miller's equaliser at Priestfield last Saturday.

He admitted: "It was Tommy's goal but it doesn't matter to me who scored, just as long as we won, which we did."

The popular Spanish striker helped launch a new-look trim for wheelchair-users which are now available at the club shop.

He added: "I'm pleased to help promote these wheelchair trims. They put a smile on people's faces and that can only be good."