Jonas Knudsen insisted the Ipswich Town players still have a duty to the fans to give their all between now and the end of the season, despite their play-off hopes all but vanishing in recent weeks.
While still mathematically possible, the out-of-form Blues must now beat Middlesbrough, MK Dons and Derby, hope Sheffield Wednesday lose all three of their games, as well as needing Cardiff to slip up, if they are to gain the most unlikely of play-off places.
Danish full-back Knudsen knows his side have next to no hope of extending their season, but insisted the players must show their appreciation for the fans in their final three games, starting with an attempt to dent Middlesbrough’s automatic promotion hopes on Saturday.
“We have to think about how many fans come to the stadium and how many fans go to away games, and of course we have to finish the season strong,” he said.
“For me I want to win every game and I know the lads all do too, we want to win them and we need to win them.
“We have to keep going and finish in the best position we can. The fans have been so great for us this season and we need to think about them and try and make them happy.
“We know the play-offs are a long way away so maybe we can go up there (Middlesbrough) and try and play a little free.
“They have something to play for, they need a win, so we want to go up there and try and beat them.”
Knudsen scored his first goal for the club in Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw with Fulham, as he converted Freddie Sears’ cross in stoppage time, with the Dane now keen to add to his tally.
“It was nice to get a goal, I will always keep going and try to do my best when I go in the box, and I like to get the goal and make the fans a little bit happier,” he said.
“It’s important because we didn’t want to lose so I’m happy with that, although we should have done better.
“It was brilliant, I’ve had some chances recently and I knew it would come, so it’s nice that it has now, but hopefully I will get more in the last three games.”
Tommy Smith made his 250th Ipswich Town appearance on Tuesday night, with Knudsen grateful for the centre-back’s help during his first season in English football.
“Tommy has been great and a lot of the lads have been great to me,” he said.
“He (Smith) is a great guy and a great player and he’s helped me with a lot of things. He knows the town which has been really helpful.
“It’s fantastic to play 250 games for one club, he’s a great player and a great lad, it’s been good to play with him.
“I have a lot of thanks to say to the other players for helping me this season.”
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