TODAY could be the turning point of Ipswich Town's season, according to player of the month Fabian Wilnis.The Dutchman last night insisted that the Blues can't afford any more slips if they want automatic promotion and beating Nottingham Forest is imperative in staying in touch with Wigan and Sunderland.

By Derek Davis

TODAY could be the turning point of Ipswich Town's season, according to player of the month Fabian Wilnis.

The Dutchman last night insisted that the Blues can't afford any more slips if they want automatic promotion and beating Nottingham Forest is imperative in staying in touch with Wigan and Sunderland.

“This is an important game, our season could rely on it, that is how important it is,” he said.

“At one stage we were five points clear, now we are three behind so the game against Nottingham Forest is crucial to us.

“We can't afford to drop further behind and we really need to be on their shoulders when they play each other.

“It is in our hands and we have to grab the opportunity.

“It is time to separate the men from the boys and for people to stand up and be counted.

“We have been through a difficult spell now all the lads must show the character we have as a team and come through this.”

Wilnis was part of the Blues side that won promotion via the play-offs in 2000 and then in the team which finished fifth in the Premiership and qualified for Europe when virtually everyone had written them off as the side most likely to go straight back down.

Wilnis recalled how the whole squad had been urged to up their game by 20% to compete, and that they did so became the key to their surprise success.

The Dutchman believes the current squad need to do likewise for the run-in and up their game.

He said: “We have to increase everything for these next 10 games. We all have to step it up a bit but I have to say if we play on Saturday as we have trained this week then we will do well.

“The training has been excellent, sheer quality. Everyone has worked as if they have something to prove and we need to go out and produce against Forest.”

Wilnis' own form cannot be questioned after scooping the EADT Powergen Player of the Month for February, following his success in January.

The proud Dutchman said: “I'm chuffed to have won it again, this award means a lot to the players and to win twice in a row is special.

“It shows I have been consistent and that is something the manager has mentioned to me, so it is good to get the recognition for that.

“It is a shame that as a team we have not been as consistent, losing our past three matches and that tarnishes a bit for me.”

The award is based on post-match marks given in the EADT and Wilnis finished the month with an average of 7.2, ahead of Kelvin Davis, Jim Magilton and David Unsworth, who accumulated an average of 7.0 points.

Wilnis won man of the match for his performance at Preston, while Davis had won the honour against Sheffield United and Leicester City.

After starting the month so well with a fine display at Wigan, Wilnis knows he has to keep up his standards, or add to his input with his first goal of the season.

He added: “Don't worry. I've got my shooting boots on and I'm determined to score a couple before the end of the season.”