Ipswich Town midfielder Cole Skuse says the club’s players are continuing to think big as the halfway stage of the season fast approaches.

The Blues head to Fulham tonight (7.45pm ko) aiming to build on a run of four wins from six which has lifted them back up into the play-off places.

A host of teams in a congested mid-table are breathing down their necks, while fifth-placed Burnley are four points ahead and the gap to second-placed Middlesbrough is a daunting nine.

“We’re back in the top six and that’s a minimum requirement for where we want to be,” said Skuse, who was part of the Town team which finished sixth last season before losing to Norwich in the play-off semi-finals.

“I think a lot of teams will be looking at the top two spots and thinking that’s still very realistic, not just ourselves. The whole league in general is very, very tight.”

Many have tipped the top five – Brighton, Middlesbrough, Hull, Derby and Burnley – to all last the pace, but Skuse said: “We don’t see it that way. I know we lost to Middlesbrough (2-0 at home), but I thought we were the much better side for 55/60 minutes.

“I know at the end of the day the three points is the be-all and end-all, but I thought we competed well. Last season we did well against the top teams, so we have nothing to be afraid of.”

With games against Derby (h), Brighton (a) and Burnley (a) all on the near horizon, Skuse said: “There might be a little gap now, but there will be times in their seasons where they have a little wobble. If we can pick up some momentum that gap can quickly close. We’re still aiming high, that’s for sure.”

With Town aiming to win a fourth successive away game tonight, Skuse said: “We’ve had teams come to our place and change their set-up to accommodate us. We never go away and change the way we play, we go away to stamp our authority on the game. The last few weeks the lads have been brilliant. Every game plan has worked.”

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