Ipswich Town defender Luke Chambers has urged supporters to keep up the noise ahead of Brighton’s visit to Portman Road tomorrow.

The 27-year-old once criticised supporters at his former club Nottingham Forest for being too negative; comments which did not endear himself to the City Ground faithful.

Town fans have quickly taken him to their hearts though, with his passionate post-match fist-pump celebration at both ends of the pitch having quickly become synonymous with a home win.

There have been plenty of those too, with the Blues’ home record under Mick McCarthy now standing at an impressive 42 points from a possible 60 following three wins from four at the start of the new season.

And while attendances may have dipped to little more than 15,000 in recent weeks, Chambers insists the addition of drummers in the Sir Bobby Robson Stand has improved the atmosphere.

“The attendances may have dropped in the last few weeks or months, but I think the atmosphere has actually improved. Since that drum has come out everyone seems to be bouncing along. The atmosphere has been fantastic,” he said.

“It definitely lifts the players – we’ve had that discussion in the dressing room. It just seems to bring something extra out of us.”

He continued: “The fans here are very patient. When we struggling down the bottom last season there was only one game where they booed us off. They’ve showed a tremendous attitude towards us because they would have been well within their rights to voice their discontent.

“At home to Yeovil recently we were expected to win and when we were losing at half-time a few sections let us know what they thought. Rightfully so because we didn’t play as well as we should have.

“People pay a hell of a lot of money these days to come and watch us play and for us to entertain them. It is our responsibility to get them off their seats, but if one section can get everyone else going then it does help us.”

While the Town have just come up short on their travels so far this season, their only point coming from a 1-1 draw at Birmingham, home wins have been achieved over Millwall, Middlesbrough and Yeovil.

“I think we’ve made it a fortress,” said Chambers. “That was one of the main things the gaffer instilled in us when he came in.

This is a long way from anywhere and we want teams to arrive knowing they’re not going to be in for an easy game.”