IPSWICH Town's David Norris today said that it is down to the players to lift the Blues up the Coca-Cola Championship table.

Elvin King

IPSWICH Town's David Norris today said that it is down to the players to lift the Blues up the Coca-Cola Championship table.

Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Charlton ended an unbeaten run of five league matches, and came against a side that was lacking in confidence and under pressure from their own fans.

Addicks manager Alan Pardew could hardly hide the huge relief he felt at gaining three welcome points from a game where Town should have pocketed at least a point.

“It is all down to us, the players,” said Norris.

“We have 20 players in our squad good enough for the team to be in the top six.”

And Norris had a message for those supporters losing patience with manager Jim Magilton's attempts to make the Blues into a potent force again despite spending around £12million on transfers and wages over the last nine months.

“Please don't blame the manager, blame us,” said Norris, who cost £2million from Plymouth last January.

“We are prepared properly for every game.

“The amount of homework that is done is incredible by the manager and his coaching staff.

“There is nothing wrong with what they are doing.

“It is down to us - the players who take the manager's message on to the field.”

Norris knows the importance of the two-week break before the next game - at home to Swansea on Saturday week.

“If we continue to fail to kill off teams like Saturday then the top pack will get away from us,” he said.

“This is a danger we have to be aware of.

“But like the rest of the lads I am sure we will soon start moving up the table.

“We are more than capable of putting together three or wins on the bounce, and this is all that it takes find yourself right near the top.

“From the Swansea game until Christmas will be a critical time for us, and we know there is some improving to do.

“But with the management and player strength we now have at this club we will end the season in a much higher position than we are now.

“It was disappointing on Saturday and similar to other away games we have played this season that we should have won.”