SOCCER: Skipper Matt Holland clocked up a career milestone in the welcome win over relegation rivals Derby, then warned his Ipswich team-mates: "We still can't afford to relax."

By Mel Henderson

SKIPPER Matt Holland clocked up a career milestone in the welcome win over relegation rivals Derby, then warned his Ipswich team-mates: "We still can't afford to relax."

Holland completed an uninterrupted run of 200 league games since his £800,000 move from Bournemouth in 1997 – a first in Portman Road history.

He said: "It's a nice record but I was desperate, first and foremost, to mark the occasion with a win. That result means a lot to us.

"It's not just the three points, but we're finally out of the bottom three and that will give us a massive psychological boost. We're on a good roll at the moment."

Holland & Co may look anything but relegation material after winning five of their last six games, but the influential captain accepts it could be some time yet before Town's fate is decided.

He added: "Our run doesn't mean it's a case of job done. We can't relax and take our foot off the pedal. We're still in a relegation fight.

"You look at the table and Middlesbrough are one place below us with a game in hand, while there are a lot of teams around us separated by very few points.

"What our run means is that we have given ourselves a real chance of pulling clear. It's a platform to built on and, at this stage of the season, nothing more than that."