'Can't see anyone stopping Saints... including us'

[BBC]

Earlier we asked what you thought of Ipswich Town's chances of automatic promotion from the Championship after Tuesday's shock defeat at Portsmouth, with big games to come against Middlesbrough and red-hot Southampton, who are in the thick of the fight to finish in the top-two.

Here are some of your responses:

Paul: We need 10 points from five games. No reason to panic. We'll beat Boro on Sunday - it's the away form that could be our downfall. Too many times we've failed to match the work rate and intensity of our opponents on our travels.

Andrew: It's in our own hands. Do the team think it's worth fighting for? On last night's performance the answer is no!

Daniel: I'd say we're still favourites. Boro look unlikely to turn around their woeful form, and if we can beat them, then we'll be in a great position. Southampton are a great side, but realistically, they'd need to go 16 games unbeaten, 10 straight wins, to feasibly have a chance to beat us to it. And if they do that, then honestly, there's not much we can do but respect it, and prep for the play-offs. Either way, five games to go, onwards and upwards!

Steve: Ipswich have needed a proven striker all season! I cannot understand why they have not pushed to sign one! To be honest, Ipswich have been very lucky to be where they are at the moment. They have been so unconvincing all season. And struggling to dominate teams all season! The Portsmouth result was a disaster, a win there and on Sunday against Middlesbrough would have set us up perfectly and they could have afforded to lose at Southampton at the end of the month! I think Southampton at the moment would destroy Ipswich!

Martin: I still feel Ipswich will very much finish in top two.

Bobby: No plan B when subs are made, there's no change to the way we play, too predictable, when teams get in our faces we crumble (Wrexham). A very different team to the one that got promoted. Southampton to get automatic promotion!

Alan: We've not hit any sort of consistency of performance all season. Results have been more ground out this time round rather than fluent and fast football, apart from games where we've done it for a half only. The squad is exceptional, we should really be level if not above Coventry. I think we've enough in the tank left to sneak 2nd spot still, but Southampton are now the real threat. Can't see us getting anything at St Mary's, so it has to be wins elsewhere, we are capable and should do that.

Simon: In our present position we need 11 points from 5 games with games against two other promotion candidates amongst the fixtures. We are in the box seat! We have the manager and players to achieve automatic promotion. Focus on one game at a time. We probably won't win every game and nor will the other teams. Believe.

Matt: We are still the pole sitters. After a big emotional game (at Norwich) on Saturday, the trip to Portsmouth was always going to be a banana skin. A loss last night might just have done the lads a world of good.

David: Squeaky bum time, must start playing our strongest team at all times, not keep changing it.

Rob: Ipswich are only in the top two due to teams such as Boro and Millwall faltering. The form has been anything but promotion worthy. Now Southampton are showing what a promotion worthy team should play like, and I can't see anyone stopping them, including us. It's not really clicked and too much squad rotation has left us needing more to get over the line. The lack of quality shown against some lower opposition despite the funding is a real concern.

Fergal: Southampton to finish second. Ipswich to win play-off final. We lost out on automatic promotion by not having a quality front man all season.