Ipswich 'cannot rely on favours' - Clarke

Ipswich Town midfielder Jack Clarke is undaunted by the prospect of three away games in a row as they look to secure automatic promotion from the Championship.

Clarke scored an 87th-minute penalty to salvage a point against Middlesbrough on Sunday, which put Town second on goal difference.

They must now travel three times in seven days, starting with Charlton on Wednesday, then West Bromwich Albion and Southampton.

"It's in our hands; it's up to us. We know the scenario we're in, we know it's down to us and we can't rely on anybody else doing us any favours," Clarke told BBC Radio Suffolk.

"I don't think we've been particularly helped by the scheduling this year, but it's what we've got a big squad for - we've got a lot of talented players, and we're going to need everybody to dig deep in the next week or so."

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Just three points separate Ipswich from Middlesbrough in fifth place, and Clarke said it was up to everybody to rise to the challenge, no matter their level of experience.

"I don't think you can just rely on people who've been there and seen it and done it. Whether you've played one game or 100 games, everybody's opinion is valued, and we're all going to be called upon at different times," the 25-year-old said.

Following his successful spot-kick against Boro, Clarke now has 15 goals for the season and always backs himself to score in that situation.

He said: "I've taken a few this year, and thankfully the nerves don't magnify in terms of what the scenario is; I'm always confident standing over the ball.

"I practice them during the week, and if one comes, you've just got to stick to your thing [plan] - if the keeper saves, he's done well; if I score, I've done well.

"The day before a game I'll pick my spot and take two or three so I know what I'm doing when it comes."

But he continued: "I don't think about individual things too much; I'd rather score zero but we win every week."

Clarke said he hoped the result against Middlesbrough would prove to be a "good point" at the end of the season, which they end with a home match against QPR.

He added: "First half we played really well; we should have given ourselves more of a cushion going into half-time.