Michael Chopra admits the possibility of Ipswich taking over as early-season Championship leaders has been a major topic of conversation among the players as they prepare to visit current table-toppers Blackpool.

Chopra’s late goal was enough to bank all three points at Watford on Tuesday and it was on the return journey from Vicarage Road that he and his colleagues started to discuss the possibility of occupying pole position.

He said: “We were sitting on the bus talking about it the other night, saying we could be sitting on top of the league if we beat Blackpool. That’s a huge incentive.

“We’re staying up for the game at Carlisle in the Capital One Cup and then we are at home to Huddersfield. Our aim is to be on top going into the international break and to be in the next round of the cup.”

But Chopra knows it will not be easy against Ian Holloway’s men, who were very close to an instant return to the Premiership last season.

Chopra added: “They are the only team with a 100 per cent record after two games, which tells you how tight the division is going to be again this season.

“To be fair they are probably a bit unlucky to be playing in the Championship again because they played so well in the play-off final against West Ham and probably feel they deserved to go up.

“It’s a tough task but if we play the way we’ve been playing recently there’s no reason why we can’t go there and get the right result.

“There have been good performances from the lads in each of our last three games. We have a good set of lads here who are fighting for each other and we didn’t always have that last year.

“We won at Watford on Tuesday but last year, in the last 20 minutes or so, the heads might have dropped and we could have conceded goals. This time we all stuck at it and battled well to get the win that we deserved.

“There haven’t been many new players coming in compared to last year when I think the manager made about 11 new signings. This year the gaffer has kept everybody together and it is benefiting us. Everybody is working hard for each other and our aim is to get promoted.”

Photo: Action Images

backwiththeboysagain added 07:03 - Aug 25 COYB!
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azza01 added 07:09 - Aug 25 Blue army spent nyt up north buzzin and can't wait for the fame top of the league here we come bbbllluuee arrrrmmmyyy!!!!! Coyb's
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azza01 added 07:10 - Aug 25 "Fame" Game lol
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ianpeace added 07:32 - Aug 25 Too many beers from last night in blackpool. Come on lets beat the seasiders.
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Back_The_Boss added 08:36 - Aug 25 Keep up the good start Town, lets hope its a nice trip to the seaside this time.
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Ipswich24 added 09:04 - Aug 25 COYB
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martin12120137 added 09:36 - Aug 25 are we all not getting a bit carries away here dont get me wrong and i hope i am wrong but weve had 2 good gamed and suddenly were all talkig about going to to the top of the table and gaining promotion we should hold fire a bit we dont want to be to disapointed if it goes tits up
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Michael11 added 10:23 - Aug 25 I can see a few goals today i think our attack could have a field day with their defence but have to be careful with our defending! COYB!!
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Coastalblue added 10:52 - Aug 25 Not sure anybody is talking about promotion? But there is a chance to go top, albeit very early on, and even if it's only brief it's something to be enjoyed.
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B1TFC added 11:20 - Aug 25 Martin, while I agree with you, last year Southampton went top very early and stayed there!! All about a bit of confidence, so let's hope our boys get there, get the confidence, and stay there!! Here's to a great season :) COYB
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beerhelps added 11:50 - Aug 25 coastalblue - love the pic!
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norfolk_mighty_horse added 14:04 - Aug 25 good to see some positivity from the boys. Confidence can be a wonderful thing. here's to a great start!! COYB
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raycrawfordswig added 15:53 - Aug 25 2-0 down half-time
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raycrawfordswig added 16:24 - Aug 25 5-0 62mins
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runningout added 17:10 - Aug 25 quite a number of posters need a reality check...
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Hunterssecondball added 17:28 - Aug 25 HA, HA HA HA. HA, HA HA HA. I think the players need the reality check as well if they thought that the first 2 results were a yardstick with which to measure their next few performances. Why can't they just shut up and talk with their feet instead of their arses.
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Monarch_Blue added 17:35 - Aug 25 What a difference 90 minutes can make! Promotions certainties one minute, relelegation certainties the next. The truth of course lies somewhere in between.
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RegencyBlue added 19:17 - Aug 25 Well that turned out well!
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chepstowblue added 02:23 - Aug 26 We talked about going top but settled for a more realistic 15th instead !!
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