Town midfielder Jonathan Douglas is confident that Freddie Sears will end his long goal drought soon and says the 26-year-old does “sensational” work for the team.

Sears last scored a competitive goal after 16 seconds of the 2-1 win at Fulham in December, 34 matches ago, although he was on target in the pre-season friendly at Shelbourne in July.

Echoing comments made by manager Mick McCarthy after Saturday’s game, Douglas said: “The work Freddie does for us, on and off the ball, is sensational. It is only a matter of time before he scores again.

“He has been playing in a position that perhaps has meant he has not had the chances he could have. Freddie has done what’s asked for the team and it is about the team.”

Reflecting on Saturday’s goalless draw with Aston Villa, the former Republic of Ireland international said: “We are pleased with a clean sheet. We work hard on the training field to stop teams scoring, we had chances towards the end, we just needed that bit of luck to score.

“Villa were a good test. They have spent a lot of money since coming down from the Premier League and will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season.

“They have not had the start they would have wanted. The Championship is a very tough division and it has probably taken a few of their players some time to adjust.”

The 34-year-old feels Town have done well in their opening eight games of the season and haven’t always got the points they have deserved.

“Our performances overall have been pretty good and we can be pleased with that,” he said.

“We probably just haven’t had the luck we have needed at times. People say it evens itself out over a season, so hopefully it will.”

Douglas wasn’t surprised full debutant Tom Lawrence made a big impression on Saturday: “Tom is a very good player. He sees a pass and gives us a little bit of magic up front. He worked his socks off and will be a big signing for us.”

Photo: TWTD

battyblue added 08:55 - Sep 19 Freddie does what he is told for the team|| get back in our penalty area and defend thats all what matters to Mick we don't need to score to win a point .
1

battyblue added 08:59 - Sep 19 Great free kicks Freddie how come its taken two years in training to find out Searsy is a very good dead ball kicker. And great game Searsy keep it up.
17

Currie10 added 09:24 - Sep 19 Much better from Freddy Saturday however still needs to up it. Needs to create more angles, show for the ball more and be a little braver.
2

thundercat600 added 09:59 - Sep 19 A "little bit of luck" he says, luck does not come into it, composure and ball control does. Who on here remember "Super Mac" who played for Leicester many moons ago, he made a comment the other day that rings true. He says that players are scared to take a shot outside of the box or from long range but are trying to walk the ball into the net, he is right about that

3

happybeingblue added 10:09 - Sep 19 Thought super Mac played for Newcastle if you mean Malcolm MacDonald can't remember any other striker with that tag :) Keep going Freddie it will come
1

BlueNomad added 10:21 - Sep 19 The original SuperMac was Ted MacDougall; 49 goals in one season and 42 the next.
3

TR11BLU added 10:25 - Sep 19 Cant recall either playing for Leicester.....
0

tractorboybig added 10:29 - Sep 19 Hope springs, eternal. Play Freddie as our striker, pitman and best are out of their depth. Give varney a run to.
-7

greenkingtone added 11:44 - Sep 19 We haven't seen Best play yet. I reserve judgement until he's had a chance to show us what he can do. With Sears alongside him he just might be what the team needs.
7

spanishblue added 12:13 - Sep 19 Ted Mc did he not play for Southampton
0

spanishblue added 12:16 - Sep 19 Oh my was also a budgie scored 9 in one match for Bournemouth nowcoaching in America
1

Bergholtblue added 12:41 - Sep 19 I disagree about his comment re: Villa. Apart from keeping the ball well in midfield, they looked incapable of scoring a goal. Can't see them being 'there or thereabouts' this season.
1

TimmyH added 13:03 - Sep 19 What ever spouts out from other players mouths unfortunately it doesn't change the fact he's playing out of position, at West Ham and Colchester he played through the middle up top, get a bid fed up of hearing this 'great work' ethic. Somebody has to take the reigns when it comes to creativity at this club.
9

nysully added 13:48 - Sep 19 @thundercat600 - SuperMac played centreforward for Arsenal on that famous day in 1978 when Hunter and Beattie didn't give him a sniff, Osborne - 1-0
4

Bluemoss added 14:55 - Sep 19 Sears and Best up front. Sears where he belongs, fast and a good finisher. And Best has something to prove and looked handy Saturday.
2

adeblueboy added 15:30 - Sep 19 We used to play Lee Martin in Sears position and he even scored the odd goal now and then!!!
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Daleyitfc added 16:02 - Sep 19 As long as 'Dougie : he's different class!" thinks his team-mates are doing well, and Freddie will score again soon, we have nothing to fear : players are, after all, very objective when assessing their own team ...
2

dirtydingusmagee added 16:39 - Sep 19 Freddie will find form again IF..... IF..... IF played in his proper position, he was on fire when he first started playing for Town ,then '' Mick the Murphyless '' started sodding about playing him in wrong position,that ,as been said many times since has resulted in Freddies goals drying up,that in turn affects confidence .
5

jas0999 added 17:18 - Sep 19 Goals will flow if a) Sears is played as a striker through the middle and b) if we start with an attack minded central midfield I.e not Skuse/Douglas who offer little in terms of creativity.
5

blueboy1981 added 17:57 - Sep 19 Spot on jason0999 - played to his strengths, in his best position, and given decent service - the guy is full of goals. Let's just hope MM hasn't harmed him too much. VERY good player - potentially.
6

blueboy1981 added 18:02 - Sep 19 This squad of ours has much potential - Will it ever be realised, and utilised to best effect by the Tyrannosaurus Rex. ?? Doubtful - but we all stay hopeful I guess. Evidence of such in the last few minutes on Saturday - but again, too little to late.
3

FromIpswichToPhoenix added 18:31 - Sep 19 I'm sorry, what is it now, 33 games with zero goals? 34? He's a striker, that is not sensational what so ever. If I went 33 weeks without doing my job, my boos and or coworkers would not call me sensational. They call me dead weight and fire me. Our lack of goals is a bit unnerving. But, on saying that, we could be Derby :)
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Miles added 19:15 - Sep 19 @FromIpswichToPhoenix he's hardly not doing his job! In fact it's probably the fact that he is doing his job that has coincided with his poor return. He's not being played in his ideal position because he needs to do a job for the team. Had he played those 34 games or so in a central role I'm sure he would have bagged double figures but unfortunately for Freddie he can put a shift in on one of the wide roles and is being used there. The fact he scored so many when he first came in has probably raised our expectations of him but it's unfair to slate him for helping the side out

4

horsehollerer added 19:19 - Sep 19 I think anyone who actually saw the game would agree that... 1. Freddy WAS very impressive, and in lots of areas of the pitch. 2. Bad luck WAS a factor in Freddy not scoring (post, good saves, deflection, etc) just as good luck had been a factor in Varney's goal vs Derby. 3. The Villa team is packed with dangerous, talented players at this level and for 10-15 mins they looked like they were going to destroy us. As soon as Villa figure out you need to release the ball about a second earlier in this league, they will be a real force.

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