Ten points from ten games is the message that Ipswich boss George Burley is drumming into his troops as the Suffolk side aim to beat the drop.

Burley said: "It's the final third of the season so this becomes a big game. It's a real chance to push away from the bottom three.

"We were four points adrift at Christmas so to be in this position is a real boost. I have every confidence we can stay up."

Ipswich play Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park tonight then travel further north to St James' Park on Saturday to face Bobby Robson's Newcastle United.

Burley added: "They're both very good teams. At Blackburn they have Matt Jansen, Andrew Cole, Tugay and Damian Duff.

"But we have some very good quailty players as well. If we can stop them playing and impose ourselves then we can do well."

Ipswich are attempting to put to rest the myth that the team bottom of the pile at Christmas have never maintained their status in the Premier League.

He added: "We had a great run earlier, winning seven out of nine. Our last three performances with the exception of Leeds have been poor. We need to be strong.

"For a club our size staying in the Premiership is everything. It's our top priority.

"From me as manager to the all the backroom staff and players, we're going to show the quailty and belief needed to stay in this division."

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Published Wednesday, March 13, 2002