Marcus Bent believes Ipswich Town must look forward in their quest to stave off relegation from the Premiership.

The Blues have slipped to fifth from bottom after two successive home defeats, leaking nine goals in the process against Liverpool and Southampton.

But, speaking ahead of today's trip to Leeds United, Bent told the Gazette: "We've got to keep plugging away and stay focused on each match.

"If we dwell too much on what's happened in our last couple of games we might as well throw the towel in now.

"Confidence in the camp is still high, the lads are unbelievably determined and I'm sure that if we show a bit more passion things will come good.

"We let ourselves and everyone else down at the weekend because it was our worst performance of the season against Southampton.

"But that just makes us doubly determined to make up for it."

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Published Wednesday, March 6, 2002