Ipswich Town forward Conor Chaplin on importance of back-to-back Premier League home games against Crystal Palace and Bournemouth

Ipswich’s Conor Chaplin insists the next two Premier League fixtures are not any bigger than any other match in their season.

The Blues sit 19th in the table but that could all change as they face an important home double-header against Crystal Palace on Tuesday and Bournemouth on Sunday.

“They’re big games but they’re all big games for us,” 27-year-old Chaplin claimed. “I don’t think you can pinpoint any game being bigger than the other.

“We proved at Tottenham away, you don’t know when there’s a win around the corner.

“We want to start picking up some good points at home at Portman Road and we see it as a good opportunity, definitely.

“December’s the same whatever league you’re in. That’s probably the good thing about December that there’s games thick and fast which we love. The more congested the fixture list is the better as there’s more opportunities to pick up points.

“We’re definitely getting better. Forest (on Saturday) was one where we didn’t show our quality enough and we could have played a lot more than we did. They make it hard, they’re very rigid without the ball and don’t really leave you a spare man too much.

“But we’re in a good spot, we’ve got two home games to look to which is a rarity in the Premier League, especially being a Tuesday-Sunday. We’re looking at recovery and then preparing for that.

“Everyone that knows football and is following us can see that we’re getting better and better, it’s obvious to see.

“We need to take steps each and every day and keep working towards getting better. But we are, we work so hard on it every single day so I’m confident in us.”

As Town look to break their home duck without a win, Chaplin added: “Every game we’ve drawn at home we were probably the better team and could have won.

“We’ve had times where it’s not gone our way in terms of refereeing decisions which would have helped us in terms of winning the game. Every game we’ve drawn at home we felt like we could have won.

“It’s easy because it comes from the boss and the senior lads in the group. It’s the right message too and anyone that sees us play can see it’s the right message. Keep doing what we’re doing and it will come.”