SEVEN points from a possible nine.

That's my personal challenge to Ipswich Town ahead of what could prove a defining run of Championship fixtures.

Millwall away on Saturday, Preston North End at Portman Road on November 3 and Reading away on November 10.

All sides languishing in the bottom six - all teams that, on paper at least, are there to be beaten.

Millwall and Preston have won two of their last three while the Royals were victorious in their last outing at the Madejski Stadium.

Now Town, like their rivals, have to show they are up for the fight, prepared to roll their sleeves up and give their long-suffering fans hope that relegation can be avoided.

In order to do that, a bumper points haul is imperative.

Nine must be the aim, obviously, but, for me, seven is a realistic, achievable goal.

Town never looked capable of taking anything from Wednesday's 2-0 defeat at Leeds United.

After going behind, there seemed no way back but I didn't expect anything from Elland Road anyway.

It was almost a 'free hit' but the main positive, at last, was the change of formation, to 4-4-2.

Kayden Jackson started up front with Freddie Sears just behind and while it didn't pay off on this occasion, it may well against lesser sides like Millwall.

Boss Paul Hurst has come in for severe criticism but it was a bold move to deploy a more attacking formation and also to make seven changes, bringing back Bartosz Bialkowski, Jordan Spence, Jonas Knudsen, Flynn Downes, Tayo Edun, Jon Nolan and Jackson.

It begs the question what the team will be on Saturday.

Personally, I'd start with Bialkowski in goal behind a back four of Spence, Chambers, Pennington and Knudsen.

I'd have Cole Skuse and Trevoh Chalobah in the middle, flanked by Gwion Edwards and the talented Edun, with Sears up front alongside Jackson.

Downes and Nolan wouldn't make my starting line-up on this occasion and nor would Grant Ward, Andre Dozzell or Toto Nsiala, who was bombed out of the 18 on Wednesday.

Hurst doesn't seem to know his strongest side, hence changes every week.

QPR was only the second time this season he kept faith with an unchanged starting line-up and I can see why, obviously.

Results and performances have meant very few have warranted keeping their places.

Now, however, is the perfect time to build continuity, by showing loyalty and keeping faith with the same personnel for this pivotal trio of fixtures.