IPSWICH Town need an average success rate of one win every three games, if they are to banish their relegation fears.

That's the view of former hero James Scowcroft, concerned by his side's current predicament at the foot of the Championship table.

The Blues have just 11 points from their opening 17 games but, in terms of performances, appear to have turned a corner under new boss Paul Lambert.

Scowcroft believes they can dodge the drop and sees tomorrow's Championship clash with West Bromwich Albion as a "perfect" opportunity to kick-start their quest for survival, under the Portman Road floodlights.

"Only time will tell but they certainly need to start winning games," said the 42-year-old, who coaches within the club's Academy.

"It's been a difficult start to the season but they've got a very experienced manager now in Paul Lambert.

"They needed someone like him.

"January will be a key month in terms of getting new signings on board but I certainly believe they can stay up.

"They need to go on a good run and with only 11 points from 17 games, they're going to need another 30 to 32.

"That's roughly ten wins from 30-odd games - one in three - but I believe they're capable of that."

Scowcroft believes tomorrow's match would be an ideal time to launch a winning run and make a statement, under the glare of the Sky TV cameras.

"They (Ipswich) need to click and get a run going as soon as possible because the players will be suffering from a lack of confidence at the moment," said the former striker, who scored nearly 50 goals for Town in over 200 games between 1994 to 2001 before returning on loan in 2005.

"The West Brom game is a perfect opportunity because it's a big match against one of the favourites for promotion, live on TV.

"West Brom are a big, established side.

"They're always competitive and a victory against them would be a great confidence-booster.

"One win could change things completely and we thought that was going to happen after the victory at Swansea.

"Unfortunately, that wasn't the case but it might be if things go well on Friday."

Scowcroft was sold to Leicester City for £3 million at the end of the 2000-01 season and later played for Coventry City, Crystal Palace and Leyton Orient.

However, he is best known for his six years at Ipswich, where his tally of strikes included three against West Brom.

He grabbed the second in an emphatic 5-0 success in January 1997, the second in a dramatic 3-2 victory at The Hawthorns a year and two days later and then another in a hot-tempered 3-1 victory at Portman Road in December 1999.