Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna felt his side 'took a step forwards' in this afternoon' 1-1 home draw against Southampton.
Following a scrappy opening day draw at Birmingham (1-1) and midweek Carabao Cup exit at Bromley, the Blues were much improved on home soil and created the game's better chances.
"The performance was a step forward from last week, as you would expect it to be, in all aspects," said McKenna.
"There was plenty of good aspects about the performance. Really good start, had the better of the play on most phases, really, on and off the ball, and had the better chances.
"We weren't quite able to find enough to really say that we absolutely dominated the game in any spell or really should have won it, but we were certainly the team who looked more likely to win it.
"We just need to take the steps forward now in every every aspect to be a better team, to be more dominant and to find a way to win it. That's an awful lot of different areas but it's good feedback for us. The first game last week was good feedback for us and we have to use that feedback to get stronger.
"And we need to do all the right things as a club off the pitch to make the group as strong as we possibly can.
"It was frustrating not to get the win, but in some aspects a step forward."
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Ipswich still haven't won a home league game in 2025 and claimed two points from a possible six at the start of the new Championship season. On the flip side, they have made an unbeaten start against two likely promotion contenders at a time when the squad is still being built.
Asked how full his glass was, McKenna replied: "One thing I have spoken to the group about is how we can't allow the narrative to build on the home record from last year.
"In the second half of last season we're competing in the toughest league in the world amongst a real real big injury crisis for most of those games. This group is a new group and a new start.
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"This was our first home game against one of the better teams in the league, certainly personnel wise, and we delivered a pretty good performance, had the better chances and we're disappointed we didn't get the winner.
"For the stage of the season we're at, for all the challenges we're having at the moment, it's not a bad day's work.
"We know we need to improve in every aspect, but as long as the performances are going in a positive direction, as long as we show the right qualities, we always have believed that the results will come after that.
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"It's two tough games in really really difficult circumstances and we've not been beaten. We want to pick up our first three points as soon as possible, but the only way to do that is just focusing on the day-to-day and the next game."
Meanwhile, McKenna revealed that Ali Al-Hamadi missed today's game with a 'not very short-term' calf injury he sustained in training on Thursday.
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