What a big win that was on Saturday.
Outside of our ‘bubble’ there is a queue forming of doubters who are looking on and hoping that ‘little old Ipswich’ will disappear. They will cite one league win in six as an argument that the wheels are gradually coming off. We can say that is one defeat in six and four unbeaten now.
The win over Sunderland needs some context before we are accused of getting carried away. A couple of months ago, we were told that once injuries and suspensions set in, we would start to fall away.
We could counteract those allegations. We would make three or four changes and it would not be to the detriment our performances.
Yes, we had dropped a few points before the Sunderland game, but that was due to too many changes in key areas of our starting XI. And Saturday proved that we could overcome such adversity against a fellow promotion hopeful outfit.
Our engine room was devoid of its usual components. No Sam Morsy, and then we learnt ahead of kick-off, no Massimo Luongo.
The chassis of our purring, central spine was devoid of Messrs Burgess and Hirst too. Fear not, as George Edmundson and Lewis Travis made light work as replacement parts.
The former was imperious once again and rarely lets us down. It answers any thoughts as to whether he would leave us in this transfer window.
Edmundson seamlessly slotted in alongside Luke Woolfenden and was unlucky not to cap his performance with a goal.
As for Travis, he would have had just two or three days to train with our squad last week. It could be argued as to whose shoes he had to fill.
But be they Luongo’s or Morsy’s, he gave an accomplished performance. There will be much more to come from him, and I worry slightly less about Morsy’s absence at Leicester now.
Sunderland went ahead and are the masters of retaining leads once in front. But there is nobody better at coming back from behind than us.
And at the very front of our drive forward was Kayden Jackson. A player that has both his critics and limitations but gave his all for the cause. His work-rate cannot be criticised.
He took his goal well, as he should have done in such a position. But he deserves full backing whilst covering off a role that will no doubt be reinforced before long.
As for the rest, there were some performances that contributed very well to this latest victory.
Harry Clarke had an unnerving start to the game up against a namesake who is surely destined for better things than Sunderland.
Whilst on the other flank, Leif Davis returned to provide another assist and many a foray forward.
There will come a time when sadly he too will be destined for bigger things than Ipswich. We must simply enjoy him for as long as we can.
No doubt he enjoyed that result what with being a Geordie. Howay the lad!
And whilst our usual outlets of Wes Burns and Nathan Broadhead caused their usual problems for the opposition full backs, there was no respite when they were replaced.
Omari Hutchinson and Jeremy Sarmiento kept the foot on the pedal to the very last whistle. The pressing of Dominic Ball and Marcus Harness contributed too and ensured that we remained in top gear.
What can I say of Conor Chaplin? A small man with a massive heart and a bullet of a header to seal the win.
Another that we are extremely lucky to have. Sporting the captain’s armband was no more than he deserved in the absence of Morsy and Luongo.
My non-football liking friends tend to be fans of motor sports. They cannot understand my fuss and delight at how we have performed this season.
I tell them that if the Championship season was Formula One, then we are a Haas car on the coat tails of a Red Bull with a Mercedes and a Ferrari trundling behind.
We have 19 rounds to go. Despite what those outsiders believe, the wheels remain firmly in place. Write this team off at your peril.
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