NIRVANA for Kelvin Davis tonight would be victory over his fiercest rivals, a clean sheet and a sparkling all-round Ipswich performance - with a net full of goals, writes Derek Davis.

NIRVANA for Kelvin Davis tonight would be victory over his fiercest rivals, a clean sheet and a sparkling all-round Ipswich performance - with a net full of goals, writes Derek Davis.

Failing that, the Blues keeper will settle for three points and another step nearer the Promised Land that is the Premiership.

A former Luton player, and still dedicated Hatters fan, he enjoys the banter he has with Hornets supporters but looks forward to having the last laugh again.

Davis has had to put in some man-of-the-match performances to help Town to seven points in three games and feels tonight would be a good time to turn on the style.

He said: “We have been saying for possibly three games that we need to step up a level in our performances. We have picked up wins and points but we have not played as well as we would have liked.

“Results are what count but, in an ideal world, we would play well, score many goals and keep clean sheets, but life is not like that.

“Results are what count and against Watford all we want is a clean sheet and three points.”

All wins over the old enemy are important to Davis but rarely have they been more important against a side that gave Liverpool a fright in the League Cup.

Davis said: “The stakes have never been so high and there is a little bit more pressure on us to win this game.

“Watford have done well this season, especially in cup games. They have some dangerous players and the likes of Neal Ardley, who is a great player, has a great delivery and is really a Premier League player.”

Even though the sting from the Hornets' strike-force is diminished, with top-scorer Heidar Helguson likely to miss out through injury, Watford are still a dangerous opponents, as they showed with a 2-2 draw at Vicarage Road earlier this season.

Davis said: “We can't underestimate them because they will be bang up for the game.

“They will miss Helguson, who can score goals but then so can (Danny) Webber. They will always be dangerous opponents and we need to ensure our concentration is sharp and we don't allow the any easy chances. Anything they get, they have to work for.”

After spells with Wimbledon and Luton, Davis relishes a season without struggling at the wrong end of the table and won't be getting grey hairs as Town march onwards.

He said: “I enjoy being top. People talk about pressure at the top but those teams around the relegation zone are probably feeling far greater pressure.

“It is good to see ourselves still top of the league with 13 games to go and we intend staying there.”

The Portman Road pitch is expected to be fine, despite the snow showers. The weather forecast for tonight is more snow and a bitterly cold easterly wind but the game is expected to go ahead as scheduled.

n The Blues reserve game against Norwich City, which was due to be played at Carrow Road tomorrow, has been postponed due to the weather. It will now be played on Wednesday, April 27.