DAMIEN Delaney believes Ipswich are becoming more solid in defence thanks to the return of a traditional 4-4-2 formation.

Town’s defensive frailties, something that has haunted the club all season, have been eased a little in the last few weeks with a clean sheet against Derby and only a penalty scored past Arran Lee-Barrett at Leicester on Monday.

And Delaney, who has had ample time to view the problems from the stands before coming back into the side at the King Power Stadium, believes the improvements are down to a change to a more orthodox formation instead of the diamond midfield.

He explained: “The 4-4-2 has helped with the solidity of the team. The wingers have helped the full-backs and the two midfield players have created a screen in front of the two centre-halves. As a team, we played very well and everyone worked very hard which you have to do at places like Leicester.”

Delaney made his first start in nine against the Foxes and admitted it was pretty tough going near the end of the 1-1 draw.

“In the last five minutes I started to feel pretty weak and getting a little headrush,” he said. “But with Sonks (Ibrahima Sonko) and Cressie (Aaron Cresswell) alongside me, and some good shape in front, I didn’t think we were as exposed as we have been in the past.

“From that point of view, it was decent to come back into a team like that.”

And with Delaney expected to keep his place for the trip to Reading on Saturday and then Nottingham Forest at Portman Road on Monday, he insisted: “I’ll have no problem playing two games in three days – I have always looked after myself.”