IT has been too long coming.

An amazing 224 days or seven-and-a-half months – the last time Portman Road was able to celebrate a Saturday night or a Monday morning back at work basking in a victory in the Championship.

But the wait is finally over after DJ Campbell’s 87th minute winner against Burnley gave Mick McCarthy a winning debut in the home dugout.

And it gets better with the Blues – who responded brilliantly to Sam Vokes’ equalising Daryl Murphy’s goal – rising to third-bottom, just two points from moving out of the bottom three.

McCarthy, who has started with an impressive six points from a possible nine, was delighted for the long-suffering supporters.

He said: “It is lovely for them. They only want something to shout about and we try to give them that. We all like to feel how I feel now – which is a nice happy feel. I am delighted for them.”

McCarthy admitted the fact that Ipswich is a “nice club” shouldn’t mean his players take it for granted.

He said: “It is a really good club and the supporters are great. I had a word with them (the players) beforehand and said it is such a nice club, you don’t get the same level of aggression from the sides if you are not playing well.

“There are some clubs you go to and you are getting it – the players are going into town and they are getting it.

“Just because we get treated nicely here, it means just as much – even more so. Because you are being treated well, you should want to do even better for them – I know Paul (Jewell) felt that way.”

Following a frantic first 10 days, McCarthy will now have a full week on the training ground with his players before next Saturday’s match at Leicester City.

After Massimo Luongo returned to Tottenham and Richie Wellens’ one-month loan spell ended, ironically he could line up for the Foxes against Ipswich, McCarthy might look to add to his midfield options.

Arsenal’s Emmanuel Frimpong, who was with the Town boss at Wolves, is one rumoured to be on his radar.