Cole Skuse says Ipswich Town need to keep stamping their authority on home matches from the off in order to fully restore Portman Road’s ‘fortress’ status.

The Blues burst out the traps Tuesday night, producing a swashbuckling attacking display to thrash struggling Sunderland 5-2 on Suffolk soil.

With 19 goals in nine league games, the sixth-placed Blues are the Championship’s top scorers.

It’s been a remarkable upturn in entertainment value given the Blues shed around 2,000 season ticket holders this summer. It took them until December 13 to reach their current goal tally during a limp 2016/17 campaign.

With in-form Bristol City the visitors on Saturday, Skuse said: “You always have half an eye on the opposition because each team has different threats, but we need to make sure that people come to Portman Road with an eye and a half on us.

“Away from home is a different kettle of fish, but Portman Road should be a fortress for us like it was two or three years ago (Town won 15 home games on the way to finishing sixth). I think we’re getting back to that stage.

“We’ll be looking to stamp our authority on the match as the home side again, especially with the crowd behind us the way they are at the minute. We won’t be paying too much attention to their 10-game unbeaten run, we’ll let them worry us and try and give them a few headaches.”

Summer signings Joe Garner, Martyn Waghorn and Bersant Celina have all livened up Town’s attack, with David McGoldrick back at his talismanic best.

“We did a bit of team shape the day before Tuesday’s game,” said Skuse. “The gaffer said to the boys at the top end of the team ‘go and do your business’ and it came to fruition. It was a pleasure to watch from midfield. Some of their play was frightening. We look a real, real threat.

“I’m trying to get involved too. Chambo (captain Luke Chambers) is always saying ‘push on, we’ll take care of things behind you’.”

With crowds of less than 15,000 having watched Town’s last two home games, Skuse added: “I was disappointed as much as anyone last season and the fans are entitled to come or not to come. We’ve had a great start though, are scoring lots of goals and playing some good stuff, so it would be fantastic if they got down to Portman Road and got behind us.”