The job’s not even half done yet.

Excitement is building around Ipswich Town, following Saturday’s accomplished 2-0 home win over fellow Championship high-fliers Middlesbrough, but Jay Tabb says no-one inside the camp is getting carried away.

The 5ft 5in midfielder, who rose majestically to head home the game’s crucial second goal just before half-time, said: “It is a good feeling being second going into Christmas but it is only Christmas. I would rather being second with a game to go, knowing if you win, you go up.

“The second part of the season will be tough. You always get a team that comes from nowhere too. We need to keep performing and working hard. Our work rate is getting us where we are and we need to keep that up.

“We are keeping our feet firmly on the ground because as soon as you start getting carried away things can turn against you.”

The Boxing Day game at third-place Brentford, a side who have won six of their last seven games, will mark the halfway stage of the campaign. And Tabb, having chose to stay and fight for his place rather than leave the club back in the summer, is desperate to keep his place in the starting XI after rediscovering his best form.

“I have not scored for a while so it was good to get on the score-sheet,” he said. “I’m 5ft 5in, maybe 5ft 6in, but I have always had a good leap on me. I win my fair share of headers out there on the wing. I saw the ball come in and I just timed my jump well. I probably leaned into them a bit to win it but I managed to get above them.”

He continued: “I was hardly in the team last season and the reason for that is because, when I did get my chance, I didn’t play well so didn’t deserve to be picked. This season I’m playing well, as the whole team is, and if you are in the side you have to play well or you are out.

“The gaffer knows he can rely on me. I may not always be his first choice but when I’m picked now he can rely on me.”