Goals from Pablo Couñago and Jon Walters saw the Blues to a comfortable victory over Derby County at a freezing Portman Road. Town were in control throughout and should have scored more against a lacklustre Rams side which rarely threatened.
Town made three changes from the side which lost 1-0 at Doncaster a week ago. Pablo Couñago replaced Kevin Lisbie alongside Jon Walters in attack, Darren Ambrose made his full ‘second debut' in place of Alan Quinn on the left of midfield and Ben Thatcher returned for the suspended Moritz Volz with David Wright switching to right-back.
Darren Ambrose came close to a goal on his return to Portman Road in the sixth minute, but headed David Wright's cross straight at Roy Carroll in the Derby goal.
Alex Bruce went high and wide with a shot from a tight angle after a deep corner reached him at the far post on 11 as the Blues started to dominate the game from an early point.
Lewin Nayatanga picked up the game's first yellow card in the 19th minute for a wild lunge at the back of Pablo Couñago's legs, which incensed a number of Town players including Ben Thatcher.
Carroll tipped Ambrose's shot from the edge of the box wide, then Walters played in David Norris on the right of the area, but the former Manchester United man blocked.
Richard Naylor was harshly yellow-carded in the 24th minute after Emanuel Villa threw himself to ground some distance away from the Town defender, fooling referee Mick Russell.
Two minutes later, Town went in front. Claude Davis dawdled on the ball on the edge of the area, allowing Pablo Couñago to steal it, take it into the box and slip it coolly past Carroll for his fifth goal of the season.
Garvan struck a weak right-foot effort through to Carroll, then a long throw went through a crowd of players in the Town area and arrived at the feet of Derby's Rob Hulse, but the former Crewe man shot wide on the turn.
On 40, Kris Commons sent in a dangerous freekick from the Derby right, across the Town six-yard box but Veliche Shumulikoski squeezed the ball away under pressure.
Aside from those two late chances, it had been all Town with the Blues very much deserving their lead. Jim Magilton's side appeared to have carried on from the recent victories over Blackpool, QPR and Plymouth with there being little trace of the less than fluent display at Doncaster a week ago.
Jon Walters had a chance to put the Blues further in front in the opening minute of the second half but took too strong a touch as he reached the edge of the area and Carroll claimed.
Walters again should have added to Town's goals on 53 when Garvan sent him away down the left. The striker cut in but hit a shot across the face of Carroll's goal and wide.
The half had started somewhat disjointedly with Derby sub Darren Powell and Pablo Couñago requiring treatment. In the 54th minute injured referee Mick Russell was replaced with fourth official Chris Francis.
Town were sitting back and soaking up anything that Derby threw at them, which had been very little until the 62nd minute when Przemyslaw Kazmierczak's header forced Richard Wright into another excellent save. The keeper pushed the ball into the air and David Wright nodded it out for a corner.
Three minutes later the Blues added to their lead. Kazmierczak was caught cold by Garvan's quick freekick down the right to David Wright, who cut in and sent in a low cross, which struck Darren Powell's heel and landed at Jon Walters's feet six yards out. The striker accepted the early Christmas gift, turning and lashing the ball past Carroll for his first goal in 11 games and his third of the season.
On 71 Paul Connolly was booked for a foul on Ambrose, then Jon Stead replaced Pablo Couñago.
Derby might have pulled a goal back in the 76th minute after a goalmouth scramble in the Town area, but Paul Green smashed the ball miles over when he had a clear sight of goal at the edge of the box.
Carroll saved from Norris, who was then replaced by Tommy Miller to a standing ovation. The travelling Derby fans failed to replicate the booing and abuse provided by Doncaster supporters a week ago.
Garvan shot wide with Walters and Miller both looking for him to cross the ball, prior to Kevin Lisbie taking over from Walters.
Richard Wright stopped Jordan Stewart's shot with little trouble as the game entered injury time, then Kevin Lisbie came close to making it three when, after a mazy run, Carroll did well to save his shot.
A third goal wouldn't have flattered Town, who were in control throughout against a Derby side which was as poor as anything we've seen at Portman Road this season.
There were notable performances all over the pitch, Richard Naylor at centre-back, David Wright doing well in his more familiar right-back role and Richard Wright making another excellent save when called into action in the second half.
Veliche Shumulikoski, Owen Garvan and David Norris were back to their best after all three were below par at Doncaster, while Darren Ambrose put in what was a very promising display in his first full game since his return.
Up front, Walters and Couñago were always a threat, although Walters in particular had chances to kill the game early in the second half.
Town are back up to eighth in the table with the play-off places now very much in their sights.
Town: R Wright, D Wright, Bruce, Naylor, Thatcher, Norris (Miller 82), Shumulikoski, Garvan, Ambrose, Walters (Lisbie 89), Couñago (Stead 74). Unused: Supple, Balkestein. Att: 20,239.