Town captain David Norris says new manager Paul Jewell has had as good a start as he could have hoped for since taking over at Portman Road four weeks ago tomorrow. Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Sheffield United was the Blues' third successive league victory, a feat never achieved by Jewell's predecessor Roy Keane.
Norris said: "Paul’s done well, he couldn’t have asked for a better start with three league wins after we were struggling before. I think the management, the staff and the fans seem to be back on song and right behind us. At the moment it feels like good times.
"It’s a little bit like a fresh start because there’s a new management, there are new ways of thinking, new training and things have obviously changed, and we’re enjoying it.”
The skipper says the home dressing room was buoyant on Saturday: "In the changing room afterwards the atmosphere was really good. The lads are really happy.
"I think after two wins in a row we didn’t want to look complacent and take our foot off the gas. I think we stuck at it in the first half, it was a little bit scrappy, then we started to play.
"The wind was pretty strong, they were quite direct and we ended up going a little bit too direct ourselves. At half-time the manager said to keep trying to play, no one panicked and we’d come through it.
"I think it was similar to the second half against Doncaster. Once you get two goals up, things start coming off - the passing, the flicks - and it turns into one of those games, but you have to work for that to get the chances in the first place.”
Norris says that at the moment no one’s looking further than moving away from the relegation zone:
"I don’t think we’ll get too carried away just yet. If we can just keep getting a few more wins, we’ll guarantee safety and then just have a go and see where we are. Three wins is a good start.”
The skipper says nobody should have been shocked by Connor Wickham’s superb third goal: "It was a great goal but I don’t think we should really be surprised. He’s got that in his locker. He’s some player on his day. He’s a big, strong lad and his goal was just different class.”
Norris played down his own goal and admitted he might have scored more, particularly when Carlos Edwards set him up for a late opportunity: "I expected Carlos to shoot, but I think I probably should have scored that. I was happy to get one anyway.
"Nine goals is my best return since I’ve been a professional. Unfortunately, I don’t get a bonus! I don’t score that many so I didn’t even think to get it in my contract. I might have to look at it for my next one!”