Boss Mick McCarthy wants to see more of the same from the Blues when they take on Derby County at Pride Park this evening. Although Town have picked up just a single point on their travels this season, the Blues manager says they couldn’t have played any better.
McCarthy says he and right-hand man Terry Connor don’t approach games any differently on their travels: "We don’t and that’s not had any bearing on the results because we’ve played very, very well.
"At Reading, QPR and Birmingham, we were excellent in all of those playing just the way we play at home.
"What I’ll want is the same performances, but better finishing in front of goal. And let’s not make any mistakes and, you know what, we’ll start winning away from home.
"We can’t play any better. We could have had better results, but if we can play any better, I want to see it on Tuesday night and on Saturday [at Sheffield Wednesday]. The performances have been terrific.”
The Blues boss was delighted to win, put in an excellent display and keep a clean sheet against Brighton on Saturday: "I was pleased with all of those things.
"We got away with an early chance but we could cite Wigan where we had loads of chances and didn’t score, there were lots of blocks. That happens if you’re missing chances.
"Dids’s two goals were terrific and I thought that the performance all round was because I think Brighton are a really good side.
"They didn’t lie down at any stage of the game, we had to beat them and stay with it for the 94 minutes.”
He is pleased with the spirit in the squad as a whole, not just the current first XI: "I don’t accept anything else. I’m never happy if I see us when we’ve won and I see the unused subs walking off not clapping the fans, not shaking the other lads’ hands. That gives me the hump.
"If I put substitutes on I expect them to go on and run around and do the job, not to go on and show me their displeasure by playing like pillocks, I expect the opposite. But I don’t get that out of any of them, they are a good bunch, they really are.”
McCarthy admits he hasn’t got a huge squad but, with everybody currently fit, says that that can be an advantage: "We haven’t got the biggest, we’ve probably got one of the smallest squads in the league and that can bring its problems if you’ve got lots of injuries or suspensions.
"But it can bring its benefits, a tighter-knit squad. You’re not leaving players here, you’re not leaving players out of training sessions, everybody’s involved.
"On Friday I said to the players who lost their places after the first five games that they’ve got to be on standby if anyone slips up because the ones who got in, who had to put up with not playing the first four league games, have been different class and we’ve won games and played well.
"But there is an opportunity if anybody lets their standards drop, not for one game. I’ve told them and they know I’m loyal to them and whenever they’re working hard they’ll get their opportunities. But they know they aren’t that far away from playing in the first team.”
McCarthy is unlikely to give any of those waiting in the wings their chance at Derby with the same XI which began the game against the Seagulls again likely to be starting.
Dean Gerken will be in goal with Luke Chambers wearing the armband at right-back, Aaron Cresswell at left-back and Tommy Smith and Christophe Berra at the heart of the defence.
In midfield, Cole Skuse and Luke Hyam will be in the middle with Paul Anderson on the right and Ryan Tunnicliffe on the left. Up front, David McGoldrick will again be partnered by Daryl Murphy.
Tyrone Mings will make the trip now that’s he over the knee injury he suffered at Reading on the opening day and could be on the bench alongside 19-year-old striker Jack Marriott, who will be hoping to make his second senior appearance from the bench at some stage.
Derby will have academy manager Darren Wassall in charge with new permanent head coach Steve McClaren watching from the stands prior to taking control on Wednesday.
The Rams will be without Richard Keogh who is serving a one-match ban after being sent off in Saturday's 1-0 defeat away against Nottingham Forest. They have added former Norwich centre-half Zak Whitbread on loan from Leicester City and the American is set to make his debut.
Skipper Shaun Barker, fellow defender Mark O'Brien and midfielders Paul Coutts and James Bailey (all knee), and Jeff Hendrick, another midfielder, and keeper Adam Legzdins (both ankle) are all currently sidelined with injuries.
Derby are yet to win at home this season having drawn one and lost three. Their away record of won three, drawn one and lost one has seen them up to 14th in the Championship, five places and two points behind the Blues.
Interim-manager Wassall says the Rams will be looking to significantly improve their record at Pride Park this week: "It is important that we try and get the home form right and we have got two opportunities to do so this week against Ipswich and Leeds.
"The players were focused in training and hopefully they can get off to a good start on Tuesday night.
"They are a very talented bunch of players and a very honest bunch too, and we have seen that again in training.
"They have got on with things, performed well and come into work in a professional manner.
"Ipswich have picked up of late, but they haven’t won away and we haven’t won at home in the league, so it could be an interesting night.”
Historically, Town have had the better of Derby, winning 32 games (30 in the league), drawing 19 (17) and losing 24 (23).
The sides last met at Pride Park in April when Town picked up what is still their only away victory of 2013.
Skipper Carlos Edwards slammed home an injury time winner, but the Rams should have been out of sight by half-time with Conor Sammon hitting the post when through one-on-one with Scott Loach, who also saved a subsequent Jamie Ward penalty.
In October 2012 Paul Jewell’s time as Town manager was brought to an end the day after the Blues were beaten 2-1 by his old club at Portman Road.
The Blues deservedly went in front after DJ Campbell claimed the second goal of his loan spell, but Theo Robinson equalised before the break and sub Nathan Tyson netted the late winner.
Unavailable Rams centre-half Keogh was an academy schoolboy and Portman Road ballboy during his formative years, but no current member of either squad has previously represented Saturday’s opposition.
Tonight’s referee is Rutland-based whistler Trevor Kettle, who has shown 20 yellow cards and one red in seven games so far this season.
Kettle’s most recent Town game was the 1-1 draw at Barnsley last September in which he booked five Blues players and no one from the home side.
Squad from: Gerken, Loach, Chambers, Hewitt, Veseli, Cresswell, Mings, Smith, Berra, Skuse, Hyam, Wordsworth, Tunnicliffe, Edwards, Anderson, Tabb, Murphy, McGoldrick, Nouble, Marriott.