Boss Mick McCarthy was delighted with the seven-point haul from three successive games against fellow play-off challengers, despite having drawn 1-1 with previously off-form Nottingham Forest at Portman Road on Saturday.
The Blues won 2-0 at Brighton last weekend, then beat Derby 2-1 at home on Tuesday, prior to the draw with Forest, who impressed in the first half particularly, despite extending their winless run to 10 games in all competitions.
"I’d have been delighted with seven points going into these three games, "McCarthy said. "At half-time we would all have taken a point out of this game.
"But then we played so well in the second half and their keeper played so well that we all think we should have won it. But no, a point was a fair result. They were excellent in the first half, I thought.”
As was the case against Derby, Frank Nouble made significant impact having come on as a sub, creating Daryl Murphy’s equalising goal.
"Frank made a difference coming off the bench,” McCarthy said. "He’s been outstanding, he’s been fantastic.
"I’m really pleased with him, he’s reacted in the right, positive way when he’s been left out and he’s come back and he’s helped change two games for us.
"I think his ability with the ball and his running and control of the game in both games as a sub has been really good, which has not always been the case.”
He says the 22-year-old has benefited from regular involvement in the first team this season: "The more you play, you play better, you learn from playing and you get a confidence and a self-belief that you are actually part of it and you deserve to play.
"He must love the fans singing his name, they were umming and ahhing and jeering a little bit at one stage, so it was lovely for him.”
McCarthy is pleased that his subs have made a difference in recent matches: "I thought he was excellent coming on the other night, it was a game-changing performance for us.
"And that’s lovely from substitutes because I think I’ve said before, and me and TC talk about it, I’m not so sure how often when we’ve made changes they’ve come on and been the real game changers. I thought Sylvan played well and I think Frank was a real handful.”
With Jonny Williams expected to return to Crystal Palace when his loan comes to an end today, Nouble and Ebanks-Blake will be amongst McCarthy’s options as he assesses how to replace the Wales international in his starting line-up at Blackburn next Saturday.
The Town boss says Ebanks-Blake is starting to get back to his old self after a difficult year with injuries. In April the 27-year-old suffered a broken leg and ankle ligament damage when still with Wolves, then having joined the Blues on a contract until the end of the season he picked up a hamstring problem early on during his debut in the FA Cup tie against Preston in January.
"Sylvan’s getting there,” McCarthy added. "He was unlucky with one header on Tuesday night and the Forest keeper made a great save from him. It has been a long, hard road for him to get himself fit.”