Boss Mick McCarthy admitted that the Blues 2-2 draw at Nottingham Forest felt more like a defeat but says that it will seem like a better result once he’s further away from the heat of the action.
"It’s one of those draws where I’m usually proud of the performance and was thoroughly deserved,” said McCarthy.
"If it comes at 35 minutes and ends two-all we come off thinking ‘What a great point’. But coming in injury time if feels a bit like a defeat.
"But it won’t when I sum it up in my head, which I’ve already started doing. We’ve got 19 points, in the last seven games we’ve had four wins and three draws, it’s a great return. Would I have taken that from the last seven games? Absolutely, of course I would.
"It’s lovely. It’s a good run of form. I’m very pragmatic about that. Would I have taken that? We’ve beaten Wigan, we’ve drawn at Derby, we’ve had points off some of the good teams.”
He says he would have taken the point going into the game if it had been offered to him beforehand: "I wouldn’t have bothered getting on the bus, I’d have taken it if they’d said ‘Don’t bother, we’ll stay where we are’.
"I think there’ll be a lot of people who will see these as somebody who could win it, champions elect. Certainly promotion elect.
"These will be looking at the top two with the squad they’ve got and the money they’ve spent. I think they’re capable of it, to be fair, when they get everybody back.”
McCarthy wasn’t happy the Blues conceded two goals from set pieces: "Of course, but Stuart will be disappointed that their full-back gets done and Murph comes and slams it in the bottom corner and he wins a header.
"I’ve never come off yet and thought ‘That’s a nice goal the opposition scored’ and it doesn’t feel any different now.”
Regarding Murphy he said: "Two great goals from a striker who is in form and probably playing as well as he ever has in his career.”
He says Jonny Williams was tiring when he was replaced approaching the hour mark: "Jonny ran out of gas a bit. That’s because he’s not been playing.
"Let me tell you, that game was played at a helluva pace that game was played at, physical and tough and demanding.
"You can’t just come from being a sub [and play 90 minutes]. If you come in there you end up with cramp, you end up knackered, that was played at a helluva pace for both teams.”
Luke Hyam went off in the first half but the Blues boss isn’t yet sure of the extent of his injury: "I don’t know if it’s his hip flexor, which he’s had a bit of niggle with, or his hamstring, I don’t know.”
As for Paul Anderson, who missed out having suffered an injury in training on Friday, he says his problem isn’t serious: "His hamstring just tightened up.”
He added: "Overall, I’m very proud of the performance and pleased with the way we’ve played. It’s just when the goal comes. It’s happened, I can’t do anything about it now.
"So, I’ll wipe my gob, take the point, be delighted with it, go home, have a break like the rest of the lads and we’ll start again next Monday.”
Forest manager Stuart Pearce thought his side might have claimed all three points had they scored an earlier equaliser: "We had a game today where Ipswich came on good form, four victories and a draw in their last five games.
"They’re a well-organised team. Anyone Mick is in charge of you know exactly what you’re going to to get.
"I thought it was a real blood and thunder game that swung from end to end. I’m disappointed it took us so long to get the equaliser because I thought we’d win it, certainly on the chances we created in the second half.
"But their goalkeeper made some outstanding stops and when he wasn’t there, defenders scooped things off the line. It was a real cup final of a Championship game.”
Town are 17/1 to win the league.