Boss Mick McCarthy says he’s well aware that Town have gone from being billed as a side who have gone eight games without defeat, to one without a win in four, but says he's happy enough with his team's current situation.
Prior to Tuesday’s defeat at Cardiff, the Blues had drawn three in a row with their last win the 2-0 home victory over Rotherham on September 27th. The loss to the Bluebirds saw Town drop to ninth but only two points off the top six.
"I’m fully aware of that,” he said. "But would I take where we are now, that’s another question. And yes, I would.
"I still think we should have had four points more. But Wigan’s shot might have gone inside the post and we might have drawn there. We might not have scored at Birmingham.
"But if my auntie had balls she’d be my uncle. It’s always the same with me, I can’t do anything about those games, all we can do is look at the next one and the ones beyond. But the lads have been great.”
Amongst the players McCarthy has praise for is summer signing Kevin Bru, who has started the last two games, but seems likely to be replaced by the returning Luke Hyam today.
"I’m delighted with Kevin," McCarthy said. "He’s been a really good acquisition, having walked in the door on a free transfer. He’s a really good player.”
Meanwhile, former Canary Grant Holt is likely to be on the end of a few boos from the Portman Road crowd this afternoon, but McCarthy doubts the attention will have much impact on the 33-year-old.
"I don’t think it’ll bother him one iota,” he said. "I think he’ll thrive on it. I think the more they do it, I think he’ll be more belligerent and tougher.
"If they’re caning you, you want to do better. Does it put some off? I think it might do, but I don’t think it’ll bother him too much. He seems like a hard-nosed pro to me, that won’t bother him.”
He added: "I’m not giving any messages to fans, I don’t do that. If someone wants to come and boo him, let them boo him. If they don’t, I’m not bothered.
"As a player I used to turn up - and as a manager I still do - and I want to slap them when I go to the opposition and they can boo me and call me all they like. And the more they do it, the more I want to beat them.
"And when we do beat them, my smile’s even bigger when I’ve been getting dog’s abuse. Let them deal with it how they want to deal with it.”