Goalscoring midfielder Jay Tabb is delighted that the Blues are second in the Championship going into Christmas but says there’s still a very long way to go between now and the end of the season. Tabb netted Town's second goal as the Blues beat Middlesbrough 2-0 at Portman Road on Saturday.
"It is a good feeling being second going into Christmas but it is only Christmas,” the 30-year-old warned.
"I would rather being second with a game to go, knowing if you win, you go up. The second part of the season will be tough, you always get a team that comes from nowhere too.
"We need to keep performing and working hard, our workrate is getting us where we are and we need to keep that up.
"Boro are a very good side but we got goals at good times. They had a real go second half and it was very tough for us to hold on. We are delighted with the win.”
Despite his lack of height, Tabb says his headed goal just before half-time oughtn’t to have been quite such a surprise: "I’m 5ft 5in, maybe 5ft 6in, but I have always had a good leap on me. I win my fair share of headers out there on the wing.
"I saw the ball come in and I just timed my jump well, I probably leaned into them a bit to win it but I managed to get above them. I have not scored for a while so it was good to get on the scoresheet once more.”
"I didn’t score much because last year I was hardly in the team and the reason for that is because when I did get my chance I didn’t play well so didn’t deserve to be picked.
"This season I’m playing well, as the whole team is, and if you are in the side you have to play well or you are out.”
Tabb’s goal was created by Teddy Bishop, who also fed him the ball for Daryl Murphy’s opener, and the former Irish U21 international expects the 18-year-old to add to his one senior goal - scored in the away win at Bournemouth - as the season progresses.
"Teddy has been doing really well,” Tabb added. "He can nick goals as well so I’m expecting him to grab a couple of goals by the end of the season. He put in a great cross for my header and he also put the ball in for me to cross for the first one.
"It was good to be involved in both. I managed to pull the ball back and Didzy was unlucky not to score but Murph being in the form he is in put it away.”
Tabb was offered the chance to move on in the summer after a 2013/14 when he was on the fringes of the side, but he was in no doubt that he wanted to remain at Portman Road.
"Mick said to me at the end of last season things haven’t really worked out so if a club came in for me or I wanted to leave, he would not stand in my way,” he continued.
"But I said no straight away. I like Ipswich Town, I like Suffolk, I like the gaffer and TC and all the lads, and I wanted to stay and fight for my place. I have done that and it’s working out so I would like to stay as long as possible.”
Up next is the Boxing Day game away against one of Tabb’s former clubs Brentford and his performances in recent matches - and his goal from midfield, only Town's fourth this season - should ensure he's in the side, although he is aware that that won’t always be the case.
"The gaffer knows he can rely on me. I may not always be his first choice but when I’m picked now he can rely on me,” he said.
"It was fair enough before because I wasn’t playing well. I know though against Brentford on Boxing Day I have to play well again or I’m out, just like any other player in this team.”
He added: "It’s great being second but we are keeping our feet firmly on the ground because as soon as you start getting carried away things can turn against you.”
Meanwhile, Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka was impressed with Blues youngster Bishop, who he said was the "best player on the pitch” on Saturday and was "joking” with his players so good was his performance.
He added: "He was the best, he showed he is a mature player in a team who is now [second] top of the table.
"When you’re 18 years old, it’s because you’re a good player and you are mature. I think he can be a very good player.”
Boro midfielder Adam Clayton says Town managed the game intelligently having gone in front: "Ipswich were very similar to us in the fact that when they go a goal up they are very astute at keeping that lead. They didn’t allow us many chances and made it a tough game for us.
"They have used every condition they can, including the size of the pitch, to their advantage and fair play to them they got the win and not many teams are going to get many points here.”
He continued: "Ipswich are near the top of the league for a reason and just as we did a job on Derby last week, they have done a bit of a job on us. We will bounce back from this.”
Elsewhere, Town's U21s are in action against Colchester United at the Weston Homes Community Stadium this evening (7pm).