Town boss Mick McCarthy says the 3-5-2 system the Blues switched to during the second half of last week’s FA Cup defeat to Southampton is one he could use again at some stage.
McCarthy moved his team to the formation when Tyrone Mings came on as a sub and it’s a set-up he could utilise in the future.
"If I need to do it, I will,” he said. "They were dominating the ball with the three in the middle and as soon as I changed it I thought we had a good spell and stopped them a little bit more and got a bit more of the ball and a bit more joy. If needs must then, yes.”
He says the system suits central defensive trio Luke Chambers, Christophe Berra and Tommy Smith: "They’re very good, they can play that system.”
Mings and Jonny Parr could also revel in wing-back roles on the left and right respectively: "They’re both very good attacking full-backs, that is very much in vogue in football altogether, attacking full-backs coming from behind the ball.
"The two of them are pretty good at it and I thought they handled it well in terms of playing as wing-backs.”
The Town boss says he was impressed with midfielder Darren Ambrose’s performance against the Saints: "I thought Darren played well and the more games he gets, the more minutes he gets the better he will be. I’ve been pleased with Darren’s contribution.”
The FA Cup ties also saw Cameron Stewart make his first appearances for the Blues following his summer free switch from Hull.
McCarthy says the 23-year-old has been itching to get involved having had the first half of his season disrupted by a series of injuries: "He offers us something different, for sure. Hopefully a positive forward threat.
"He has been champing at the bit to get back in but he can’t because other people have been playing well in front of him.
"When you get back to your full fitness and there are people in front of you playing well and stopping you getting in, it’s frustrating for him, but it’s great for me.”