Town boss Mick McCarthy wants to turn Portman Road back into a fortress after last year’s disappointing home form was a major factor in the Blues missing out on the play-offs.
In the 2014/15 campaign in which Town finished sixth their home record of 15 wins, five draws and only three defeats was the second best in the Championship behind Middlesbrough’s on goal difference.
However, last year, while their away form was the fifth best in the Championship, at home their record of nine wins, eight draws and six defeats from their 23 games at Portman Road was the ninth best in the division.
So far this season Town have recorded a 4-2 win and a 1-1- draw with Norwich in their two Championship home games.
Looking ahead to this afternoon’s third league game at Portman Road against Preston, McCarthy said: "It’s one of those really awkward, tough games because Preston had a great result away from home at QPR, they played very well [as they won 2-0].
"[U23s coach] Gerard Nash was at the game and we’ve got a report on that and watched them.
"But, of course, the difference between having eight points [going into the international break] is huge to not getting anything or getting one out of [the game].
"Whatever it is, we want to win at home. We want this place to be somewhere where people fear coming again because it was a couple of years ago and last year was different and we had a good away record. I want to get back to dominating teams at Portman Road.”