Blues striker Joe Garner felt Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Derby, in which he netted his seventh goal of the campaign, was a game of two halves.
The Rams dominated the first period in which Sam Winnall gave them the lead before the former Sheffield Wednesday frontman added their second three minutes after the break.
Garner, 29, nodded in a Martyn Waghorn corner - the third of three in swift succession - on 65.
"This was a game of two halves, Derby were better than us first half and we were better than them in the second,” the Blues summer signing from Rangers said.
"We got a goal but couldn’t get the second. Martyn’s got a great left foot so it was about getting on the end of it and making it third time lucky.”
In addition to their first home defeat in six, Adam Webster limped off in the second half with an achilles problem, adding to Town’s already lengthy injury list ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Fulham, who are on the same points as the Blues but one place behind them in 12th.
"We have some big players out long term but the lads who go out there give the best and we have to make the most of it,” Garner reflected.
"We have a lot of injuries with a lot of big players out. If you look at the Fulham squad then you look at ours, they have a budget probably treble than ours, but it is not my job to look at that. The lads will work hard and try and implement what the gaffer wants.
"Fulham have had an up and down season like ourselves but they are lower than us at the moment.
"When they came here [and won 2-0 in August] they were probably the best side we had played here this season. We will dust ourselves down and go again on Tuesday.”
Derby goalscorer Winnall felt his second-half strike was as good as any he has ever netted: "It's one of the best I've scored, I must admit. You get one of those in your career and that could have been mine. It's the best I've scored.
"I'm just glad it was a goal that meant three points for the team and put us into second place.”
He added: "It was strange really because I don't normally try to shoot from there. I'd usually pass to someone else and get in the box.
"I just felt it was right to hit it. I was full of confidence after getting the first goal and I thought, 'Why not have a go?’. If you don't shoot, you don't score. Thankfully, it has flown into the top corner."
Regarding his 13th minute opener, he said: "I do like scoring headers and I always back myself in the air.
"Tom [Lawrence] put in a great corner right on to my head and all I had to do was direct it.
"I directed it into the corner and, thankfully, no one was standing on the back post. It gave us a great start in the game and we kicked on from there."
The 26-year-old had a chance to complete his hat-trick in the second half but scewed his shot wide after being fed by Matej Vydra.
"I probably should have done better,” he admitted. "It was very unselfish play from Vyds, who played me in with a great ball. I probably should have hit the target but, thankfully, two was enough in the end.”
One-time Scunthorpe and Barnsley man Winnall felt his side should have had the game settled inside the first half.
"On the pitch, it felt like we were playing some really good stuff," he added. "We made some really good chances and probably should have wrapped the game up with the chances we had in the first half.
"The keeper pulled off a great save from me and Vyds put one over when he probably should have scored.
"In the second half, we had to show a different side to our performance and grind out the three points.
"Being able to do both sides of the game just shows how far we've come as a squad and how much potential we've got to be successful this season.
"It was a bit nerve-racking at the end but, to be honest, with the quality we've got at the back - it's hard to find a better centre-back partnership than Keezy and Curt [Richard Keogh and Curtis Davies] - I had full confidence in both of them and the rest of the back four, and Scotty [Carson], that we wouldn't concede. Thankfully, they proved me right."
Winnall started his career with hometown club Wolverhampton Wanderers under Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy but made only one League Cup appearance before being released in the summer of 2012.
"I can't be too mad at him because he was the manager who gave me my first professional contract and handed me my debut as well,” he continued.
"It was nice to see him and Terry Connor, who I know from Wolves, and obviously nice to get the two goals against them.”