A change of manager was just what Town required for their bid to survive in the Championship, goalkeeper Dean Gerken has admitted.
Paul Hurst was dismissed after just 149 days in charge, with Town at the bottom of the table with just one win and nine points from their first 14 league games of the season.
Caretaker-boss Bryan Klug oversaw the defeat at Millwall and from his seven games in charge Paul Lambert has won one and earned a total of five points, which sees the Blues still bottom of the pile and five points adrift of fourth-bottom Reading, who also have a superior goal difference.
Gerken said: "There have been fine margins with the results under the new manager or we could have more points on the board.
"Prior to him coming in we were starting to think there was no way we were going to improve.
"You feel down in the dumps about it because there seemed to be no light at the end of the tunnel. But it’s different now and we can see the light.
"The new manager has created a positivity around the place and it’s noticeable that more people are laughing and enjoying what they’re doing.
"It’s an enjoyable environment and that’s what you need if you are going to get the type of results we need.”
Last week’s narrow 1-0 defeat of Wigan was enough to earn a first home win of the season — and since April — and the three precious points were not only secured by Freddie Sears’ matchwinner, but also by a terrific full-length save towards the end by Gerken to keep out a netbound freekick from Reece James, who had also rattled the bar with an earlier effort.
But the modest keeper added: "I’ve said it before that I’m happy to go under the radar and just do my job. That’s absolutely fine by me and the saves aren’t the big thing for me.
"Obviously, they are massively important, but making sure everyone is tidy and that we are really solid and resilient at the back is the main thing.
"We’re playing good football and we just need that bit of grit and determination to get over the line, which is what we got on Saturday.”
Gerken will meet up with former team-mate David McGoldrick on Saturday when Sheffield United are the visitors to Portman Road.
The man known as Didzy was among several experienced players to depart the club in the summer and his form — six goals in 17 starts and a further five substitute appearances — for the fifth-placed Blades has been impressive.
Gerken said: "Everyone knows how highly rated Didzy was by us all, both as a player and as a person. He is such a talent and he looks fitter at the moment than he has ever been before.
"He’s running around more than he ever has and his footballing ability has never been in question. When David McGoldrick is fit there’s not many better in the Championship.
"I’m not sure whose decision it was to let David go. He was in a bad situation because he was obviously injured at the time, but because we rated him so highly the rest of the players were disappointed to see him leave. He’s a good mate of mine as well but any player is gutted when good players move on.”
Experienced players who departed Portman Road in the summer — McGoldrick, Martyn Waghorn, Joe Garner and loanees Bersant Celina and Callum Connolly — contributed no fewer than 43 of Town’s 57 league goals last season.
But Gerken added: "We all know that goals — and clean sheets — win games. You’re nil-nil and you score, so it’s one-nil and it can all be done and dusted.
"Losing the experience of the players who left in the summer was probably the hardest thing to take. Joe Garner, Waggy, they’re top Championship players, but there’s no point in us crying over spilt milk.
"We’ve got a job to do now, to stay up. I’ve been relegated before, with both Colchester and Bristol City, and I can tell you it’s a horrible experience that sticks with you.
"We’ve got quite a young squad here and while few of them will know what it’s like to go down, they know what it means to stay in this league.
"No one wants to be dropping down a league because we’re a good club in a good division and we want to stay here. Yes, of course we want to get out of it, but not in the wrong direction. We all know how important it is that we stay up.
"We welcome the fact that new players could be coming in soon because we want to improve and give ourselves the best chance of staying up.
"The old loan windows don’t happen any more and that makes January a more important time. It’s not just on the pitch, either, because changing rooms need it as well. A new face, a new voice with an opinion, can make a big difference.”
Meanwhile, Gerken believes the Blues’ current third-choice keeper, Harry Wright, has a big future ahead of him.
The 20-year-old son of former Town number one Richard Wright has been included in away trips this season, as well as joining in the pre-match warm-up sessions, as he continues his football education.
Gerken said: "It’s important for him. You can play in the U23 games, which he is doing at the moment and doing really well by the way, but he’s now getting the big-game environment and atmosphere as well. It won’t come as such a massive shock to him when he gets his chance.
"Jimmy Walker, our new goalkeeping coach, has done a good job there by giving him a taste of what it’s all about and easing any nerves he might have. Harry’s a great kid and I think he’s going to have a great career in front of him.
"I knew Jimmy from Colchester as well years ago and he’s been brilliant. I stayed in contact with him for a long time after that and he’s a great character.
"Smudger [academy head of goalkeeping Darren Smith] did a brilliant job before but new managers want their own people around them.
"I knew exactly how Jimmy would be and he hasn’t disappointed. Every goalkeeping coach has a different way of doing the job and we’re all enjoying working with Jimmy.”