Winger Gwion Edwards is confident Town can mount a promotion challenge this season as they look to recapture their Championship status at the first available opportunity.
Victory at Peterborough tomorrow would put the Blues on seven points from their first three games of the new campaign, while anything less will make it three games without a win to follow on from the home draw with Sunderland and Tuesday’s exit from the Carabao Cup at the first round courtesy of a 3-1 defeat at Luton.
The game at Kenilworth Road marked Edwards’s return to action from a persistent groin problem and he is now hopeful of staying fit and playing his part in what he expects to be a sustained promotion challenge.
Edwards said: "There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be up there. Even last season I didn’t think we had a bad team but for whatever reason we got relegated.
"It’s pretty much the same team, bar a couple of players, and I think we’re a good side that plays some good football. It will be a tough season but we have the characters in the dressing room to do it.
"My first season as a Championship player didn’t go as planned. It was very disappointing for me, all the other players and of course the supporters. We know what the aim is this season and we’re going to do everything we can to achieve it.
"I think big things are expected of everyone at the club. We shouldn’t be in League One, the size of club we are, but for whatever reason it has happened and now it’s up to us to get us back to where we belong.”
Edwards is in line to make his first return to Posh since his move to Portman Road 11 months ago, during Paul Hurst’s brief reign as manager, and he added: "I’m desperate to be involved every week from now on and the only reason I didn’t play until Tuesday was that we wanted to make sure we got it right.
"It’s always nice to go back to one of your former clubs and play. I’m sure I will see some familiar faces and it will be a good occasion. The atmosphere will be cracking with 4,000 of our fans making the journey.
"I know it’s not too far to travel but it’s still an amazing turnout from our fans. I think we’ll be backed quite well wherever we go this season.
"They stuck by us last season through the tough times and hopefully we can have some good times this season when things will be a lot better.”
Edwards made 74 appearances and netted 16 times during his two seasons at London Road, and has fond memories of his time there. "I really enjoyed it there,” he said. "They are a club that likes to get their transfer business done early in the close season and they are always looking to push on and do well in the league.
"I know they have had a tough start with two defeats but I’m still expecting a really tough game.
"Peterborough are always close to the play-offs and just missed out last season. We did well the two years I was there.
"They have a good side, although the way they have started the new season doesn’t suggest that, but we can’t go there expecting an easy game. We’ll go there and do our best, as we always do, and take it very seriously.
"After beating Burton and drawing against Sunderland, when we probably should have had all three points but only took one, we go again.
"There are always going to be times in any season when things don’t necessarily go your way and Sunderland was that type of occasion.
"But we are keen to turn things round and get another win, which is always the best way of putting things right.”
As those who frequent social media will testify, Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony could never be described as publicity-shy, a label that wouldn’t exactly be made to measure either for ebullient director of football Barry Fry, whose astute transfer market business over the years has been of enormous benefit, not just financially, to the club.
Edwards smiled: "They are very involved at the club. Barry is a chirpy character, who is always around the training ground, while the chairman used to pop in when he was around. They liked to spend time chatting with the lads and it’s a great club.
"They did a lot for me and over the years they have had several players leave them to go and play in the Championship — every season in fact.
"It’s a good club with a lot of good people there and I still speak to some of them every now and again.
"I learned a lot at Peterborough and they helped me a lot in my career, like getting the move to Ipswich after doing well for them in League One.”
Edwards’s return to action on Tuesday coincided with teenager Armando Dobra’s senior debut, which he marked with Town’s second-half consolation goal.
An impressed Edwards continued: "Armando can go on to become a very good player and he has emerged as someone who is going to challenge for a first team place.
"We didn’t really sign many players over the summer and he has taken his chance to stake a claim. We’ve got a good squad, we’re all happy and we’re ready to be up there challenging for the league title.”