Town manager Gary O’Neil wants to see his side attacking at pace at times but also slowing it down and taking control in other spells.
Crystal Palace boss Pierre Sage cited the Blues’ "very high intensity” and spoke about having "to be careful with the counter-attack” at his press conference ahead of Saturday’s game at Selhurst Park.
"It’s not always meant to be like that, sometimes that’s Portman Road and the atmosphere that the fans create and the lads getting carried away with themselves,” O’Neil said.
"But yeah, I appreciate it. We want to play quick, of course we do. but we want to make sure we have enough control of the game.
"Against Liverpool and United, especially United, our best spells in the game were where we managed to slow it down to a pace and into an area that we were comfortable with.
"As you saw in the second half, when the game started to get a bit more open and quicker, we had some problems.
"Liverpool similarly, for different reasons. We didn’t handle the start very well, but then once we got hold of it, we did really, really well.
"So the lads have a good understanding of when we want it to be quick and when we want it to slow down.
"But when we’re attacking and when we get our moment to attack, it’s why we’ve signed Emmy [Emersonn] and Julio [Enciso] and Abdul Fatawu and Daizen [Maeda] and Clarkey [Jack Clarke], who’s already here, and Jaden, we want speed, Leif overlapping.
"There’s nothing like it. You need speed and you need to be able to attack fast in the Premier League.
"That side of it’s been good, I think. We just need to tidy up a few of the little bits, give ourselves a better platform in the game and hopefully we can be successful tomorrow.”
Reflecting on how he he approaches different sides, O’Neil says he varies the Blues’ attacking intensity against the division’s top sides.
"I think I look at some opposition differently,” he continued. "We were much less aggressive against Liverpool and Manchester United. Back five in a way against both of them, using one of our wingers down the side in both games.
"Against the bigger teams, we will try and play the game in smaller areas if we can. And the fact we went 2-0 down to Liverpool early meant it got a bit too open quicker, which we actually coped OK with.
"But at Old Trafford, those spells where we were successful with Daizen [Maeda] down in the back five and frustrating Manchester United and reducing the spaces between us and behind us, it really helped us. It was only when it got a bit open [that Town had problems].
"We will try and pick apart games like that against the bigger sides and we will be less aggressive across the pitch.
"But in terms of points totals and things, it’s really important that we don’t get drawn into the external ’how many points did you get’, ’how many points are you on’.
"The focus in here is on the process and the performance at the weekend. Of course, we want to beat Crystal Palace, but we can only do that with a really good performance and a commitment to what we do.
"I always review the game with the players on whether we have nailed what we are trying to be. And then, of course, things like VAR and [Harry] Maguire’s handball, an unfortunate own goal and [Nilson] Angulo putting a free-kick into the top corner, we can’t control all of those things.
"To be worrying about everything and the outcome of everything takes too much time and takes us away on what we should be focused, which is ourselves and how we perform and whether that gives us the best chance of taking something from the game or not.”
O’Neil is pleased with the way partnerships are developing among his players following a summer in which there were 14 additions to the squad.
"There are a few out there,” he said. "Emmy [Emersonn] has really impressed me, him as a nine and Julio [Enciso] as a 10.
"I expected Emmy to take a while to get going – especially at Premier League level. Maybe the fact we couldn’t do our other number nine business earlier in the window meant that Emmy got more and more time and started the games against Sunderland and Liverpool.
"He’s probably exceeded my expectations, to be honest. Not that I didn’t back Emmy, but it was a big transition for him, not having played much senior football to going to play in the Premier League. And he has done exceptionally well and that has been a big positive.
"All the players understand what we are trying to be and the level of understanding they have shown so far has been good. We just need to tidy up those little bits where the Premier League can be ruthless in a moment.
"We have to find a way to be better in those as they will impact where we finish in the league.
"But relationships-wise, I’m quite pleased. Of course, they will develop. You can’t microwave it, it is going to take its time.
"Whether it is Abdul and Dara [O’Shea], Leif [Davis] and Daizen or Leif and Clarkey or Leif and Jaden [Philogene], they need more and more reps to understand which each other does.
"The back four as well, with Greavesy [Jacob Greaves], Ceddy [Cedric Kipre], Issa [Diop] and Dara sometimes at centre-back, they are going to need work, which is why we do loads on the grass at the moment and loads of tactical stuff to try and improve the understanding quickly.
"But there is nothing like real life, the Premier League, cut and thrust matches to improve the learning. So I am looking forward to seeing where we are at this weekend.”
Regarding Davis, who was on loan at Bournemouth during O’Neil’s time as assistant boss at Dean Court, the Blues manager said: "Excited to work with him again. I know him well from Bournemouth, he is a great guy. He has been excellent for Ipswich as well and given everything for the club.
"He should probably be on three goals now. I think he should have scored two at Old Trafford and I think he could have scored at the back post against Liverpool.
"But it is important that he gives us that attacking threat as well as being good defensively for us. He’s been excellent, I’m really pleased with where he’s at.
"We are going to need him – we are going to need everybody. But Leif is a big part of what we are going to try and do this year."
On striker Zian Flemming, who made his debut from the bench against Liverpool following his £17 million switch from Burnley on deadline day, O’Neil added: "Potentially, he can start. He has trained well, he is a good addition to the group, helps us in that number nine unit.
"With Emmy and Chuba [Akpom], we knew we needed one more. Zian comes in and helps us there.
"He will have a good impact on the group, trains well, physically very, very good, brings quality, brings goals, so he is a good addition for us and I expect him to play a big part this weekend.”