Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna said his side were “excellent” in their 3-1 victory over Birmingham.
Conor Chaplin opened the scoring for the Tractor Boys, but Birmingham equalised in the closing minutes of the first half through Jordan James.
Jeremy Sarmiento put the Town back ahead before Omari Hutchinson wrapped up the three points late on.
The result drew Ipswich level on points with second-placed Leeds, but have an inferior goal difference after the Yorkshire outfit defeated table-toppers Leicester on Friday evening.
The visitors, without manager Tony Mowbray due to medical treatment and who was a key member of the Town’s promotion winning campaign in 1999-00 campaign, fell down three places to 18th spot.
McKenna said: “I thought it was a really good performance and I enjoyed it, and I was pleased with all aspects of it.
“We were really good off the ball, aggressive against a good footballing team, and didn’t really give them any confidence to grow in the game.
“We attacked well, had a threat throughout the game, but found control in the right moments and appropriately patient in the second half.
“It was an excellent performance and a really good day.
“I thought we started the game excellently and we didn’t let up too much in the first half.
“Of course Wes (Burns) going off – that’s something you have to respond to – and then Omari (Hutchinson) comes on and does great and I thought it was a really good start to the game.
“I thought that it was another good performance. We caused a change in their shape they went with, they tried to break the flow and I felt like the goal was coming.
“We knew we had players on the bench who could impact, but even the players on the pitch at that time I shared their belief that if we kept doing the right things the goal would come.”
Assistant manager Mark Venus, who is in charge in Mowbray’s absence, admitted it was a “tough afternoon” for his side.
He said: “It was a tough afternoon to a point. We got a slow start and then got back in the game and I thought for the second half for a period we sort of contained them without really threatening, but we didn’t have enough moments from our team.
“We put a lot of work in to contain Ipswich, but there was not enough of those moments.”
The former Ipswich defender added: “I think they (Ipswich) have to be given a bit of credit on the day, I think they played really well. They were on the front foot, they had a lot of purpose, they have a big pot at the end of the season if they can achieve it and they have taken three teams right to the wire.
“We have to maintain our league position and league status this season and that is the aim and that is the aim for the next 13 games. We have to pick the points up, which we need to get to that point.”
Plymouth Argyle 2-2 Watford: Two-goal Gray rescues point for Rooney's side
Andre Gray scored twice against his former club to salvage a point for struggling Plymouth Argyle as they drew 2-2 with Watford on Friday.
Gray curled in an equaliser in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time to seal a crucial point for Wayne Rooney's side in their bid for survival in the Championship.
The visitors made a quick start at Home Park when Ivorian striker Vakoun Bayo bundled in a cross from Yasser Larouci only eight minutes in.
Plymouth did, however, equalise against the run of play in the 23rd minute when Lewis Gibson's long ball into the box was met with a spectacular volley from Gray.
Watford regained the lead before the break when Imran Louza's free-kick was knocked back by Mattie Pollock, with centre-back Ryan Porteous on hand to steer the ball home.
But just as it looked like Watford would go home with all three points, Gray picked up the ball on the edge of the area and fired home a stunning effort beyond Daniel Bachmann.
Tom Cleverley's Watford sit in fifth place and trail leaders Sunderland by five points, while Plymouth are 17th with 17 points from 16 matches.
Man United could be without Toone until new year, says Skinner
Marc Skinner revealed that Manchester United could be without midfielder Ella Toone until the new year after she picked up a calf injury in training.
Toone has featured in five games in the Women's Super League this season, but is yet to register a goal or an assist so far this term.
The 25-year-old has missed United's last two games and was not selected in Sarina Wiegman's England squad for their upcoming friendlies against the United States and Switzerland.
She had previously appeared in a staggering 96 straight matches before missing United's WSL showdown with Leicester City last weekend.
But ahead of the Red Devils' meeting with league leaders Chelsea on Sunday, Skinner confirmed they would be without Toone for not only that game, but for the foreseeable future.
"We have three games [after the international break and before Christmas]. There's always the hope, but I think you balance and you go, 'right, if we can get her back, we get her back'," Skinner said.
"But we're just not going to rush her in this moment because it's a calf injury, it's your running mechanism. If we injure the running mechanism, it takes longer.
"So ideally we'd like her back for those games afterwards.
"The projection is she misses this game [Chelsea], she misses the international window, probably misses the first game after that, and then we'll see from there.
"But because it is such a short block of only three games, we'll assess whether it's worth that or actually resetting to come back after Christmas."
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