If ever there was an example of three points being all that matters at this stage of the season, this was it.
That might sound a tad harsh on our first half performance, but the second period was a hard watch.
Piecing two good halves together still eludes us. But we cannot really complain with coming out of Easter in second place.
Credit to Birmingham who, after half-time, nullified us all over the pitch. I also wonder whether such a long break played its part. We may have lost our stride momentarily.
Town needed a win against Birmingham – and they got it (Image: Ross Halls)
But this win should do wonders in getting us back at it. Overall, it was an excellent holiday period for us. Without kicking a ball on Good Friday, our promotion hopes received a boost.
Obviously, a draw between Middlesbrough and Millwall would have been better. But Middlesbrough failing to win was a good outcome. Hull being held to a draw by Oxford was also a good result. Are they starting to drift away?
Then on Saturday, Southampton’s incredible FA Cup win over Arsenal may also be good for us. Our visit to St Mary’s stadium will come just three days after their FA Cup semi final tie at Wembley against Manchester City.
The hope must be that fatigue will creep into them. Yet they will still be a dangerous opponent with play-off aspirations of their own.
Before we kicked-off on Monday, it was scarcely believable that we were cheering a Norwich win at Millwall. That really did do us a favour.
We knew three points later in the afternoon would elevate us to second place. Our afternoon could and should have got off to a dream start when Kasey McAteer missed a good chance after just 35 seconds.
Kasey McAteer rebounded from a big miss to get the winner (Image: Ross Halls)
A little over half-an-hour-later, the Irishman really should have put us ahead. To compound the miss of an even better chance, Birmingham went ahead and it felt like it might be one of those afternoons.
But the lads simply did not give up. When Ben Johnson’s effort was confirmed a goal by technology some Birmingham players were not happy.
Was there a handball in the build-up that led to their growls of complaint? I do not think so. Replays confirmed the ball was well over the line too. It was a goal that we deserved.
Then, yet again, I committed my usual sin. Yep, a toilet break on the stroke of half-time meant I missed the winning goal of the game.
I have still seen Kasey McAteer score more goals against Ipswich than I have for us! I will take me answering the call of nature if it means I must miss winning goals. Ok, maybe not.
The end of that half was all Town and the stands were rocking. The interval came at the wrong time really.
Neither performance reached the same levels again in all honesty and the final whistle brought relief as much as it did joy.
Coming out of the ground felt like we had been dragged through the mill a little. But a realisation of three big points soon had the worries dissipating.
Kieran McKenna’s side have promotion in their own hands (Image: Ross Halls)
A word for both McAteer and Ben Johnson. Nobody would have had those two names on their score sheet prior to the kick off. Yet it was apt they should both find the back of the net.
The latter has deputised well for Leif Davis and can be happy with his steady performances. McAteer had his best game in a Town shirt and deserved his name being sung when substituted.
The equation has become simple on paper. 16 points required from a possible 21. That sounds doable. But put it another way. Five wins, one draw and a single defeat sound a tall order.
It naturally makes one look further down the line as to where those points might come from.
But it really is one game at a time. The next one of course is the small matter of the trip over the border on Saturday. Anyone for a double?