Even if Ipswich do pick up all three points to warm their fans' hearts, the celebrations will be restrained. Straight away the talk will be of Wednesday's visit of Nottingham Forest and the necessity of another victory.

Although supporters will always talk of 'needing' six points from back-to-back home games, when you're seven points off sixth place in mid-February, it has more meaning.

Saturday's comprehensive defeat to play-off rivals Swansea had even the most optimistic Blues fan considering their options for the bank holiday at the end of May, as they know a trip to north London seems like a mere fantasy at the moment.

While Ipswich were picking up points on their travels, there was always hope that we could still mount a charge for the top six. But after coming away pointless from the Liberty Stadium, Town's remaining seven away games, all against clubs above us in the table, look even more daunting.

The 'glass is half-full' brigade will see this as a perfect opportunity to pick off rivals one-by-one but there was little evidence that this will happen after the Swansea defeat.

No one needs to tell Jim Magilton that as the pessimism rises about our prospects this season, the chances of him still being Town boss come August dwindle.

It was his erratic team selection which caused fans' frustration earlier in the season, now it is his reluctance to put round pegs in round holes, in particular David Norris.

When Magilton paid more than £2million, we assumed the team would be built around the former Plymouth midfielder.

But now Norris is being shifted into the unfamiliar left-side of midfield and his effectiveness has deteriorated as a result.

What is even more surprising, is that Norris' favoured position with Plymouth was on the right of midfield, a role filled by our invisible man, Jon Walters.

After being our player of the season in the last campaign, Walters has suffered a worse second season than Town did in the Premiership at the start of the decade.

Magilton no doubt feels loyalty to Walters, who in his defence has been carrying an injury, after his success last season and with Norris suspended tomorrow, he is likely to keep faith with him against Blackpool.

But if Town do not have six points tucked under their belts by next Saturday's trip to Loftus Road, Magilton will soon find out that sentiment is quickly forgotten by supporters when you don't get results.