Late in 2021, Ipswich Town could barely give Barrow a game and were deservedly dumped out of the FA Cup at the hands of a then League Two side, who drew 0-0 at Portman Road before finishing off the job less than a fortnight later.

Without wanting to disrespect the Bluebirds, it was one of the lowest periods in Town's entire history. At the time, it also came as no surprise at all.

Fast-forward to now, and Ipswich are confident they can give anyone a game.

Despite the eventual outcome, I still stand by the opening 40 minutes at Old Trafford being their best spell of the Premier League season so far, and they also had Manchester City supporters worried towards the end of Saturday's match at the Eithad.

A fight-to-the-end mentality - something that became a key trait of Town under former manager Kieran McKenna - lives on.

The Northern Irishman took over shortly after the Barrow debacle, and his team's never say die attitude was never more on display than during the Blues' first run to the top-flight during his tenure in 2023-24.

Despite the recent change in the dugout, the late shows have continued. Zian Flemming's penalty at City was Ipswich's eighth goal this campaign that arrived in the 88th minute or later.

Not bad for a side that has only played nine matches in all competitions since the beginning of the season.

This statistic is undoubtedly one of the reasons a caller to our post-match phone-in at the weekend dared to speak the words: "We all love Kieran for what he did for Town, but Gary O'Neil is a step-up."

In the days that have followed, club legend Terry Butcher has also heaped praise on McKenna's successor, adding: "He's shown he is a very good leader who is willing to change the system. There is a bit more purpose and understanding."

It is high praise, and it is deserved praise, but given all of McKenna's achievements, I'm not ready to rate one boss above the other just yet.

I can, however, rate Town's latest Premier League squad against the one McKenna worked with two years ago, and it is much stronger in all departments.

O'Neil's clever formation tweak against the current leaders only highlighted that further. I suspect he'll opt to return to a back four when the Blues line-up against Nottingham Forest on Friday night.

It's a fixture Ipswich can go into with huge belief, and victory would move them up to sixth in the table going into the weekend.

That infamous cup loss in Cumbria may have been less than five years ago, but it feels like light years.