Huddersfield Town’s fans cheered off every single player and reserved the biggest roar for the man who is pouring fresh belief into Huddersfield Town.
Chris Powell marched across the Portman Road turf to say his own ‘thank you’ to the 486 who travelled in a symbol of all that’s blossoming about the club right now.
Where once, only a few dark weeks ago, there seemed little but gloom and anguish, now there are beacons of bright positivity and burgeoning hope.
Town may not be romping up the table as yet, but the way they fought back at Portman Road – a ground which has so often been a graveyard in the past – suggests progress is on the way and it will be an enthralling journey under a manager who has quickly become one with the supporters.
He is clearly not afraid to make tough decisions, change his personnel and formation and, if it doesn’t work, change them back again.
So it was in Suffolk.
The 5-3-2 was shelved at two down to Tommy Smith (21 mins) and Christophe Berra (55) and replaced with 4-4-2 including the zippy wing play of bright substitutes Sean Scannell and Harry Bunn.
Watch Mel's take on the game by clicking below.
Suddenly Mick McCarthy’s big, direct and physical side had another testing dimension to deal with and, equally suddenly, Grant Holt and Nahki Wells had meaningful service instead of just chasing crumbs.
Holt – thriving on the abuse he was afforded throughout as a former Norwich player – was a menace even in his quiet moments and, when he was in among the bodies on 70 minutes, Luke Chambers wrestled him to the ground for a clear penalty.
Wells drilled in the spot kick and, with the subs running riot, there was just a feeling more was to come.
That proved the case eight minutes from time when Scannell invited Town’s excellent Tommy Smith to cross and Wells – showing the predatory instincts which make him a £1.3m gem – climbed between his markers to head a terrific equaliser.
it was no more than they deserved and, had the game gone on another 10 minutes, Town might well have won because Ipswich were in something resembling panic mode.
While Wells, Holt and the subs grabbed the headlines, Powell was right to point to the team effort which ensured an unbeaten run of six matches as Town get ready to welcome Nottingham Forest to the John Smith’s Stadium on Saturday.
Conor Coady grows in stature by the game, Jonathan Hogg has seen it all before and Jacob Butterfield has a knack for directing play which should only get sharper.
The manager says he likes the way the midfield three are dovetailing, and Coady certainly brings an assured touch beyond his years.
Paul Dixon, too, reminded everyone of his international credentials and made the most of his first start under the new boss, raiding well in a first half when Town had by far the better of the chances.
Holt should have netted after a superb move on 12 minutes, Smith and Wells interlinking before Butterfield squared, but the loan man could only poke his shot wide of the target.
And Wells fired straight at keeper Dean Gerken from four yards after Holt had dummed a Dixon cross, before nodding the rebound over the top.
Powell will be eager for his defence to brush up on set pieces and annoyed they not only conceded to Smith from a simple corner routine, but were caught by a raking pass and back-post run from David McGoldrick which led to the second.
But Alex Smithies commanded and distributed better with every minute and, in the end, Town looked by far the more likely winners.
