Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna never panicked when the wins started drying up over the winter period.

The Blues dropped from first to fourth in the Championship table after claiming just one victory in nine league games between December 16 and February 10. A home defeat to non-league side Maidstone United also saw them dumped out of the FA Cup during that period too.

Four successive wins - against Millwall, Swansea, Rotherham and Birmingham - have reignited a promotion push though, with the Blues now six points behind leaders Leicester and level on points with second-place Leeds heading into the final 12 fixtures.

McKenna, however, always balks at the idea that his team went through a 'dip in form' in and around the festive period.

"We played Leeds and Leicester (twice) and you’re not going to score that many goals against them," he said, reflecting on a period that also included games against current top-half sides West Brom, Norwich, Preston and Sunderland.

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“Of course, we lost our main striker (George Hirst) in the Boxing Day fixture and then lost two more strikers in January (Freddie Ladapo and Dane Scarlett), so we had to adapt for the five or six weeks after that and try different people in different positions.

“These things flow over the course of the season. Certainly having harder fixtures and having no or less strikers in the building was a big contributor to it.

“The squad’s in a better position now in terms of depth. Kieffer (Moore) and Ali (Al-Hamadi) have brought us different options, we’ve got other bodies back fit and available now and we feel that we can score goals."

Big front man Moore, a player with Premier League and international tournament experience for Bournemouth and Wales respectively, has provided four goals and one assist over six games so far.

Meanwhile, fans have quickly taken to Al-Hamadi, who has stepped up from League Two side AFC Wimbledon, following five lively cameo appearances.

“I’m very pleased with those two, in all aspects really," said McKenna, whose side make the long journey to 15th place Plymouth Argyle this weekend.

"Personality-wise, both are really big additions. Kieffer is such an experienced player, such a humble guy and just slots into the group straight away. Ali is a big personality, has great energy, has infectious enthusiasm and is a funny guy around the building. The boys have taken to him well.

“Both have come in with a lot of hunger to make an impact and impression, which they both have done, and both bring different qualities to the team. 

“Of course Kieffer has got his strengths and his super strengths, while Ali has brought his attributes when he’s had minutes as well. It puts us in a much healthier position in that area of the pitch."