Ipswich Town's momentum hit a slight bump on Tuesday with a 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth, but goalkeeper Christian Walton was quick to dismiss any notion of a hangover from the high of their dramatic East Anglia derby win over Norwich just days earlier.

Despite the setback, the bigger picture remains bright for the Tractor Boys. They hold firm in second place in the Championship, maintaining a crucial two-point cushion over third-placed Millwall and still possess a game in hand in the fierce battle for automatic promotion.

Walton pointed to fine margins as the difference at Fratton Park. "On the night there wasn't much in the game," he told BBC Radio Suffolk. "It's the small details—winning duels, second balls, first contacts—that make a massive difference, and we probably came up short on those. We wanted to replicate our team performance from Saturday and we didn't."

Adopting the perspective essential for a grueling promotion run-in, the keeper emphasized resilience. "It's naive to think we're going to win every game with perfect performances until the end of the season. There are always going to be bumps in the road. We're looking forward to Sunday now."

The schedule offers an immediate chance to respond, but it's a demanding one. Ipswich host fifth-placed Middlesbrough this weekend before embarking on a tough trio of away trips, culminating in a pivotal clash at fourth-placed Southampton on April 28th.

For Walton and his teammates, the focus is on rediscovering their identity. "They're all big games," he stated. "We need to go into it on Sunday with the character and belief that we have in all the games." It's a test of mentality as much as skill, a challenge every athlete knows well.