Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy might struggle to conceal a smile today if he hears one of his old mates got stuck in traffic.

Queues on the M25. A tailback approaching the Dartford crossing, despite changes designed to reduce the waiting time.

And of course the A12 can also be a hassle, especially on Friday afternoon McCarthy will chuckle if he greets Chris Hughton before kick-off and hears his former colleague in the Republic of Ireland back four tell him: “The traffic was terrible.”

Because the Ipswich Town manager is using the fact Ipswich can be an awkward place to get to as part of his masterplan this year.

He has challenged the Tractor Boys to go all season unbeaten, which is pretty bullish by his usual standards.

McCarthy wants his side to improve on an impressive tally of 15 home league wins and just three defeats last term.

And, with wins over Sheffield Wednesday and Burnley already, it is a case of so far so good.

“I hope we don’t get beaten at home, that would be terrific – get more points than we did last season,” he said as the season after play-off excitement and despair kicked off.

“I’ve often said that we’re geographically challenged, travelling to games all the time.

“But they all have to come here and I remember being at Sunderland and certainly that was a schlep down here, and from Wolverhampton.

“There are no easy journeys. You get stuck on those motorways on Friday afternoons.

“So, while we have to do our bit of travelling, they all have to come here and it worked well for us last season.”

Ipswich have improved since then. And not just because they have kept star striker Darryl Murphy despite serious interest from Middlesbrough.

Murphy has yet to score this season and is out today because of a tight calf muscle.

But the fact David McGoldrick and Brett Pitman are seen as the back-up strikers when everyone is fit underlines how the squad has been strengthened over the past year.

But home form remains crucial.

Ipswich finished sixth last season with 78 points, of which 64% were gathered at Portman Road.

Only lowly Bolton and rock bottom Blackpool were more reliant on points gained on home turf.

And that was more due to the fact that they were bad away than that they were any great shakes on their own patches. The Trotters took 69% of their total points at home. For Blackpool, the figure was 71%.

By contrast, Ipswich’s local rivals and play-off victors Norwich City split their total of 86 points almost exactly in half.

They took 44 points (or 51% of their total) on the road and 42 (49%) at home.

Middlesbrough, whose home was a real fortress from Christmas, still only took 59% of their points at the Riverside.

When it comes to goals conceded, the difference between what Ipswich did on the road and in Suffolk is even more pronounced.

That might not surprise Albion fans who saw their side score three against Ipswich at the Amex and fail to register at Portman Road.

Exactly one-third of the goals Ipswich leaked in the league came at Portman Road, the smallest such share in the Championship apart from the aforementioned Middlesbrough.

So the basis is there to do well at home. So far wins have been picked up against Sheffield Wednesday and Burnley.

Including last season, Ipswich have taken 19 points from the last 21 available to them at Portman Road.

Only a late equaliser by Kenwyne Jones for would-be champions Bournemouth denies them a full house in that time.

Similarly, only two injury-time goals by Brentford in a 2-2 draw at Griffin Park on the opening day have spoilt would have been a 100% record, home and away and in league and cup, so far this season.

The challenge is there for Ipswich to keep those runs going.

And for Albion to tear up the script. Once they have beaten the traffic.