Ipswich boss Paul Jewell hailed his side's 5-1 thumping of West Ham as a "victory for hard work and determination".
The Blues put their recent troubles behind them to complete a double over the Hammers and notch an emphatic first win of 2012.
Seven matches had elapsed since their last victory but they were always in command at Portman Road.
Michael Chopra gave them a dream start and then Daryl Murphy's goal and a penalty from Lee Martin - either side of a consolation from Jack Collison - made it 3-1.
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas smashed a fourth just after the hour and then added a fifth in stoppage time.
"It was a great result but even sweeter to get a performance too," said Jewell.
"West Ham are a very good team and I've got no doubts they'll get promoted.
"We started well and then rode our luck from one or two set-plays. But overall it was a victory for hard work and determination.
"We worked exceptionally hard, hunted in packs and didn't want to give them any time on the ball. We hassled them all over the pitch and played some good stuff of our own.
"It was a great tonic for everyone but we've had false dawns before this season. One swallow doesn't make a summer and we've got another tough game at Coventry on Saturday. We'll go into it with a bit more confidence now, though."
Of two-goal hero Emmanuel-Thomas, he added: "He goes from world-beater to panel-beater in five minutes but that's what he's capable of doing."
Ipswich got off to a perfect start with an opener after three minutes.
Emmanuel-Thomas weaved a pass through to Chopra and the striker smashed home his eighth goal of the season.
Town doubled their lead when Andy Drury's corner was headed on by Tommy Smith and then nodded home by Murphy.
West Ham gave themselves a lifeline when Mark Noble's free-kick skimmed in off Collison.
But the hosts' two-goal cushion was quickly restored when Drury played in Chopra and the striker was bundled off the ball by George McCartney.
Referee Fred Graham pointed to the spot and Martin slotted past Robert Green.
Ipswich continued to boss proceedings after the break and Emmanuel-Thomas lashed in their fourth with a shot from 25 yards that crashed off the right-hand post and under Green.
The midfielder then tucked home the final goal in stoppage time after being teed up by Jason Scotland.
Shocked Hammers boss Sam Allardyce said: "I was bitterly disappointed. I didn't expect us to put on such a poor performance defensively.
"That's been our ultimate strength this season, especially away from home, but as a defensive unit we just disintegrated.
"Ipswich came out of the blocks quicker than us and exposed the gaping holes we left in our back four. When you do that you get punished.
"We were very, very poor in that department and that's why we lost the game.
"Even when we clawed our way back we didn't have the organisation or communication to make sure we got through to half-time, so I could sort one or two things out.
"Ipswich were great and took full advantage of us not being on song.
"They stuck their chances away when they came their way, so from a football point of view it's been a shock and a really bad day."
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