Ipswich manager Jim Magilton hailed debutant Ivan Campo following his side's 2-1 Carling Cup win over Colchester.
The Coca-Cola Championship side booked a place in the third round draw for the first time since 2002 following Tuesday night's East Anglian derby clash at Portman Road.
Goals from strikers Pablo Counago and Kevin Lisbie in either half were enough for Ipswich, with substitute Steven Gillespie netting a late consolation for the visitors.
Magilton praised the contribution of his Spanish summer signing from Bolton, who played 76 minutes in a holding midfield role.
"He uses his experience," he said.
"His distribution is very good. He doesn't waste many passes.
"I think he needed that game. People trust him with the ball.
"When he came off, we lost that sort of discipline in there."
The Ipswich boss said he was pleased to bounce back with a victory following a weekend home defeat against Wolves.
"The win was important after the disappointment of Saturday," he said.
"It's nice the two strikers scored goals. I thought Kevin Lisbie's goal was outstanding.
"It was a local derby, a cup tie. Credit to Colchester for hanging in there.
"Hopefully that gives us a little fillip going into Saturday's game.
"I think a cup run can run in tandem with the league form."
Magilton, who revealed he is closing in on a loan deal for Fulham defender Moritz Volz, made five changes for tonight's game.
"At the end of the day, lads need games," he said.
"I'm trying to give them as much game time as possible as we will need them through the course of the season."
Colchester boss Geraint Williams said his side's defending had "mugged" them.
"We didn't give up but we were a little bit disappointing until the last half-hour, when we really had a go," said the Welshman.
"Really, we are just disappointed that we mugged ourselves for the defending. We could have stopped both goals.
"We shot ourselves in the foot."
Williams was particularly disappointed with the defending that led to Colchester old boy Lisbie finding the net.
"We thought we knew how to stop him," he said.
"Obviously, we let him get on that right foot, which is a cardinal sin."
The Us boss said goalscorer Gillespie had injured himself in chipping Ipswich goalkeeper Richard Wright and was undergoing scans.
"He was stretching for the goal and he has felt something in his hamstring," said Williams.
"He was coming back from a thigh injury, which is why he didn't start."
