Ipswich manager Jim Magilton identified his team's flying start as the key to their 6-0 Coca-Cola Championship demolition of Bristol City.
Ipswich, who extended their run of successive home wins to 11 - seven of them this season - were two goals up within 15 minutes through a deflected Jon Walters shot and a David Wright header.
Tommy Miller slotted home a 47th-minute penalty, after Bradley Orr was shown a straight red for bringing down substitute Danny Haynes - and then hat-trick hero Walters took centre stage.
He crashed home the fourth goal in the 53rd minute, teed up Pablo Counago to net the fifth - and then the Spaniard returned the compliment for Walters to compete his hat-trick after 72 minutes.
Magilton said: "We knew we had to start brightly and not allow them to settle into a pattern or routine.
"They have come up from League One and been very good on their travels - but we started very quickly.
"With them going down to 10 men, it can be a tricky situation. But we passed the ball well and fluently - and it was a good day at the office."
Magilton is keenly anticipating the proposed takeover of the club by businessman Marcus Evans, which should see him given several million pounds to spend in the January transfer window.
"It will give a huge boost to the whole area," he predicted.
"It is important that if and when we get the money we spend it wisely and get the right 'characters in the building'."
Bristol City had not previously conceded more than two goals in any game this season.
Their manager Gary Johnson said: "Nothing went right.
"We did not start right. They started off like a house on fire, and we didn't handle it.
"We are always humble in victory and we will be resilient in defeat. It was poor all the way through, and I would be cheating people if I said any different."
Johnson, whose team started the day in third place, believes the forthcoming two-week break will benefit them.
"I would be gutted if we had a game on Tuesday - we need time to reflect on this defeat," he said.
"It's been a bad day at the office, but we will 'redecorate the office' and be back."