Christian Walton says Ipswich Town can take real value from last weekend’s FA Cup meeting with Wrexham as they prepare to return to the Racecourse Ground in the league.
The goalkeeper believes the tie offered a useful insight despite the changes made, and feels he has a bigger part to play this time around as Town head into a demanding run of fixtures.
Walton felt the FA Cup defeat wasn’t wasted, even with a heavily rotated side.
“We can take a lot from the cup tie,” he said, stressing that the group have already reviewed the performance and identified areas they can use to their advantage on Saturday.
He expects the league meeting to be a different type of contest, with Town reverting to something closer to their regular Championship XI.
“If we use it right, it’s going to be a positive for us,” he added, noting that the squad now have a clearer picture of Wrexham’s strengths and weaknesses.
Walton also highlighted the value of minutes for those on the fringes, saying the cup run helped keep the wider squad sharp heading into a busy period.
The goalkeeper admitted that this season feels very different for him personally.
“This time I’ve got a bigger part to play,” he said, reflecting on how a foot injury kept him out of the last Championship campaign while Václav Hladký played every league game.
Now back as the first choice, Walton is relishing the responsibility. He spoke about the importance of the whole squad contributing, pointing to previous promotion pushes where impact players swung key moments.
“It’s the whole group mentality,” he said, adding that his own experience of big end‑of‑season battles can help steady the dressing room.
He described this stage of the season as the part he enjoys most: the pressure, the stakes, and the chance to push for something meaningful.
Walton doubled down on the importance of mentality. He said the squad’s resilience has grown over the last two seasons and that mental strength will be crucial during the run‑in.
“You’ve got to stay level,” he said, stressing that the group can’t get carried away by swings in form or league position.
He spoke about the need to stay calm when the schedule becomes relentless, especially with seven games in 22 days.
Walton believes the togetherness built through setbacks, injuries, dips in form, tough away days is one of Town’s biggest assets.
He also said the squad are fully aware of what’s required to stay in the promotion race and that the dressing room remains grounded and focused.
Walton echoed Kieran McKenna’s support for George Hirst, who has found goals harder to come by recently.
“He’s a top player,” Walton said, pointing to the impact Hirst made in League One and again when returning from injury in the Championship.
He praised Hirst’s attitude and work rate, saying every player goes through spells where confidence dips. Walton referenced his own setbacks, injuries, spells out of the team, and how they ultimately made him stronger.
“Everyone’s in it together,” he said.
With a heavy run of fixtures ahead, Walton believes Hirst will have big moments to come.
Walton understands why expectations are high following relegation and the financial strength that comes with it.
He didn’t shy away from that reality, acknowledging that supporters naturally expect Town to be higher in the table.
But he stressed the importance of staying level, especially when narratives can swing so quickly.
“You can’t get too high or too low,” he said, noting how two wins can make a team look unstoppable while two defeats can spark panic.
Walton believes confidence will grow if Town puts together results on the road, with the upcoming run offering plenty of chances to build momentum.
