Boss Paul Jewell paid tribute to his players’ outstanding effort, workrate and energy during their 3-0 Carling Cup semi-final second leg defeat at Arsenal. The Blues were a goal up from the first leg but despite hanging on to their lead for an hour eventually succumbed to Arsene Wenger’s side.

Jewell said: “For an hour we held them, we rode our luck a little bit and you could have written the possession stats before the game kicked off. You knew they were going to have all the ball and we were going to try and sit back and soak it up and make it difficult for them, which we did.

“We had a little bit of luck, but I think we earned that and for an hour, as far as conceding was concerned, we looked all right.

“Obviously going forward it was difficult because they worked us so hard when they had the ball. The manner of the goals was disappointing, certainly the second one as it was a set piece.

“I can’t fault the players’ effort, they were outstanding and I couldn’t ask for more in terms of workrate and energy. They put so much into the game when Arsenal had the ball that it was difficult when we had the ball to try and create.”

The Blues manager says his players were downbeat in the dressing room afterwards despite performing so well against the Premier League side: “They’re disappointed because we knew we were massive underdogs, but once it got to an hour [you start to believe].

“I hate it when you come to places and people tap you on the head and say ‘Well done, unlucky, your players did great’ after they’ve just beaten you.

“But the players were great but they lacked that little bit of belief when we had the ball to go on and think we could actually score.

"But it’s very difficult coming here, we know we’re going to be under the cosh and I’ve got to give the players every credit because they worked tirelessly.

“The players weren’t disgraced over two games. They have given a brilliant team a right good run for their money as far as making it difficult for Arsenal is concerned.”

Arsene Wenger said his side needed keep their composure to overcome the Blues: “The players were really up for it, focused and at the end we needed to be patient.

“We have to give credit to Ipswich over the two games. They defended with great attitude, great spirit and we needed tonight to be mature, calm and patient and not to concede a goal.

“The fact that we have stabilised our defensive record helped us to qualify [for the final]. It meant a lot to the squad and the team and they deserved to be rewarded because they have an outstanding attitude and spirit and are on a natural development process.”

Wenger says a lesser side wouldn’t have gone through against Town: “An average team against Ipswich 1-0 down tonight wouldn’t have qualified.

"We have played Leeds and Ipswich and, in fairness, the Championship has improved a lot in the last five or six years because just physically they don’t weaken at all, they keep going.

“When we analyse the physical performance of Ipswich they are at the level of the Premier League without any problem.”

Photo: Action Images

bluestanley added 00:22 - Jan 26 fabregas is a cheat he should be banned from final for that dive early in the 1st half
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bluewarrior added 00:24 - Jan 26 Blue Lady - what would you know as a female! Only joking! Someone at the match told me that Gray been sacked. Not the first time apparently! Blue Lady you are probably spot on there but my point is that considering he's a novice RB I think he has the brain to become a quality player in that position which will suit the later years of his career. Tonight I thought that he was our one player who would have looked comfortable in a Arse shirt.

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legoman added 00:28 - Jan 26 BlueLady do not apologise for being a Lady. That Gray and his mates have a lot to answer for!
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TractorBeezer added 00:30 - Jan 26 Well done lads. You should be very proud to have got so far and to put on such a good effort against world class opponents in front of 60.000 and an international telly audience. The proof is that Arsene was forced to play virtually his strongest team. Paul Jewell has some good material to work with....so let's take a little rest and then let's start climbing up the league.

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zebra added 00:48 - Jan 26 What a proud day for Ipswich Town!! OK - we lost. But we won on our out and out footballing skills and will to win the ball. I am so impressed with the way our team kept shape [especially in the first half]. No disgrace going out of the cup tonight. Well done everyone. COYB
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GreenwichBlue added 00:56 - Jan 26 Having just got home I cannot express how much I hate Fabregas. I held Arsenal in high esteem until these matches. Now I have little but contempt for them, especially that little cheating Spaniard. The Ipswich lads were full of running but couldn't keep the ball enough - not looking up before passing too often - to manage a 90 min shut out. Well done to the team though and well done for coming over to clap us at the end, I'm sure it was difficult but shows a good togetherness which we'll need in the next few months.

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CobboldNeal added 01:00 - Jan 26 Proud to have been there, proud of the the team, proud of the support.
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julesbda added 01:07 - Jan 26 Great effort by the boys tonight ....clearly a huge gap in class between the 2 teams but we gave a great account of ourselves and could do no more . Arsenal are class whether you like them or not and will win plenty this year . Amazing to think how far we have fallen in 2 years ....( i.e to be happy to have lost only 3-0 ) .....Keane is gone and in 12 months time i'm sure a 3-0 loss will be a total disaster !! ( i don't mean this badly !! simply a relief of all supporters that RK is gone and we all have a future supporting a FOOTBALL team not a circus !! ) . I'm sure PJ will be talking to Norris very soon ....and making sure he stays ....he was a standout in the midfield tonight and we need players like that at ITFC . PJ was a great choice ....shame he didn't get the job first time around !!

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bobble added 01:21 - Jan 26 gee that picture of p jewel above is one ugly picture
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BrettenhamBlue added 01:23 - Jan 26 Have to agree with Garv. Edwards was good going forwards but our right side was sprung over and over again. The curse of the lack of a good right full back continues. Good achievement lads to get to the semi-final. Good to get knocked out by a quality side like Arsenal than someone like Exeter. 4 quality signings needed in the next week. 1 of them has to be a rightback.

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BrettenhamBlue added 01:27 - Jan 26 How was the barbie Bobble? Hope you kept back a burger for me!!! Yeah, picture isn't the best....
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moomoosereni added 01:35 - Jan 26 Just got home after a pretty mammoth day out! Town fans should be very proud today, at the game or watching on TV. Fabregas you're a fuxking cheat. Arsenal just too good over two legs much like a lot of people expected. Great atmosphere from town fans, not just at the game but en route, during and after the match. Some funny chants coming out whilst waiting for the tube! Arsenal should be ashamed, couldn't hear a thing from them. Was a little bit annoyed to hear some Town fans getting on the players backs at times after we were 3-0 down, over misplaced passes etc. For christs sake we're playing arsenal I think we can let it go! Well done Town.

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whymarksmyhero added 01:52 - Jan 26 Got back at 1.05, with a sore throat and a loathing for a couple of Arsenal players - Fabregas, (diving cheat, and their goalkeeper - smug, face pulling ba**ard). Edwards was at fault for 2 of the goals, WE NEED A PROPER RIGHT BACK !! Supporters were awesome, never stopped singing all night, Arsenal's only woke up when they scored Leadbitter poor tonight, other than that - and the result - a great night out.

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ErikaTractor added 04:12 - Jan 26 moomoosereni You must have been really near me, I remember the chants while waiting for the tube. Good performance again but we need to find a right back. Every team plays the same way against us every time and they expose this weakness constantly.
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whippet added 04:52 - Jan 26 Hate to moan but Edwards was all over the place at rb. When are we going to sort this problem out? The centre backs/gk were good but Leadbitter and others did not rise to the occasion. Jewell/ Please buy a rb. We cannot keep using Peters,Eastman and now Edwards as makeshift rbs. Iif we only make one signing it HAS to be a rb.
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ClassyIpswichLass added 06:15 - Jan 26 Let's put this into perspective: Arsenal are not only in form at the moment but are one of the top 4 teams on the planet right now. Ipswich have recently come off the back of 8 straight league defeats (pretty much) and have had a month of absolute turmoil. To say that some of our players "didn't rise to the occasion tonight" is like saying Clark Kent didn't turn into the Incredible Hulk. To criticise Edwards tonight would be like saying Micky Stockwell had a bad game in goal, despite keeping a clean sheet for over an hour against. I'd say that until he scored, Bendtner looked the most likely candidate for substitution - what does that tell you about our right back? Of course we need a dedicated right back - but not based on what we saw last night! And finally @whippet, after chastising me for being negative and not jumping on the Bullard bandwagon to come out with "hate to moan but Edwards was all over the place" is shameful. If you hate moaning, DON'T!

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fourth added 07:25 - Jan 26 Woke up to "Lent magnificent backing by their 9,000 fans, who filled the away end with blue and white balloons and a huge banner reading “Time For Heroes”, Ipswich protected their first-leg edge for an hour. Ipswich's centre-halves, Gareth McAuley and particularly Damien Delaney, summoned up the spirit of Terry Butcher in repelling Arsenal for so long"
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roytheboy added 07:38 - Jan 26 Well done boys, you can be very proud
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SamWhiteUK added 07:55 - Jan 26 So proud of Ipswich, wasn't expecting a win, but players ran their socks off and, let's face it, 150 minutes without conceding a goal against Arsenal isn't bad going!! Now with the pressure of the cup off our backs, let's focus on pushing up the table. COYB!!!
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dannyhegan added 08:01 - Jan 26 Great performance! Proud of you. More of the same in the league now please!
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Keaneish added 08:46 - Jan 26 Weird feeling going to a ground knowing you're going to lose. I think that's the first time it's ever happened to me since i've been watching Town. That was our cup final anyway tonight, what an amazing stadium! Felt the players had that fear that Jewell has been talking about but then again it's maybe a bit more understandable. Had a great nights banter sat next to the Arsenal 'fans'. They really are all corporates and students. Shameful bunch who never really looked interested in supporting 'their team'! On to Derby and a keen eye on the transfer window. My feeling is Norris will sign and Bullard will be a replacement for Leadbitter who make way to the bench.

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Fatboy added 08:48 - Jan 26 Great effort from the lads last night. Couldn't help noticing that Arsenal's first goal was the result of a "rugby-style" long ball. Presumably Fabregas will have something to say about that?
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vulcher added 08:48 - Jan 26 brilliant effort lads, every single player on the pitch fought for the team. thought delaney was oustanding. also priskin upfront on his own was again quality! gr8 atmoshere in the town end last nite, shame about the home fans! COYB!!!!!
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bluelady added 08:49 - Jan 26 Can i just say as well thought that Jewell got his tactics spot on! Against a lesser team we would most definately have got a result. Scotland looked very strong against them and really started to worry their defence, actually on reflection may have been good to start with him as they seemed to keep Prisken out of the game having worked out his game plan from the first league. Not taking it away from the boys though and do agree with both sides of story around Edwards, he was lacking in defenisive ability last night, BUT coming forward he did look class, turns on the ball better than many a prem player and will probably far less exposed in the championship at right back, so im not sure RB is a must have this season, but it would be nice! for me its still that creative midfielder with the killer pass we need and was missing last night. Lots of hard grafting but no one to open Arsenal up Iwhich i admit is a massive ask of any team so honestly not complaining!). did actually feel the Arsenal officals made us feel that welcome if im honest though.... read out the attendance not once did they acknowledge 9,000 loud and very well behaved away supporters.......

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bluelady added 08:56 - Jan 26 *didnt actually feel not did! Oh and see Cotterill has got a midfielder on loan, think he will leave Norris alone now??!
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