Blues boss Paul Jewell says winger Lee Martin’s renaissance as a Town player is all to do with the greater confidence flowing through the team. Martin was recalled from his loan spell at Charlton within days of the new manager's appointment and hasn’t looked back.

Jewell said: “It’s just confidence, we’re given him an opportunity that maybe he hadn’t been given before. I’m not interested in what’s gone on before, I’m only interested in what’s gone on since I’ve been here.

“We’ve called him back from Charlton and he’s given us something different. His workrate is terrific and he’s given us an outlet and a bit of pace that we were lacking in the game at Millwall.

“It was a good goal, a good move [for Colin Healy’s goal at Doncaster]. He’s not going to be a tackler, Lee, but he does an awful lot of work. I ask my wide players to work hard.

“He does a lot or work going back. He reminds me of the lad I had at Wigan, Gary Teale. He covers the ground really well, he might not win a tackle but he’s got the legs and the energy to get back and fill holes.”

Martin's not the only member of the side playing with renewed confidence, which is something Jewell says comes with victories: "It’s winning games. When we played Millwall in the first game you could tell [we’d not been winning matches].

“Maybe I got it wrong there playing the same team because I think the Arsenal game took a lot out of them.

“I just try to get them enjoying their football, trying to get them looking forward to matches, and not just matches but coming into training as well.

“I’ve been a player, I’ve been a manager and I know when you’re losing games, it doesn’t matter what you try and say, you don’t look forward to it.

“Now we’re looking forward to playing Hull on Saturday, and they will be the same because they’re on a good run and they’ll really looking forward to coming to play us.”

The Town boss says you also need a little bit of good fortune along the way: “Any manager will tell you that you just need that little bit of luck. Perhaps that little bit of luck wasn’t here before I got here, then you can say you make your own luck.

“We’ve had five games unbeaten and the players have done really well, but we’ve got to make sure that we don’t lose focus on where we are and why we’re here. We’ve done well, now can we continue it for the next 16 games and get as many points as we can?

“My remit was to make sure we stay in the league and let’s build. Again, 41 points won’t keep us in the league, so we’ve got to get more points.”

Jewell says he wasn’t surprised to see one of the division’s strugglers defeat one of the promotion challengers earlier in the week, believing that any game can go either way in this league: “Nottingham Forest have been on a terrific run and Scunny can’t buy a win. But I’m not surprised by any result in the Championship because it’s so even and so difficult.

“It’s like a handicap horse race where everyone could fall and almost finish in a heap on the line. There are no ‘gimme’ games in this league.”

The Blues boss is quick to praise his players for Town’s recent run: “I don’t think it’s down to me, the players deserve all the credit.

“We’ve improved as time has gone on, we’ve got a lot of improving to do and I think that’s the thing that I’m liking at the moment. We went in 3-0 up on Tuesday and the players were debating with one another stuff that had gone on on the pitch.

“And that’s what we want to bring — that desire and that professionalism. I’m not saying it wasn’t there before, but the confidence has been brought out with a few results.

“That’s just football, sometimes you don’t do a lot different but you get the results because the confidence is high.”

Photo: Action Images

Worcester added 09:42 - Feb 19 More of the Same today please lads. Get stuck in early and lift everyone
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debenhamsteve added 10:13 - Feb 19 In today's Guardian 'The Secret Footballer ' in the Sports section as part of a piece he wrote about what makes a good manager: "Players want a manager to be consistent and honest. Nobody wants to sit on the sidelines watching, but an explanation as to why you are not in the team.......Players will respect the manager for pulling them aside even if they don't agree with the decision. Man-management skills like this send out signals to the players; they keep everybody united and, as a result, extract the absolute best from a squad." Jewell has the attributes - we all know someone who didn't!

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westleydan added 10:14 - Feb 19 hopefully another brilliant performance. let's make it 6 without loss. or more importantly, another win under the jewelled reign! COYB!
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Tractorog added 11:06 - Feb 19 PJ says all the right things. He inspires confidence. I know this is the honey moon period, but it just feels sooo right. None of the buffoonery of Jim, none of the demons of introspective despair from Roy... PJ seems above all to be competent, cheerful and confident. Good times!
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bluestu71 added 13:09 - Feb 19 Keep up the good work Lee, COYB'S
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devontractorboy added 13:17 - Feb 19 Glad to see Martin beginning to fulfil his potential and right now it's obvious that Jewell is pushing all the right buttons with the players. I think if we can have a good end to the season, next year then just maybe...........................?
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